Sharing in His Sufferings

We live in a culture of ease. The whole American idea of an ideal life bears resemblance to John Stewart Mill's utilitarian views and "Greatest Happiness Principle," that an action is right to the extent that it promotes the greatest amount of happiness for yourself and others. Happiness, which Mill regards as the highest and chief end of humanity, is simply pleasure or the absence of pain. In the U.S., I know even I have become seduced into living a lifestyle full of pleasure and free of pain. I know that there are certain inescapable pains all humans must face in the course of a lifetime, ranging from physical pain and death to emotional, spiritual, and mental pain, but it is the way we deal with that pain that frightens me. A relatively small number of people revert to drugs and alcohol to escape the daily pain around them. Others turn to milder forms of escapism in video games, movies, hobbies, and sports. I do not mean to say that pain is a good thing, but fear of it leads to a lifestyle of idleness and self-centered thinking. I become the most important person in my life as soon as I seek to escape pain in my life. On the opposite side of the coin, we Americans are the best people on earth at seeking out, finding, and indulging in pleasure of all kinds. We have a society laced and saturated in earthly pleasures. Again, not all of these pleasures are wrong in themselves, but indulgence leads to a self-focused existence. As I am learning the hard way in my own life, we were not created for a life immersed in pleasure and devoid of pain. 

I can read John Stuart Mill for an hour and become confused, bored, lost, or intimidated by his philosophical jargon, and that is why Mill cannot compare to the powerful, refreshing, and vital Word of God. It was in Philippians lately that I began to see something quite contrary to utilitarianism, as Paul writes to the church of Philippi viewing the lovely city of Rome from a prison cell where he was in chains for the gospel. As I read through his letter, known to me as a letter of encouragement, hope, and joy, I came across a statement that scared me, quite frankly. Paul writes in Philippians 1:29, "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake." At this point, I have to say one thing: leave it to the Bible to disregard, thwart, or oppose the commonly held beliefs of the world. This statement is radical! It's one thing to acknowledge belief in the saving power of Christ's death and resurrection, but it has been granted that if we believe in Him, we will also suffer for His sake! 

Perhaps the full insanity of this concept will become more clear through an illustration. Imagine in a war, there is a good and noble general under whose authority are all of the prisoners of war. These prisoners deserve to be held captive, willfully having waged war against this general and his goodness. The general, simply out of love for these prisoners, desires to see them freed and change in their ways, having seen his kindness with their own eyes. Acting upon this, he decides that he will lay down his life for all of them, allowing them to be freed if they accept his sacrifice on their behalf and believe that he is good. Along with this salvation, he promises to give each of them rewards for their trust in him. Salvation and rewards in return for trust. So far, this sounds like a pretty good proposition. However, there is one more detail in the general's request to the P.O.W.'s who accept his proposition after he has laid down his life for them. He asks that they do the same as he does, laying down their rights and even their lives for the sake of showing others his goodness. WHAT??? Since when does pain and death accompany freedom and riches? That is what I first thought when I read Philippians 1:29. However, I decided to read on, and I soon discovered that Paul has much more to say to the Philippians and to us on this topic.

For example, in the next chapter Paul describes this sacrifice of Christ in greater detail, describing how Christ "made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant," and "humbled Himself to becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (2:7-8). My feeble mind cannot even begin to fully understand the depth of my Savior who denied glory for the sake of His own glory and our salvation, freedom, joy, and peace. I agree with Paul, who said far more eloquently, "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead" (3:10). Perhaps it sounds insane, as many Biblical truths will seem to the darkened hearts of this world and our "hollow and deceptive philosophy" (Colossians 2:8), but if it is true, I want to share with Christ in His sufferings! It is not suffering for the sake of suffering, as one of the brothers in Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov believes (is it Dmitri?). It is suffering because we long to become more like Him who saved us! 

Even in this suffering, though, it is not as though our lives are meant to be lived in denial of hope, peace, love, joy, and courage! In fact, all of those goods are grown and harvested most in times of trial, because it is in our hardships that God often works the most! James boldly states, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you face trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4). 

The last major point I'd like to make before shutting my yapper is this: we are not expected to face these Christ-focused trials alone. In fact, we should not face them alone! Paul winds down in Philippians with 4:6-7, in which he says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." What a comfort! We are not to be anxious about anything, even after Paul encouraged the Philippians to share in Christ's sufferings! Rather, God's peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ. I think the fact that Paul says this peace "surpasses all understanding" reminds me that it is supernatural! I cannot find that peace in any of the escapist tendencies I revert to to run from pain. Rather, I turn to the Lord in my trials, and His peace and joy will transcend my thoughts and guard my failing heart and mind. This is a great hope! We also are not alone because we have each other. In the book of Galatians, Paul says that we are meant to "bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). The body of Christ is meant to be a body. We are all in this together, and by His grace and faithfulness and the fellowship of His people, we will endure until the day of Christ, not only believing in Him but suffering for His sake, as well. 

In conclusion, my dear John Stuart Mill, I don't think you quite agreed with Paul, as many sensible people will neither agree, but I have chosen my path, and it strays from the utilitarian lifestyle of ease and comfort. As hard as it is, I want to the know the power of Christ's resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings. By His grace, I will carry on through this life's daily trifles and darkest of trials for my Lord and Savior, sharing in His sufferings until they day that I will share in His glory.