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Suffering Vs Health & Wealth in Christian faith.
At the council of Council of Quiercy in 853 AD these words were written:
The fathers of the council were following the teaching of Christ in the words we have received from the holy scriptures:
Yet there is a sense in which the body of Christ (Christians) suffer one for another. There is the obvious sense seen when a minister of the gospel - one who in his/her work of evangelism - suffers martyrdom or physical beatings because of their teaching work. And there is the less obvious sense in which a minister of the gospel - any Christian - suffers for the example and sake of others. Both kinds of suffering ought to be offered to Christ in union with his own suffering for the benefit of the body and for the benefit of the whole world.
The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the "one mediator between God and men" [SUP]1Tim 2:5[/SUP]. But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, "the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery" is offered to all men. He calls his disciples to "take up [their] cross and follow (him)",[SUP]Matt 16:24[/SUP] for "Christ also suffered for (us), leaving (us) an example so that (we) should follow in his steps." [SUP]1Pet 2:21[/SUP]. In fact Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries.[SUP]Mark 10:39; ⇒ John 21:18-19; ⇒ Col 1:24[/SUP]This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.[SUP]Luke 2:35[/SUP] Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven. (source § 618)
These observations - drawn from the holy scriptures - point to Christian suffering as part of Christian redemption rather than as something contrary to it. Yet some believe and teach that suffering is unnecessary, undesirable, and for a Christian, completely out of accord with the purposes of God. Health, wealth, prosperity, are the promises of some teachers. This ought not to be.
At the council of Council of Quiercy in 853 AD these words were written:
There is not, never has been, and never will be a single human being for whom Christ did not suffer.
Matthew 18:13-14 [13] And if he should happen to find it: Amen I say to you, that he has more joy over that one, than over the ninety-nine which did not go astray. [14] Even so, it is not the will before your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should be lost.
Matthew 20:27-28 [27] And whoever will want to be first among you, he shall be your servant, [28] even as the Son of man has not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a redemption for many."
Romans 5:18-19 [18] Therefore, just as through the offence of one, all men fell under condemnation, so also through the justice of one, all men fall under justification unto life. [19] For, just as through the disobedience of one man, many were established as sinners, so also through the obedience of one man, many shall be established as just.
Matthew 20:27-28 [27] And whoever will want to be first among you, he shall be your servant, [28] even as the Son of man has not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a redemption for many."
Romans 5:18-19 [18] Therefore, just as through the offence of one, all men fell under condemnation, so also through the justice of one, all men fall under justification unto life. [19] For, just as through the disobedience of one man, many were established as sinners, so also through the obedience of one man, many shall be established as just.
The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the "one mediator between God and men" [SUP]1Tim 2:5[/SUP]. But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, "the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery" is offered to all men. He calls his disciples to "take up [their] cross and follow (him)",[SUP]Matt 16:24[/SUP] for "Christ also suffered for (us), leaving (us) an example so that (we) should follow in his steps." [SUP]1Pet 2:21[/SUP]. In fact Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries.[SUP]Mark 10:39; ⇒ John 21:18-19; ⇒ Col 1:24[/SUP]This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.[SUP]Luke 2:35[/SUP] Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven. (source § 618)
These observations - drawn from the holy scriptures - point to Christian suffering as part of Christian redemption rather than as something contrary to it. Yet some believe and teach that suffering is unnecessary, undesirable, and for a Christian, completely out of accord with the purposes of God. Health, wealth, prosperity, are the promises of some teachers. This ought not to be.
