The Way of the Master moment episode Suffering

Serious question. What type of suffering (in the U.S.) comes from writing letters to churches?

 

You have no idea what suffering is.

 

I have a problem with the thinking of the OP.

It seems (in my reading) assumed that in some manner suffering is a mark of Godliness.

That is not either a mark of a believer, nor some gauge of Godliness.

Fruits of the Spirit (love, virtue, knowledge, self control, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness...) THOSE are marks of Godliness.

"Suffering for the Gospel" is placing suffering as some grand achievement or goal according the my reading of the OP.

The believer doesn't suffer FOR the Gospel, rather the believer suffers because of the Gospel. The spreading of the Gospel will bring some measure of push back from the world and worldly.

 

Who were those in Scripture who spoke highly of themselves and despised others?

 

I think that I am back on Evan's Ignore List.

 

The only thing you know of Daniel and his three friends is what you have read. You know nothing of actual suffering. Your childish letter writing campaign is foolish and any suffering you think you experience form that is only at your childish behavior. It has nothing to do with the gospel. The prophets of old who preached on the street did not consider disagreement from other people suffering, nor was any ridicule. Least wise not compared to the beatings, stoning, and slaughter of those same prophets.

Have you been beaten? Have you been stoned? Has anyone attempted to take your life in any way? Daniel was thrown in a lions pit. Where exactly was your lion's pit? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were thrown in a furnace so hot that it consumed the men who threw them in it. Where exactly was your furnace?

If you have not been in a furnace, a lion's den, if you have not been beaten or had someone attempt to take your life then maybe you should "examine yourself to see if you are in the faith". I have no patience for someone who attempts to use the gospel as tool to lift himself up to say "God I am thankful I am not like the other men".

Again I say you do not know what suffering is. Neither do you know what the Great Commission is.

 

What is suffering for Christ?

2 Cor. 11:24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,
26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.
27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

 

Are you really wanting to get into a suffering contest? How does that bring glory to God?

 

Evan, this would be a good post to practice the useage of the Edit feature. It makes you seem like the Pharisee with the hollow cheeks who brags about his fastings.

Ed. to add- Anyone is free to copy this. I think that I am back in Evan Ignore Land.