The Suffering Mandate

The word "gospel", as many of you know, means "good news."  (It comes from the Old English "God" or "good," and "spel," or "story.")  As Christians, we are commanded in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  Well, that certainly is good news, and the forgiveness of our sins and acceptance into heaven for all eternity is the best news anyone could ever hear.

We want people to know the good news in order that they may be led to saving faith.  Many times we approach evangelism as salesmen with a product that is even better than a ShamWow: "Accept Christ now, and not only will you receive eternal life but forgiveness of sins and you'll also get the Holy Spirit! All free! Get your New Life now! Hurry, because this offer is limited!" No one wants to sell a product talking about its bad features.

But there is some bad news, a badspel,  if you will, that comes with being a Christian.  Suffering is mandatory.  Let's look at Romans 8:17, "...and if children, then heirs-- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may be glorified together." In the NIV translation, it says, "...if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."  And Christ's suffering was mandatory.

I have often wondered exactly when the Christ-child on earth first became aware of His status as God's son.  We do not know much of His early life, other than details like His circumcision, presentation in the temple, and flight to Egypt; all of these were as an infant and a young child. We do not hear again of Jesus until age twelve, when he clearly stated in Luke 2:49, "Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business."  He may have been self-aware from birth, even as a non-speaking infant.  However, along with that awareness of his deity must have come knowledge of his future on the cross.  He knew of his suffering mandate, that he must die for us to live eternally with Him.  I presume he also knew of the scourging and beatings he would endure.

Patients who await surgery know of the pain that is to come, and dread it, even knowing that there will be medication to relieve the hurt. I myself have had several operations, and two major surgeries in the last four years.  The night before surgery you realize that the next night will be filled with discomfort, yet although the mind cognitively recognizes that there will be pain and anticipates it, that is not the same as the actual experience.  Christ must have known in the days leading up to His death the pain that would be involved, and there would be no nurse with morphine at His call.

So we cherish the pain Christ endured because it frees us from eternal damnation.  Yet we must also know of the badspel, the bad news, that suffering is on the morrow for us, it is mandatory, that we must not be surprised or shocked when it happens.  For us to share in Christ's glory, we must share in His sufferings.

When I meet with a patient who is about to have heart surgery, I get informed consent.  I must explain to them the nature of their problem, the planned procedure, its risks and complications, the risk of not having surgery, and the chance of success.  They must understand all of these before accepting my offer of surgery.  I have to make sure that they are informed but not so terrified that they are scared away from life-saving surgery.

Should we share the bad news with potential Christians?  Should we get informed consent before explaing salvation?  How would that affect our sales?  "The good news is that you get eternal life in heaven, forgiveness of sins, freedom from the enslavement of sin, and even a new body.  There are no alternative procedures.  The bad news is you have to suffer.  The risk of sufferering is 100%"  I do not believe it is necessary to withhold this from our evangelical approach, but it need not be a dominant theme, either.  God will, through irresistible grace, bring those to salvation that he has chosen, no matter the obstacles to be overcome. 

And it may be that how you handle the mandatory suffering in your life, as a Christian, that actually influences those watching you to seek the same grace you have received.