To suffer christianly

             What is influential in Christian suffering? It lies in the fact that it is voluntary “on account of the Word” and “for righteousness’ sake.” “Everyone has a cross to bear.” Christ unabashedly speaks of what would await his disciples when they witnessed to him in the world. “This I have told you so that you will not be offended. They will exclude you from the synagogues; yes, the time will come when whoever kills you will think he is offering God a service” (Jn. 16:1; Mt. 16:23). The possibility of offense consists in being persecuted, ridiculed, cast out from society, misunderstood, and finally put to death and in such a way that those who do it think they are doing God, or the cause of righteousness, a service. It is to this suffering Christ speaks and promises heaven’s reward.

            Whether you experience adversities in life, whether things perhaps go downhill for you, though you as a Christian will most assuredly bear these sufferings patiently, unlike many others in the world, however patiently you bear them, this suffering is not yet akin to Christ’s suffering. To suffer christianly is not to endure the inescapable but to suffer evil at the hands of people because you voluntarily will and endeavor to do only the good: to willingly suffer on account of the Word and for the sake of righteousness. One must act in conformity to the pattern; experience the act and the response it prompts, before he fully understands the meaning of the act. It is not difficult to understand that, according to Kierkegaard, Christianity requires suffering for the Gospel. But in order to comprehend the full significance of suffering for the Gospel, not must actually suffer for the Gospel. To grasp the thought of suffering, and the message of joy in suffering, to endure suffering and truly find good in it, to choose to suffer and believe that this is true wisdom unto blessedness, a man requires the guidance of God.

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