I wandered across this post at Paul Edward’s God and Culture Blog. He discusses the role suffering plays in the life of the Christian, and how this view is subverted in our contemporary culture.
http://godandculture.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/a-theology-of-suffering/
2 Comments
April 26, 2007 at 9:27 am
Harry, thanks for linking to this post. I have been thinking a little lately about culture and how I am trying to be more a part of it versus apart from it. I dont like the tension this creates but I feel I am growing. Thanks.
~JK
April 27, 2007 at 5:27 pm
It is definately a problem. I rather liked Brueggemann’s approach in _The Psalms in the Life of Faith_: suffering isn’t meant to be “solved” out of the equation; it is not “right,” or “fair.” Since God is not an idol, selfishly vain and unapproachable, we, as his people should follow the examples of people of faith, like those found in Psalm 88 (and my favorite, Psalm 13) and many others, and yell to God. It isn’t that suffering goes away, but you do become much more aware of his participation in your suffering.