by Ray Paget
One of the true things Eliphaz said to Job was, "Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward," (Job 5:7) but, for some reason, everyone seems to dread suffering.
No matter how hard we try to avoid and eliminate them, pain and suffering will always be our lot. That is not to say we shouldn't attempt to relieve them wherever and whenever possible. Whose heart is not moved by televised pleas to "adopt" third world children through a monthly pledge to a Christian relief organization? Or, when confronted by a church or neighborhood emergency, don't we offer practical help to ease the family's suffering? But, while these actions are right and good, the fact remains we can only temporarily alleviate suffering on a small scale. Suffering will only be permanently eliminated for believers in the new heaven and earth.
True compassion
While suffering is inevitable, it is not something believers need experience alone. The Apostle Paul's analogy of Christ's body having many members is significant to our understanding of suffering (1 Corinthians 12:12). Whenever one member of the body hurts, his pain affects every other member (1 Cor. 12:26). Corporate suffering is not limited to an "I-feel-your-pain" sympathetic response. Our response should be that of providing comfort and encouragement in tangible ways. There's a seemingly infinite number of ways in which suffering can be shared.
As Proverbs 17:17 says: "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." In fact, the original meaning of the word compassion was 'to suffer alongside.' The person suffering from a terminal disease could expect a compassionate response to include financial assistance, physical relief and care, spiritual nourishment, companionship, and more. How awful for him or her if the church flinches in the face of suffering.
Despite the opportunities for ministry it brings, many Christians are uncomfortable with the suffering of others. One reason is that many members of the Body are greatly influenced by the humanistic philosophy that man controls his own destiny and can fix whatever is broken through his own intellect and skill. Consequently, too many of us are shocked and even surprised when suffering comes along. Humanism has no system for understanding or dealing with suffering. It offers no hope for the sufferer, and has no foundation upon which to work through accompanying fears and anxieties.
People suffering a terminal illness or other debilitating disability arrive at the brink of suicide by way of overwhelming hopelessness and disillusionment. Equally perplexed and discouraged, friends and loved ones find there is little they can say or do to help, save offer feeble assent to the death wish. Thus, the terminally ill individual is cut adrift, perhaps not physically, but certainly emotionally.
While healthy and in control, people seldom think about the storms lurking on the horizon. When the tempests of life howl, they suddenly find there is no safe harbor in which to anchor. In fact, there is no anchor.
Although believers have an anchor and a safe harbor, and must accept suffering as part of God's will in our lives, it is wrong for us to aim at suffering (Rom. 8:28). The Lord Jesus didn't seek to be crucified, but obediently accepted it as God's perfect will (Mt. 26:39).
Despite what some religious traditions teach, believers don't gain merit or grace through the suffering process. The Lord provides sufficient grace for our suffering (2 Cor. 12:9), but meritorious suffering is found solely in the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary. Similarly, Paul's comments about taking pleasure in his sufferings were not masochistic or ascetic rhetoric (2 Cor. 12:10). He understood that the more a person realizes his weakness and insignificance, the more the Lord Jesus Christ is magnified in any progress or success our ministry efforts may produce.
Ultimately, those who promote assisted suicide are more concerned with control than with providing a 'comfortable' end for a suffering individual. Ironically, while imagining they can cheat death by taking their own lives or the life of another, assisted suicide enthusiasts actually play directly into death's hands. Death is the victor. Only believers have assurance that "death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Cor. 15:54).
Great opportunity
The church has a tremendous evangelistic opportunity in addressing the issue of assisted suicide. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides hope in hopeless situations. A concerned Christian can help an individual who is contemplating suicide understand that there is the promise of eternal life in Christ even in the face of death. It is the church's responsibility to warn those who are without Christ that something much more hideous than their present suffering awaits them after death - eternal punishment and suffering in hell.
While not everyone who supports assisted suicide will understand the Christian arguments for life with suffering, God in His grace will certainly work in the hearts of some to convict them of sin and bring them to belief on Jesus Christ for salvation. The value of life and the sovereign work of God through human suffering will rarely receive a fair hearing unless we mix it with compassionate care. Success is God's business. Our responsibility is to share the good news and point people to the Light of Life, no matter how sad and dark the day.
by Ray Paget
One of the true things Eliphaz said to Job was, "Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward," (Job 5:7) but, for some reason, everyone seems to dread suffering.
