Desiring God and Suffering for It - Part 1

Persecution is the kind of suffering that is directly linked to a believer's faith in Christ. However, in Desiring God Piper points out that "All experiences of suffering in the path of Christian obedience, whether from persecution or sickness or accident, have this in common: They all threaten our faith in the goodness of God and tempt us to leave the path of obedience..."  They are all "intended by Satan for the destruction of our faith and governed by God for the purifying of our faith." Though Piper does not see eye to eye with Gregory Boyd (see my post on the book God at War) I think these quotes reinforce the reality of a demonic realm that is actively waging war against mankind, and is certainly bent on destroying the faith of those trying to follow Jesus.  So regardless of the kind of suffering, we need to be on our guard against the enemy's plan to wreck our faith.

After comparing various ways we might suffer, Piper moves on to Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 15:32, "If the dead are not raised, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.'"  The hope of the resurrection (being raised from the dead and being united with Christ in glory) is the only reason worth the suffering that we choose to face as believers.  If the dead are not raised, if there is no hope of enjoying God forever in eternal life, then we should just seek to live a "normal, simple, comfortable ordinary life of human delights that may enjoy with no troubling thoughts of heaven of hell or sin or holiness or God."  Then the all too convicting remark.  "...many... professing Christians seem to aim at just this - and call it Christianity."

If we're honest, Piper is dead on with that comment, and if we're even more honest, a lot of us are in that boat, more concerned with living comfortably than choosing a path where we will suffer some kind of loss in order that we may gain Christ (Phillipians 3).  I would add that this is not just referring to those "health and wealth gospel" people, but is very inclusive of your average professing Christian in America.  

Piper continues, "Am I overstating this?  Judge for yourself.  How many Christians do you know who could say, "The lifestyle I have chosen as a Christian would be utterly foolish and pitiable if there is no resurrection?"  I'm convicted, are you?  I'm asking God to help me to not just walk the path of least resistance and most comfort, but instead help me to seek first His Kingdom and take up my cross, whatever suffering or sacrifice that might entail.

There's still more to share and consider from this chapter, so I guess there's a Part 2 coming...