tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31095521.post4218832561305507999..comments2023-06-10T10:31:58.875-05:00Comments on Omnia ad Dei Gloriam: A Theology of SufferingMatthew Bradleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01843783322118909078noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31095521.post-59466964704289142752008-04-25T22:46:00.000-05:002008-04-25T22:46:00.000-05:00@jaredOh, Yeah, I am totally with you. To present...@jared<BR/><BR/>Oh, Yeah, I am totally with you. To present the second without the first is not telling the whole truth. It is like presenting a social Gospel without the spiritual Gospel. It is incomplete.<BR/><BR/>MikeMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02995103524550553261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31095521.post-9580065496827150072008-04-25T14:16:00.000-05:002008-04-25T14:16:00.000-05:00I do not deny that is true. My concern is how to c...I do not deny that is true. My concern is how to communicate this in a way that is not unnecessarily insensitive to one's suffering; in a way that says, yes it hurts and Christ's first reaction to to weep with you that your child died, your husband left you, you cannot provide for your family - yet God also ordained for this to be. I think the first part is important so as not to make God a cosmic Sadist, but a chastizing Father. Somehow communicating that God takes no pleasure in our pain but also does his work by it. Know what I mean?Jared Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18445783451815077626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31095521.post-5640219127762682102008-04-25T10:32:00.000-05:002008-04-25T10:32:00.000-05:00@jaredShould we be worried about driving people aw...@jared<BR/><BR/>Should we be worried about driving people away from God with a correct view of suffering as part of the Christian life? Are people who are driven away from God by this message those who were with us but not one of us? I know that in my life, the times I am closest to God are the times I am suffering. Although I should be closer to him in health and wealth than I am (when I tend to want to rely on myself), I feel closest to him in suffering when I have no other choice but to rely on him. Now, praising him while I am in the midst of suffering? That is another story entirely! I often just want the suffering to end. But looking back on it I often see all the good that came of it and how much I was blessed by it.<BR/><BR/>MikeMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02995103524550553261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31095521.post-86127522834870963122008-04-24T17:10:00.000-05:002008-04-24T17:10:00.000-05:00Look forward to more on this. Suffering is so hard...Look forward to more on this. Suffering is so hard to communicate (and accept for myself!) as a necessary requirement to the Christian life and spiritual development. By "hard to communicate," I mean it is difficult to say it without driving people to doubt rather than to God as their comfort. Piper sometimes strikes me as too harsh, making me not want to run to the God with the bloody switch still in His hand. I would be curious how I would treat the matter in a sermon, not necessarily to balance the two, but not to have the doctrine drive people away from God in fear and towards spiritually numbing themselves in the comfort of a world of distraction. (which is a quick reaction to suffering...)Jared Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18445783451815077626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31095521.post-15315682260776346672008-04-24T12:15:00.000-05:002008-04-24T12:15:00.000-05:00That's right, Janice. In the big picture, sufferin...That's right, Janice. In the big picture, suffering is not normal. But "between the trees" of Eden and the New Jerusalem, it is a reality. I'll address this in future posts.Matthew Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01843783322118909078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31095521.post-5701575047894721782008-04-24T11:45:00.000-05:002008-04-24T11:45:00.000-05:00There is a sense that suffering is not normal (com...There is a sense that suffering is not normal (comparing Eden with life after the Fall) but it is part and parcel of gospel living if we are in Christ. You are correct, people are drawn to Osteen and others on the TV because it doesn't always get integrated into the "whole counsel teaching" from the pulpit - and also because their ears are itching. Thanks for addressing this in your ministry and here on the blag.Vehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431598076784125957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31095521.post-54860451414834570092008-04-23T22:08:00.000-05:002008-04-23T22:08:00.000-05:00Hard to tell sometimes, isn't it?Hard to tell sometimes, isn't it?Matthew Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01843783322118909078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31095521.post-5069457227558302132008-04-23T22:04:00.000-05:002008-04-23T22:04:00.000-05:00Wait, was that Joel Osteen or Stewart Smalley?Wait, was that Joel Osteen or Stewart Smalley?M. Jay Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31095521.post-36206535260617514272008-04-23T22:00:00.000-05:002008-04-23T22:00:00.000-05:00(in a gentle and soothing southern drawl...)Now, G...(in a gentle and soothing southern drawl...)<BR/><BR/>Now, Gunny, I'm not interested in judging anyone. I just want you to know that you can have all the good things that Jesus promised us. You believe he loves you? You believe he is faithful to keep his promises? Then just trust him. Grab hold to those promises and repeat after me:<BR/><BR/>"I'm good enough. I'm smart enough. And gosh darn it, people like me!"Matthew Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01843783322118909078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31095521.post-13700213828913579472008-04-23T20:57:00.000-05:002008-04-23T20:57:00.000-05:00Joel,Read Philippians 1:29, dude! Perhaps even th...Joel,<BR/><BR/>Read Philippians 1:29, dude! Perhaps even the Beattitudes.<BR/><BR/>C'mon!GUNNYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11422524342398284973noreply@blogger.com