19 July 2006

Douglas John Hall continues with The Church and the Cross.

First Hall sites three examples of texts that show the place of suffering in the life of the body of Christ. These are: Romans 5:1-5, 2 Corinthians 4:5-11, 1 Peter 4:12-17 (it is worth the read).
Passages like these describe a Christian life so foreign to the average North American congregation - and indeed, so foreign to the vast majority of Christian churches throughout Western Christendom - that it is hard for us to appropriate them or even to hear them. "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is coming upon you." It would be difficult, on this continent, to find even one Christian congregation that could immediately identify with this statement, except among African American congregations here and there, or perhaps among small churches comprised of indigenous peoples, or perhaps in certain gay and lesbian communities - in short, among minorities, who may for this reason be more truly Christ's church than the others. As for the average Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox church the prospect of a "fiery ordeal" is far from the minds of the people gathered for worship of a Sunday...

Most often, I think what we equate with suffering is suffering that comes upon us simply because we are human. Illness, tragic events, loss of a loved one, loss of a job and income might fall into this category of suffering - and it is suffering! And yet, when suffering appears in these texts from Scripture, we are hearing of suffering that takes place within the community of saints due to the lives that emerge as Jesus is followed and the cross is picked up along the way. The suffering is due to action...the action is usually for others - on behalf of others - alongside others. Most often, it is action that can simply be side-stepped and not become a part of our lives. Whenever we stand beside those with whom few would stand because it is thought and believed that they deserve no one to be on their side and making a home for them, we can expect to face the consequences. The consequences are as clear as those faced by Jesus when he ventured, by choice, into the homes of the ones you would prefer to ignore if you wanted to be counted as the holy. Well, holy becomes something new in Jesus. It is so new, it is often rejected and considered outside the bounds of the faith. Whenever we are put there, you can bet that there will be suffering.

Connection: It is with our persistent "siding-with" those without allies that we find ourselves pushed out of the larger circle of life. And yet, the followers of Jesus venture to those places and those people and we praise God all the way.

By hope, O God, we begin this adventure of life that takes us into an every deepening experience of the community of your saints. Knowing that you wait for us and call us toward your banquet feast we press on and begin to see the glory of the wideness of your gracious Reign and we give you thanks. Amen.