I’ve been struggling to come to grips in recent weeks with a hole in my own personal theology.
My theology of suffering is entirely passive. When I read a story of Jesus Christ’s suffering or read the passages in the epistles about suffering or endurance, I read them almost always in terms of passivity. Suffering is something that is inflicted upon Christ.
I find this view, which I have held for a long time without being aware of it, inadequate. It puts Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, in the role of passive victim. It puts the agency outside of God and into the hands of the Romans.
That view authorizes – at least in my life – all kinds of bad patterns of behavior and thought. It sanctions victim language and victim thinking. It voids the testimony of the New Testament that suffering is endured not because we have no choice as passive objects, but because suffering is the only road to God’s kingdom.
In a sermon a few weeks ago, I used the movie Rocky as an illustration of Jesus carrying his cross. I was not really happy with the illustration at the time, and I don’t often use movie illustrations because they do not fit well. But my unease with Rocky Balboa as righteous sufferer is because righteous suffering is so alien to my theology.
Part of this is biographical. I have never been much of an athlete. I’m clumsy, and I have painful flat feet. In school, I’ve always been smart enough to do well without trying too hard. So, the virtues of suffering to accomplish a goal have always eluded me.
Without going all Mark Driscoll, I’ve avoided the counsel of Paul to “fight the good fight” or of Hebrews to “run the race.” All similar words in the Bible and the example of Jesus at Gethsemane and Golgotha have been largely lost on me.
And I’m experiencing that as a spiritual weakness right now.
Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
This is a really helpful post and thought. I’m not sure if I can turn my thoughts into anything coherent, so here are some disjointed random thoughts.
As you suggest, I don’t think Jesus was passive in any way. But I suspect that he didn’t seek out suffering the way John the Baptist did – something that Jesus was criticized for. I think that Jesus’ actions and responsibility were demonstrated in his keeping an eye on his mission. And he didn’t shirk from that mission even if it meant suffering and death.
I do think that we need to have more of a theology of responsibility for our own actions but I don’t really like what I call the “macho” way that Driscoll and the “rescue the church from being feminine” types do it. Maybe I’m wrong, but it seems to me that people who take responsibility for their own misdeeds don’t normally go around preaching blame the way that Driscoll does. Their approach is more one of testimony: “I messed up my life with drugs/alcohol/illicit sex and I took responsibility and turned my life around and you can too, brothers and sisters.” The reactionary “religion” actually seems to be in the mode of “I don’t need to take responsiblity for my own actions, you need to take responsibility for my anger.” Which, ironically, buys into the idea of there has to be a victim. Only, by gum, *I’m* not going to be the victim, so I’m going to make sure that I regard you as the weak one.
Thanks for extending the conversation, Pam. My few exposures to Driscoll leave me with the sense that he has tapped into a real void but that his response distorts the gospel.
The language of “I took responsibility” strikes me as important, but I also want to keep that in balance or tension with the statement: “I could not do this for myself, I could only accept it as a gift of grace.” What does Randy Maddox call it? Responsible Grace.
“Responsible grace” – Amen! Thanks for that too.
This is honest and heartfelt. Thank you for sharing.
I think the general point of your post is helpful. We need to be reminded that suffering comes our way. In our day the pursuit of happiness has overcome the call to discipleship.
I would imagine you have encountered suffering but have dealt with it in such a way that you don’t recognize it. As a pastor you have given up some of the financial comforts that others have. You have allowed other people to drain you of time and energy that a pagan would put into recreation and leisure activities. You have been mocked by other believers when you stand up for truth. You think it is just part of the job. It is, and it is suffering.
We are not all called to be crucified by Romans, or Calvinists for that matter. We are called to bear the cross that is given to us daily.
Again, thanks for the thoughts.
Grace and Peace
Thank you to Amber and Pumice for your kindness.