Francis Chan of Cornerstone Church (Simi Valley, CA) discussed suffering during Verge Conference’s 6th session. Here is what he said:
Good ministry is full of suffering. Yet we are surprised when we suffer.
Do not be surprised when people persecute you (1 Peter 4:12). In fact, you should be concerned if people speak too well of you because that is how the false prophets were treated. At the end of the day, it is all about the Holy Spirit and what He has called you to do.
Jesus did not come to bring peace (Matthew 10 ). Blessed are you when people hate you because of Jesus (Luke 22). The world hated Jesus before it hated you (John 15). The apostles rejoiced at the opportunity to suffer for the cause of Christ (Acts 5). We are heirs of Christ provided that we suffer with Him (Romans 8). For the sake of Christ, you should not only believe in Him but suffer for Him (Philippians 1:29). Share in the suffering (2 Timothy 1:8). Let us bear the reproach that Christ endured (Hebrews 13:12).
If you are not suffering, there is a problem. Imagine how close you’d be with Jesus and how safe you would feel had you suffered alongside Him. Then you would know this is real.
You must learn to love people who betray you. The highest form of love is to love people who betray you.
If we really are serious about wanting Christ - to experience Christ, to know Him - we must be ready for suffering.
I agree that some of the suffering in ministry comes from pain-in-the-neck people who betray us. But some of it comes from loving the people you serve alongside so much and then being with them as they suffer: from cancer, or grief, or job loss or tragedy or whatever. That is a high form of love, too. Thanks for the post.
this brings a whole new light my mind, i needed this today. thank you for sharing!
Endeavor Church
I love Francis, but this transcript does not ring true for vintage Christianity.
Saying that Jesus did not come to bring peace usurps one of his greatest titles - “Prince of Peace”
Also
“If you are not suffering, there is a problem”? Suffering IS an essential - and often under-preached - part of Christianity, but not its entirety. A statement like this may encourage a walk of guilt, especially when God DOES still bless us: GRACE!
Jesus’ initial mission statement certainly didn’t point out that we should JUST languish in suffering in Luke 4:28,29:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Hallelujah!
bignorm.net