Wednesday, June 24, 2009

A dangerous myth: the 100% victorious Christian life

Fail - thats the four letter word that modern society has a hard time grasping.

Christians in particular have a tough time getting over the issue of unanswered prayer.

Unfortunately, God is not slot machine. When we say the right prayer, we do not automatically get the "right" answer and often we don't get it right away. Darn it.

Before you raise your voice about this - think of the countless number of Christians who were tortured and killed despite their faithful cries for help. Then read Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Isaiah... and consider what the ancients had to say about the matter. Be thoughtful, not judgmental.

When people pray for the sick, it does not automatically follow that God will heal.

When my father died of pancreatic cancer, not only was it devastating for me personally that my prayers were not answered but I got a profound sense of indifference from God. (We even prayed for healing on day of the funeral at the chapel).

"Yes, he is dead ... hmmm... hang in there."

No sense of peace, joy, love etc..

Fail.

I guess thats a very very small bit of how Job must have felt when he lost everything - including his health. How awful it must have been to face total ruin... and not only that - but the absence of the presence of God. No sense of commiseration. No Pillar of Cloud. No joy. No burning bush. No meaning. Just pain and suffering. And he also had to content with a group of friends who were die-hards in the Health/ Wealth/ Prosperity theology.

The ancient believers in God had similar thoughts:

Hebrews 11:32 .. the writer recounts how some believers were killed, tortured and had to wander around in rags, destitute, persecuted and mistreated for their faith.

and then he adds... 39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.

The apostle Paul was also afflicted and though he prayed three times for healing and release... It was not granted. Instead, God said.

"My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

And its worth considering that virtually all of the apostles did not die in a rich, well catered nursing home.

You might also wish to consider the uncountable number of Christians living in third world countries whose regimes are governed by anti-Christian groups. Many convert to Christian despite the horrendous persecutions facing them. Everyday believers are killed/tortured/imprisoned for their faith. God help them.

Of course, I'm not saying that the way of Christian living is a litany of earthly failures. Neither should we adopt an expectant attitude of failure and doom otherwise we'd end up pretty miserable Christians wouldn't we?

Besides Jesus did tell us not to worry about our food/drink/clothes etc.. and that God is a God of love who cares for us as His Children. As Jesus said:

7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.  9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Matthew 7:7.

So when we pray - we pray with expectant hearts filled with faith and hope. We do not pray and expect failure. That's not faith. And that's not what God wants.

However perpetual success is not something that Christians should base their faith on. Otherwise, whenever there is some frightful calamity - our faith gets wrecked.

Even Jesus in his moment of greatest need, when He was bloody and crucified on the cross, writhing in agony, even there God seemed to abandon His only Son.

Thus Jesus cried out, "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?"

The Son of God is in utter despair. Frightening isn't it? It certainly scares the hell out of me. A modern day Christian might have preferred Jesus to say something awesome and heroic like. example: "Yea though My body suffers yet my spirit within is triumphant. I will be back! (before babbling in tongues)" But He didn't.

But Jesus' pain was real and unbearable. And his sacrifice on the cross is made all too clear in that statement. God died on the cross. And He did it for us. 

Perhaps the apparent fickleness of God's will is why we put our faith or sense of security in our money in the bank, the love of our spouses/relations, our material possessions, our home, our shares in blue chip companies (often known ironically as Securities), our educational qualifications/ trade skills etc.. Its tangible and "real". We can hold it in our hands. It doesn't need faith.

But when that is taken away - it is clearly a time of testing. What do we do? Do we turn with a sincere heart to God or do we turn to alcohol, drugs, porn, bitterness, rage or other means to cope?

I do not look forward towards my faith being tested. I don't think anyone with any sense of maturity does. Even Jesus was horrified by his fate. Luke 21: 41-43. Ultimately, the only solution is to accept it and endure.

It always seems the darkest just before the first rays of dawn.

So in the end - God met Job and assured him that He was real and that Job's suffering was not random or a big snafu.

In the end, Jesus was resurrected on the 3rd day.

And I guess, in the end, we will all face a glorious victorious entry in Heaven in the end. And for those that suffered greatly and did not receive relief in this life - a better resurrection. And that's what counts isn't it?

This is only a short musing. If you are disturbed by it - relax - and say a prayer. God does answer prayer. It just takes time- sometimes immediate - like the parting of the Red Sea. And sometimes excruciatingly long - like yearning of Abraham and Sarah for a child for example.

 

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