Jesus promised that the world will hate His followers so Christians should not be surprised when it happens and respond accordingly as we experience it.
John Piper: Everything Is Out of Proportion in Typical American Christianity
In this sermon given in Atlanta, Georgia, John Piper speaks directly to Christians who feel increasingly unwelcome and alien in the America we know today.
Caffeinated Thought of the Day: Suffering and Faith
Shane Vander Hart: Suffering, as my family has experienced, has a way of reordering our priorities and brings into focus what is truly important.
Suicide is Neither Brave or Dignified
Brittany Maynard’s decision to kill herself on Saturday due to her terminal illness has been touted as “brave” and “dying with dignity.” Suicide is neither.
Spurgeon: Christians Should Expect Persecution
Believers, in the United States anyway, seem to think that we won’t endure persecution. When it does happen we’re shocked. We’re outraged. I am as well. 19th Century British Preacher Charles H. Spurgeon thought differently (as did Jesus). Spurgeon in a sermon entitled “Consolation Proportionate to Spiritual Sufferings” given on March 11, 1855 said: Soldier […]
God’s People Were Chosen In The Furnace of Affliction
Charles Spurgeon commenting on Acts 14:22, specifically where is says, “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God,” (ESV) said something that most American Christians don’t want to hear – you will suffer. Yet you walk through your typical Christian bookstore you will invariably see books with titles that proclaim the opposite. From […]
The Easy Chute
Once upon a time there was a very wealthy king who was very impatient. He could not endure troubles or inconveniences of any sort. This combination of personality traits drove his servants crazy. The moment dinner was complete, dirty dishes became a problem. The servants could not get them out of his sight soon enough. […]
Timothy Keller: Redemption and Suffering
Timothy Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City is commonly asked how a good God could allow suffering in the world. One of the ways he answers that question is to point to the cross. In his book, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, Keller writes: The death […]
John Calvin: Bearing The Cross
From John Calvin (1509-1564) in his Institutes of the Christian Religion: This, therefore, we must try to do if we would be disciples of Christ, in order that our minds may be steeped in such reverence and obedience toward God as to be able to tame and subjugate to his command all contrary affections. Thus […]
C.S. Lewis: Some Pleasant Inns
From The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis: The Christian doctrine of suffering explains, I believe, a very curious fact about the world we live in. The settled happiness and security which we all desire, God withholds from us by the very nature of the world: but joy, pleasure, and merriment, He has scattered broadcast. […]
Suffering for Righteousness’ Sake (1 Peter 3:8-22)
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For “Whoever desires to love life and […]
Radical Sacrifice
Good way to kick off this Lord’s Day… John Piper on suffering. The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I […]
Curveballs
I have learned in my walk with Christ that the Christian life is not pain-free. There will be obstacles, pain, loss, and suffering. Sometimes it is suffering for righteousness’ sake, (Matthew 5:10). Other times it could be part of just living in a broken, decaying world. Other times for followers of Christ it could be […]