Three Kinds of Suffering (One Kind of Hope)

Full disclosure. I am a Christian. In saying that, it does not exclude me from an impartial treatment of suffering. In fact, it lends itself to a more precise treatment of suffering. For I have known all three. With that being said, I now invite you Into My Heart.

There are three kinds of suffering in this world. The one spoken most of is the suffering that results from evil in this world. Standing alone it will never make any sense. It causes much hopelessness.

The second one is wide spread. It is the suffering we endure as a result of unwise living. This is that unnecessary suffering that usually leads to heartbreak as well as violence and wars.

The third is distinct. It is suffering for the sake of Christ. It may be referred to as “Christian suffering.” This kind of suffering is paradoxical, in that joy can be experienced from it. In fact, it has been said to Christians to ‘count it all joy’ when we experience suffering for the sake of Christ. 

Now this universal suffering as it were, that seems to make no sense, is in fact due to the disruption of God’s will being effectively at work within the human race that resulted in the suffering of the whole of Creation. In fact it resulted in the Creation being subjected to suffering.

• Subjected: means brought under; to bear the load.

The suffering from unwise leaving can be tricky. Especially for the Christian. He or she may be experiencing suffering not for the sake of Christ but for the sake of their own folly; their own selfish deeds.

• Jesus said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,  your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy,  your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (see Matthew 6:22‭-‬23)

• There is commentary I have read about the above verses and they are quite illuminating for the eye in which is the lamp of the body (see Barnes, Jamieson, Vincent).

Suffering for the sake of our own selfish motives can never result in what suffering for the sake of Christ results in—the power that brings about forgiveness, freedom, reconciliation and redemption in the life of a Christ follower.

For those who suffer for the sake of their own folly and think it be a righteous suffering they are encountering, must tread lightly. They will need an outside perspective to inject truth into their life lest they continue on suffering and causing suffering that does not lead to reconciliation and eternal life.

• As I referred to Matthew 6:22-23 above I was also reminded from it what another author wrote that lends itself well to, ‘For those who suffer for the sake of their own folly and think it be a righteous suffering they are encountering.’ The phrase the author used was “double-minded.” 

• Being double-minded is simply having two minds. Thinking two ways. That results in confusion and distortion. 

• Now in referring to Matthew 6:22-23, in the whole contexts of what Jesus was speaking about (see Matthew 5 through Matthew 7), it had to do with a mind that is fixed on God rather than the things of this world. Again, the concept of double-minded is presented here in all the words of Jesus. For the mind that is fixed on the things of the world lends itself to a person seeking their own way and usually justifying their own way. This is darkness and no one who is in such a place that is distorted can see rightly and thereby act rightly. 

• This is why Jesus came. To bring light to the world and to put an end to the darkness that distorts our vision. So that in all things and in every way, we may see singularly, properly and without a double-mind mentality. To be focus on the things above; namely God. Rather than the things of this world that lead to all things calamitous (click here). 

• Lastly, and to sum it up. An avaricious or covetous person cannot know that they are such without a guide. They are the blind leading the blind. However, the blind by all accounts must seek after a guide. This guide as it pertains to our collective blindness [that is, focusing on the things of the world rather than the things of God] is none other than Jesus who is called Christ and His Gospel He has preached.

I continue on with the folly of unwise living and the suffering it incurs on the human race as it pertains to the Christian. The Christian has every opportunity to no longer live unwisely and circumspectly, to know how to respond to the question of evil in this world that leads to suffering that seems to make no sense, and to count it all joy as they endure various trials that lead to suffering for the sake of Christ.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

(see James 1:2‭-‬4)

Now returning to Universal suffering that seems to make no sense and without the Christian perspective, it will remain making no sense. Nevertheless, in the beginning when God [the God encountered in the Genesis account of Creation], created all things to include man [mankind that is]. All things were by God’s account very good. What we may refer to as a perfect state. All of Creation was in harmony with God and itself. However, in the narrative of this Created state where God looked upon all that He did and deemed it very good, an anomaly as it were was present. It was deceit [or falsehood] manifested in the flesh; as a cunning serpent [that we come to learn is Satan and the devil].

