Suffering? That's not love, it can't be!

Life is HELL. (o my goodness, I cannot believe a follower of Christ just said that word!) I apologize for the harshness of this simple phrase. If you are offended by this or call it a sin, then please find a Christian (if you know me, you will notice the pun here, for I do not believe in Christianity or the title Christian, but only a disciple and reconciled man) who sugar-coats reality and read his blogs.

I have yet to meet a person on this planet who has seen no troubles and felt no pain. Suffering is everywhere in everyone. The world is full of death and destruction:



Terror Attacks of 9/11



The Holocaust and Hitler



Mao and the Chinese Communist Empire



The Genocides in Sudan



Fire's and Hurricanes wrecking our homes



Family members dying



Alcohol abuse, drug abuse, physical abuse,



Broken Hearts, Physical injuries...



The List is endless



Where is God?



Why is he causing me to suffer?



Back it up... Who is the prince of this world? Who owns everything material and may use it as he pleases?

We are living in enemy-occupied territory! Earth is not our dominion anymore. Its the Prince of Darkness's Kingdom correct? Genesis? Absolutely! So don't forget, The earth in controlled by pure evil. Who said life would be easy with Christ? (Joel Osteen? Stop twisting Scripture) Throw that garbage away and realize that its going to be a whole lot harder. God protect me, for I am walking in the heart of the enemy's base! Every day we are going to be batted down by him. The Psalmist in chapter 23 felt this reality. Walking through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, there is much evil to fear. The path is narrow. The Gate is narrow. But there is a staff and rod steering us if we recognize the shepherd behind it.

So now about this idealogy of a Prosperity Gospel... The concept that if you are going through hardships, if Life if HELL right now, you can just pray to God, and you will succeed. You will find financial relief, or emotional relief. (again Joel Osteen? what Bible do you read?)

I believe John Piper hits the nail on the head:

The Prosperity Gospel is CRAP. Where in the the Scriptures is this found!? Do you think that people around the world, in africa and asia and south america see God glorified because you own a big house or drive a BMW?


NO!

Do you know when God is most glorified? When you are driving down the highway at 65 mph. and a drunk drive comes across the medium and slams into your car and your little 12 year old girl goes flying out the the front window and lands on the street dead!

AND you say

Through the DEEPEST possible pain.

"God is enough. God is enough. He is Good and all satisfying. My life, my baby girl may fail me. But God is glorified and is enough for me."

(John Pipers message)


Thats the Gospel. Thats faith
Life will never be easy, because life belongs to him who sits on the throne of lies and deceit.
But remember God is good through it all. And each day is a battle for the King. The ending to the war has already been decided. Victory is with US!