tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517856783837231991.post4350458301602754256..comments2023-07-07T06:49:04.464-07:00Comments on Sermon Thoughts at Cedar Hills: For Sunday May 18 - This is Easy?Curtis at Cedar Hillshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783210970860290247noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517856783837231991.post-25280175816813174172008-05-19T11:13:00.000-07:002008-05-19T11:13:00.000-07:00Response to postings: It isn't that suffering itse...Response to postings: It isn't that suffering itself is something to be sought out, or a blessing in itself. It is what suffering signifies and does in/through us: It develops an identification of the believer to Jesus (1 Peter 4); and it leads us to "share in the fellowship of Christ's sufferings" (Paul). That "fellowship of sufferings" creates the opportunity for redemptive suffering. Redemptive suffering by believers is what brings to life, today, Christ's suffering on the cross 2000 years ago. Paul writes, <BR/>"Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church." When he says that he suffers for "what was lacking" in Christ's afflictions - he isn't stating that there was something missing in Jesus' suffering. He's saying that when we suffer, we point people to Jesus' suffering and forgiveness. The only thing "lacking" is a living example, a living signpost to Jesus. That's our role and it is accomplished only as we are willing to suffer for Jesus' sake.<BR/>Finally, the idea of causing another person's suffering through persecution is anathema to the Christian life. To think that we would somehow be "blessing" them by causing them to suffer is bizarre and patently ridiculous.Curtis at Cedar Hillshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00783210970860290247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517856783837231991.post-69648747736537096462008-05-18T08:10:00.000-07:002008-05-18T08:10:00.000-07:00Just wondering: If suffering is a blessing/benefit...Just wondering: If suffering is a blessing/benefit, should we infer that we ought to enable others to suffer for their beliefs as well, by persecuting them? If not, why not?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517856783837231991.post-54148347382910975362008-05-17T10:34:00.000-07:002008-05-17T10:34:00.000-07:00I guess I'm not convinced that suffering is someth...I guess I'm not convinced that suffering is something to be desired. It's true that suffering can make one's faith stronger. But it does nothing to make it more accurate. Many groups with whom I disagree are suffering, and it results in being more stuck in their position, and unable to consider alternatives. Perhaps a situation of non-suffering gives us the freedom to focus on the content of our faith.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com