It’s Monday and the safety of the church walls and sanitized conversations are gone. The worship music has stopped and children aren’t in Sunday school. Our college group is back at college and our pastors aren’t within earshot. Oh no, what should we do? How now shall we live?
There’s a misnomer that church is the best place for us to be. Safe. Protected. Sheltered. But is it really?
I’m in Cancun, Mexico for a wedding of a dear friend. She chose a gorgeous location on the white sandy beaches of the pacific coast. It’s away from the tourists and surrounded by large walls and an ornate rod iron entrance. Safe. Protected. Sheltered.
But after three days on the Compound [as we’ve affectionately referred to it], life isn’t real.
Everyone walks around unscathed by the worries or threats of life. We have our next meal, we know where things are, we are living the life.
But are we created to live in the comfort of ease? Are we never to be challenged in our ideals or opinions?
There is something to be said of our struggles, our conflicts, and our bruises. When we are away from the safety of corporate worship or the smooth jazz sounds of Kenny G the hotel perpetually provides, do we still worship? When we are outside the walls, do we fight for our spiritual food or scurry back so someone from the Compound can feed us?
Church may be a retreat, but it’s not a resort. We go on vacation to vacate and recoup. Similarly, church can be our respite away from the world… but we aren’t intended to live within walls and be spoon-fed Truths.
I want delve into the discussion of suffering and “the world” this week. I’m hoping to tread lightly on the theological implications of suffering [mostly by Puritanical works] and how we ought to live in this broken world.
If you have any thoughts or concerns to shed light on the discussion, feel free to volley up a question. If you want to drop some theological knowledge on me, hook it up. If you want to remind me that in three days I will have to start making my own bed again, I’m all ears. I could get used to never cleaning my room again…
I cant consider youre not more standard since you definitely have the gift.
On Saturday I was on my way to a prayer event at my church. I had to make a pit stop at a parking lot nearby my church to throw my hair in a ponytail. I pulled onto a road I normally don't take to get to church. In front of me I saw four or five human-looking figures walking in the street. Curious, I continued straight, and as I got closer saw a family. There were four kids, and a mom and dad walking the cold streets at 7:30am with their suitcases. I was so saddened, but it brought a harsh reality. My prayers were more fervent, and my heart was stirred. I know I live a comfortable life, and I'm guilty of basking in this comfort.
Personally, God has shown me that the end of comfort for me begins with outreach. I'm praying about some things I can do to outreach and help those who are hurting, besides just serving in the comfort of my church. I think God will become even more real, and church won't seem as routine if I am continually seeing the healing power of God at work.
Great post Bianca! x
I love that we are going to be starting a discussion about suffering and "the world." I don't know why but because of the story I have, I totally cling to verses like Romans 5:1-5, 1 Peter 2:21, 1 Thessalonians 3:3, Acts 9:15-16, suffering and brokenness has been a part of my story and a part of my… gathering up joy and hope and clinging to it.
And since we've been stationed overseas, having that sanctuary of a strong, bible-based church has been so… scarce. I've had to depend on God and God alone. The fellowship was scary because I didn't know who I could trust with my struggles and worship was in YouTube videos of acoustic worship. I had to learn to seek out God intentionally, willingly, dilligently.
AHHH!!!!!
I am really looking forward to the conversation!!
(I wrote lots about suffering on my blog last year @ jennlebron.com)
can't wait for this discussion…
Matthew 16:24 – "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me". So often, at least within my own life, I feel that having a cross to carry is a good thing…it seems human nature abhors a vacuum..and when all is perfect and all is "safe within the compound", our souls seem to stagnate and no longer have a need for God…it's weird how we are that way. Yet, when we have hardships, or suffering, we look to God….and when we look to God and carry our crosses with faith, the faith get's stronger. We also get to encounter Grace. Why is it that our natures seem to "appreciate" things more when we have to work hard for them? Maybe because in moments of suffering or hardship we receive immense amounts of God's grace and appreciate it more?
One of the greatest graces God gives us is when we consciously make an effort to share in Christ's suffering by offering our own suffering and hardships to God as a prayer of wanting to share in His Son's suffering he did for us. Much grace comes from that. Now one could start down an infinite "Why" path by asking the question "Why did He make us that way"…well, more likely than not, we just are not yet capable of understanding the answer…so instead, fall back on Faith and receive the graces of God through suffering and offer up your suffering as a sweet aroma prayer for others suffering in this world..even if it's just the annoyance of an itchy shirt. As stated by Christ himself, deny yourself and take up your cross along side HIM…and surely Grace from God the Father will follow….
All I gotta say is that beach scene simply looks amazing. Enjoy your time away and may the Lord restore you so that you can continue blessing us through your gifts. =)
If you haven't already, you should read The Heavenly Man about Brother Yun and his trials and persecution in China. It's so mind-blowing and challenging for us Western Christians. I've just finished it and can't shake it from my mind. It's absolutely amazing! Seriously!
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