No matter how hard we try to avoid and eliminate them, pain and suffering will always be our lot. That is not to say we shouldn't attempt to relieve them wherever and whenever possible. Whose heart is not moved by televised pleas to "adopt" third world children through a monthly pledge to a Christian relief organization? Or, when confronted by a church or neighborhood emergency, don't we offer practical help to ease the family's suffering? But, while these actions are right and good, the fact remains we can only temporarily alleviate suffering on a small scale. Suffering will only be permanently eliminated for believers in the new heaven and earth.
True compassion
While suffering is inevitable, it is not something believers need experience alone. The Apostle Paul's analogy of Christ's body having many members is significant to our understanding of suffering (1 Corinthians 12:12). Whenever one member of the body hurts, his pain affects every other member (1 Cor. 12:26). Corporate suffering is not limited to an "I-feel-your-pain" sympathetic response. Our response should be that of providing comfort and encouragement in tangible ways. There's a seemingly infinite number of ways in which suffering can be shared.
As Proverbs 17:17 says: "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." In fact, the original meaning of the word compassion was 'to suffer alongside.' The person suffering from a terminal disease could expect a compassionate response to include financial assistance, physical relief and care, spiritual nourishment, companionship, and more. How awful for him or her if the church flinches in the face of suffering.
Despite the opportunities for ministry it brings, many Christians are uncomfortable with the suffering of others. One reason is that many members of the Body are greatly influenced by the humanistic philosophy that man controls his own destiny and can fix whatever is broken through his own intellect and skill. Consequently, too many of us are shocked and even surprised when suffering comes along. Humanism has no system for understanding or dealing with suffering. It offers no hope for the sufferer, and has no foundation upon which to work through accompanying fears and anxieties.
People suffering a terminal illness or other debilitating disability arrive at the brink of suicide by way of overwhelming hopelessness and disillusionment. Equally perplexed and discouraged, friends and loved ones find there is little they can say or do to help, save offer feeble assent to the death wish. Thus, the terminally ill individual is cut adrift, perhaps not physically, but certainly emotionally.
While healthy and in control, people seldom think about the storms lurking on the horizon. When the tempests of life howl, they suddenly find there is no safe harbor in which to anchor. In fact, there is no anchor.
Although believers have an anchor and a safe harbor, and must accept suffering as part of God's will in our lives, it is wrong for us to aim at suffering (Rom. 8:28). The Lord Jesus didn't seek to be crucified, but obediently accepted it as God's perfect will (Mt. 26:39).
Despite what some religious traditions teach, believers don't gain merit or grace through the suffering process. The Lord provides sufficient grace for our suffering (2 Cor. 12:9), but meritorious suffering is found solely in the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary. Similarly, Paul's comments about taking pleasure in his sufferings were not masochistic or ascetic rhetoric (2 Cor. 12:10). He understood that the more a person realizes his weakness and insignificance, the more the Lord Jesus Christ is magnified in any progress or success our ministry efforts may produce.
Ultimately, those who promote assisted suicide are more concerned with control than with providing a 'comfortable' end for a suffering individual. Ironically, while imagining they can cheat death by taking their own lives or the life of another, assisted suicide enthusiasts actually play directly into death's hands. Death is the victor. Only believers have assurance that "death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Cor. 15:54).
Great opportunity
The church has a tremendous evangelistic opportunity in addressing the issue of assisted suicide. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides hope in hopeless situations. A concerned Christian can help an individual who is contemplating suicide understand that there is the promise of eternal life in Christ even in the face of death. It is the church's responsibility to warn those who are without Christ that something much more hideous than their present suffering awaits them after death - eternal punishment and suffering in hell.
While not everyone who supports assisted suicide will understand the Christian arguments for life with suffering, God in His grace will certainly work in the hearts of some to convict them of sin and bring them to belief on Jesus Christ for salvation. The value of life and the sovereign work of God through human suffering will rarely receive a fair hearing unless we mix it with compassionate care. Success is God's business. Our responsibility is to share the good news and point people to the Light of Life, no matter how sad and dark the day.