As a result of distrust that lead to disobedience that lead to consequences for unwise living regardless of the outside perspective of God being present, mankind was dealt a tragic blow—they were cast out of this perfect state where death, disease, illness, weakness, sorrow, pain and suffering did not exist. From that moment on suffering through sin entered into the world and the whole of Creation became subjected to that suffering and as a result, violence engulfed the world and suffering spread rampantly to all people without prejudice.

The Narrative of Suffering

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.  

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.  

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. 

Because of this, [God gave them over] to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.  Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, [so God gave them over] to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. 

(Romans 1:18‭-‬32 NIV)

• This ‘God gave them over’ does not mean God caused the human race to act wickedly as they do [for God cannot be tempted nor does He tempt anyone]. It means He did not force them to act as He wanted them to act but allowed them to act as they freely choose to act apart from the ‘knowledge of God’ and His ‘righteous decree.’

• This initial ‘righteous decree’ was plainly made known to mankind, as God had made it plain to them, in that He said: You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die. (Genesis 2:16‭-‬17)

• A portion of this death is being given over to our own ways to act apart from the knowledge of God in which no man can do what is righteous, and its result is the depravity [the sinful desires in our hearts], that all of Creation is experiencing and has encountered.

Again, as a Christian I am not bias to or exempt from suffering but more equipped to address suffering as a means to an end rather than making no sense and merely continuing on being unchecked. It is written: For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. (Romans 8:19-22)

• Christians are subjected to the very evils of the world. 
• Christians endure much of the same suffering that all mankind and Creation suffers.

• However, Christians have hope for they were given hope.
• Hope to be liberated.
• Hope of freedom and glory.
• Hope that keeps Christians expectant of God’s promises of redemption from suffering.

The Narrative of Life, Hope, Freedom and Glory

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. 

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.  

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”  

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

(Romans 8:1‭-‬39)

The above two references from the Bible located in the Book of Romans [that I referred to as narratives] paint a very detailed image for us. Universal suffering, the universal suffering that came from unwise living and the hope of freedom and glory born from God raising Jesus from the dead. These two left unchecked will continue to ravage the whole of Creation to include the human race. The latter, is the power of God to free us all! This power is commonly referred to as the “Christian worldview.” This worldview is the only view that presents a message of hope concerning the issue of suffering that is both coherent and comprehensive. This coherent and comprehensive message is found only in Jesus; He is the Christ [the Anointed Savior] of God. The Son of God, sent by God. And we read of this hope above where it promises:

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.  We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 

(Romans 8:18-30)

• Whether it be Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Atheism or any other religious ism. Upon studying them and looking at what they have to offer. Two things we will ultimately come away with:

• 1). They all may offer some manner of doing good. 

• 2). None of them sufficiently give an answer or hope to the problem of suffering.

As a result of this hope; the Christian hope and this promise from God, we who are in Christ and are found to be in Christ [that is, safely kept for the hope of the redemption of our mortal bodies and the restoration of the whole of Creation as a result of our redemption] can know this and say this:

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

 (Romans 8:31‭-‬39). 

To which I say, Amen [so be it God. I believe this to be true; your truth].

So whether it be what many refer to as senseless evil or it is suffering as a consequence of unwise living or the suffering for the sake of Christ, there is a hope that what is, shall not remain and what has and is being experienced will ultimately come to an end. God has made a way. Christ who is Jesus the Son of God, is that way. There is no coherent and comprehensive way other than Jesus. And as with all things from God, we are given the right, the privilege, the honor to choose that way. It is not forced upon us.

I for one loathe to live in a world and in a body where suffering is experienced. Although it seems to go unchecked it will not always be so. God in Christ has sought to do away with that, and His promise is that when the revealing of God’s sons [the redeeming of man brought about the suffering of Christ on the Cross for the forgiveness of the sin of the world], then all off Creation will be set free from the bondage of suffering it has been subjected to.

In all things this was God’s plan of salvation. It was a plan that God knew would restore hope; would restore all. And for that, I am thankful to God and I am hopeful as a Christian who freely chooses Christ. For in all accounts He is the hope of glory [the redemption that does away with all suffering]. 

Amen [I believe it to be God’s truth].

—F.A. Lugo

Initially written at: 8:42 a.m. 10/11/18
Finalized and posted on: 11:08 a.m.