Or near enough to the western bumper sticker approach to suffering!
In this view, all suffering is disgusting, repugnant, toxic and to be avoided at all costs. It happens randomly, like a drive by shooting that has no purpose, provocation or reason.
Suffering is never good.
But is that really the case? It is certainly difficult to describe specific good things about suffering, especially when you’re trying to describe it to the person suffering. But the Bible seems to point to some good in suffering, even glory in 1 Pe 4:12-14. It makes us partners with Christ, we will see his glory, and the Spirit rests on us. All of these things are good.
There is no way that one could come to a reasonable conclusion that following Christ will enable us to avoid suffering. In practice, it certainly seems that suffering goes hand in hand with following Jesus.
So Peter says: Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. (1Pe 4:12 NLT)
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