I am often struck by how deeply imbedded in such a relatively short time the evangelical notion of the “Rapture” is in most protestant churches. It is a dogma in most evangelical circles, even though it is, especially in Orthodox time, a very novel invention. It basically states that believers (only “true” believers in some circles) will be snatched away from earth so as not to suffer during the Tribulation period which is variously defined as “pre-trib, post-trib, mid-trib, pre-wrath, mid-wrath,” etc.
In a sense, it is really nothing more than an extension of the world’s current philosophy into apparently Christian thinking. It is the longing to avoid suffering combined with the belief that God will protect Christians from it. A quick look at the lives of the martyrs should dispel us of this falsehood. God’s saints have suffered through history more than most. Persecution of the Church has continued throughout all of history around the world, and there are countless martyrs whose names are known only by God who have shed their blood for their faith. They and we follow Jesus Christ who was Himself scourged and crucified and Who warned His followers that what was done to Him would surely be done to those who follow Him.
The easy life is in direct opposition to Christianity. This is not to suggest that God wants us to be unhappy. He came to redeem us from the sin and death we had brought upon ourselves. But the happiness, or rather joy of Christianity does not consist of anything the world can give us. Materialist consumerism directs us toward instant happiness, tells us that whatever makes us feel good must be right, or that if we just buy this latest gizmo we will be happy.
Christianity stresses inner peace and compassion, while materialism says that happiness comes from external objects. Religious values such as kindness, generosity, humility and honesty get lost in the rush to make more money and have more and better possessions. Many people’s minds are confused about what happiness is and how to create its causes. Many have drunk the kool-aid of consumer-driven advertising.
In our epistle this morning, St. Paul begins with the words:
“I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Spiritual strength is not borne of ease, comfort and possessions. It is borne of struggle. Struggle against temptation, struggle against secularism and the seductive lure of consumerism, of thinking the more or the newer stuff we have, the happier we will be. The promise of a happy life free from discomfort is dangled before us and from everywhere voices speak to us to pursue it. Even entertainment tends to by-pass our rational objections and draw us into making emotional responses to characters and scenarios that are feeding us the same world view, often with what is categorically sinful behavior.
Christianity proclaims a different message. Life is full of struggles, and we are called to face up to them, not avoid them. They are given to us to perfect us in this life, in the same way our Master “learned obedience through the things which He suffered” (Heb. 5:8).
There are both external and internal struggles. The circumstances and demands of our lives can cause us stress and emotional pain – sometimes physical pain. A large percentage of the world lives in poverty few of us can even imagine. For them, the struggle simply to find enough to eat and drink and to survive is very real. For most of us, it may simply be sickness or tragedy that interrupts our life to gain our attention, and turn us to God.
Then there are our internal struggles against the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil. Against our passions, against all forms of idolatry and unfaithfulness to the demands of the life of the kingdom of God.
As we age, the experts tell us that we need to do some kind of resistance exercise, otherwise our muscle mass diminishes and we weaken in our strength to accomplish even our normal daily tasks.
Likewise, resistance in the spiritual life is necessary to our moral and spiritual strength. Struggle is given to strengthen us, not to weaken or diminish us. Without it, we atrophy spiritually.
Who doesn’t find it more necessary to pray when faced with pain, suffering or struggle? And who can’t admit that in times of plenty, when life is full of pleasures, we are less inclined to seek God?
If our union with God is the true value of our existence, then those times that prompt us, help us to turn to Him, must surely be of more value than our times of comfort. I suspect Jesus spoke of how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom because the wealthy do not feel the truth of their need of God as keenly as those who must depend upon Him. When life is good, we begin to feel at home in this world. But this is not our home. This life is the crucible in which our hearts and souls are moulded for the Kingdom. It is the heat of purification, the pain of our struggles that prepares us for eternity, and indeed, enables us to be of more service to God here and now, as the Kingdom breaks into the present through us.
Patient endurance, trust and hope are the proper responses to suffering and struggle. When we use it as an opportunity to deepen our trust in God, it becomes salvific. If we react with resentment or anger, our suffering has little value. Accepted in the right way, it will lead us to humility. It will strip us of the false belief that we are in control, or that peace may come through comfort. It will deepen our prayer and demand from us the willingness to forgive others and grow in compassion, taking from us any judgment of others. We choose how we will approach struggle and suffering: it is no esoteric mystery or mystical secret—it is simply our choice, and we are empowered by the indwelling Spirit to make it if we will.
The proper approach is in one of our preparation psalms, Ps 84:
Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee, in whose heart are thy ways.
Who going through the vale of misery use it for a well and the pools are filled with water. They will go from strength to strength….