A Theology of Suffering

I'm beginning to appreciate in my ministry the importance of not only having a sound theology of suffering, but of the importance of teaching this to your people as well. Scripture speaks loudly and often on the subject, but it is strangely absent from much of our preaching and teaching in America today. I'm not sure if this is because so few of us really seem to suffer (or at least we don't think we do or admit that we are suffering). But the gap in our ministry efforts reveals itself quite plainly. It shows itself when our otherwise godly and orthodox church members turn to "preachers" such as Joel Osteen for encouragement. Osteen's secret is quite simple and yet, I believe, profound. Osteen acknowledges suffering and he offers a solution. Those of us committed to orthodoxy instinctively recognize something wrong with his message, even if we can't always put our finger on it. That something is this: Osteen's answer is wrong. Specifically, Osteen tells people that their suffering is not a normal part of this present life. He tells them that if they do the right things, they can leave that suffering behind, right now. Our flocks, those God has placed in our care, hear his message and they too often succumb. Why? Because they are not hearing often enough from their pastors on the subject. Their pastors too seldom acknowledge their suffering and place it in a redemptive context. Ambitious though it may seem, I want to offer just such a thing over the course of several posts here on the blog. Stay tuned!