Shall suffer persecution

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

As Christians, perhaps most especially preachers, we can sometimes suffer from a “disease” which creates its own “self-fulfilling prophecy.” One may act like an arrogant jerk, insufferable know-it-all, or total idiot – then claim to be persecuted because of being a Christian when others react negatively and coarsely. It is a glory to suffer as a Christian. There is nothing commendatory in suffering for own sinful and stupid acts and omissions.

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf (1 Peter 4:15-17).

Treasures

Treasures.
 
The following poem was written by Martha Snell Nicholson. She was born 1888 in Nance County, Nebraska, the daughter of Samuel F. Snell and Mary B. Coy. In 1919 she married Howard Wren Nicholson in Washington and thy soon moved to California. According to her obituary and various internet sources, Mrs. Nicholson was an invalid and bedridden for about 30 years before her death in 1957. She and her husband are buried at the Westminster Memorial Park in Orange County, California.
 
Of her, pastor and well-known radio teacher J. Vernon McGee wrote:

I was privileged to know the poet, Martha Snell Nicholson, and to be her pastor. She suffered terrible pain whenever her body was touched, so much so she couldn’t leave her home. Well, she wanted to be baptized by immersion. So, we went to her home and as I baptized her, lowering her into a bathtub filled with water, she screamed out in pain. It was horrible. But if you read any of her poetry, you’d never dream that she suffered so. It was God’s beautiful discipline working in her in order to bless others.

Despite her chronic illnesses (apparently she was a sickly child even from birth), she read widely and developed an enjoyment of poetry. Her suffering became a catalyst for her poetry, spiritual, biblical, and heartfelt in praising her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. WorldCat library catalog has over 2 dozen listings for Martha Snell Nicholson, including Twenty Years of Pain and Thankfulness: by One Who has Learned Songs in the Night (a small brochure).

“Treasures” is the title of the poem below, which teaches that God in his providence empties our hands of “every glittering toy” to fill them with “his own transcendent riches.” I was not aware that the poem had ever been put to music. Since it is 8s.7s. meter, I thought it would work with the well-known tune Holy Manna. Later I discovered that a gospel group called The Couriers have sung it under the title Empty Hands (the music apparently written by Tom Fettke). A lady named Mary W. Bentley has a song on YouTube titled One By One, which uses Nicholson’s poetry from “Treasures.”[i]
 
1. One by one He took them from me,
All the things I valued most,
Until I was empty-handed;
Every glittering toy was lost.
 
2. And I walked earth’s highways, grieving.
In my rags and poverty.
Till I heard His voice inviting,
“Lift your empty hands to Me!”
 
3. So I held my hands toward heaven,
And He filled them with a store
Of His own transcendent riches,
Till they could contain no more.
 
4. And at last I comprehended
With my stupid mind and dull,
That God could not pour His riches
Into hands already full!

---

[i] Library records suggest that “He became sin for us,” a poem by Martha Snell Nicholson, is used with a song in Harmony Bells (G. Kieffer Vaughan, editor, Lawrenceburg, TN: James D. Vaughan Company, 1949).

Suffering as a Christian, Matthew 10:16-28

Matthew 10:16-28:

¹⁶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; ¹⁸ and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. ²⁰ For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. ²¹ And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. ²² And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. ²³ But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. ²⁴ The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. ²⁵ It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? ²⁶ Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. ²⁷ What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. ²⁸ And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

1 Peter 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

The foundation of the suffering

• The nature of the beast – wolves, predators (verse 16)
• The impulse of the nature – hatred, enmity with God (verse 22)

The progression of the suffering

• Begins with hate (verse 22)
• Proceeds to verbal attacks, name-calling (verse 25)
• Advances to physical persecution (verse 23)
• Progresses to legal opposition, incarceration (verses 17-19)
• Ends with execution, killing the body (verses 21, 28)

The counteraction to the suffering

• Behold (verse 16)
• Be wise (verse 16)
• Be harmless (verse 16)
• Beware (verse 17)
• Speak (verses 19-20, 27)
• Flee (verse 23)
• Fear not (verses 26, 28) 

The problem of suffering

This morning a heard a radio preacher say that the book of Job doesn't answer the problem of suffering. I must respectfully disagree. The book of Job does answer the problem of suffering, and the answer is:

There is no answer.
Or
You get no explanation.

Though we read the book and know the back-story, Job did not. He suffered and learned to trust God without an answer to the reason of his suffering.

Though None Go With Me

Last week I watched a movie titled Though None Go With Me (2006). I don't make a habit of recommending movies, but I thought this one was well done and sent out a good message. Though None Go With Me is based on a novel by Jerry Jenkins with that same title. Sources say the movie premiered on Hallmark Channel. It was directed by Armand Mastroianni and stars Cheryl Ladd. It tells the story Elizabeth LeRoy, a Christian woman who endures great losses in her life. We can trust the Lord in our sorrow and suffering. The book's and movie's title comes from the words of a Christian song called I Have Decided to Follow Jesus (and part of the song is referenced in the movie).

I have decided to follow Jesus; 
I have decided to follow Jesus; 
I have decided to follow Jesus; 
No turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, still I will follow; 
Though none go with me, still I will follow; 
Though none go with me, still I will follow; 
No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me; 
The world behind me, the cross before me; 
The world behind me, the cross before me; 
No turning back, no turning back.

The origin of this song lies in obscurity, and is often attributed as "author unknown" or "anonymous". The words were possibly written down by Sadhu Sundar Singh (1889--circa 1929) an Indian Christian minister, a Sikh who converted to Christianity circa 1905. In his book Why, God, Why, Peramangalam Porinju Job tells a story of the origin of the words -- some of which were based on the last words of a Christian convert in Assam in northeast India in the mid-1800s. Tribal leaders persecuted the man and his family and adjured him to renounce his faith. He replied, "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back." The chief ordered the execution of the man's children, but the man said, "Though no one joins me, still I will follow." Next they killed his wife. With a final opportunity to recant, he refused to deny Christ. Before he was executed he said, "The cross before me, the world behind me." Job's story goes on to relate that the village chief came to know Christ, as well as many others in the village.

Singh, it is said, formed the words into an hymn. According to some sources, the melody is also Indian. It is titled ASSAM after the region where the martyr lived and died. William Jensen Reynolds, American musician, teacher, composer and Sacred Harp singer, made an arrangement of the tune, which was published in the Assembly Songbook (of which he was the editor, 1959, Broadman Press). This book was (apparently) used at the 1959 Southern Baptist Convention and Reynolds's version would later become a regular feature in Billy Graham's revival meetings. Much of the song's popularity can be attributed to that connection.

These words falling from the lips of modern Western Christians give the hymn a "decided" decision theology flavor. Knowledge of it's origin in the grace of martyrdom and movement of the Holy Spirit should set a more serious and solemn tone for it.

The pain passes, but the beauty remains

Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) was a French impressionist painter who helped launch the art movement called "Impressionism". In the 1890's Renoir began a battle with rheumatoid arthritis, which eventually disfigured his hands and damaged his joints. He was confined to a wheelchair for much of the later years of his life. However, he continued to paint. 

One day while watching Renoir paint, Henri Matisse (1869–1954), a friend and also an artist, asked him, "Auguste, why do you continue to paint when you are in such pain?" 

Renoir replied, "The pain passes, but the beauty remains." 

Whatever one thinks of Renoir the man or his paintings, one must certainly admire his attitude. He had learned a lesson many seem to not learn. "The pain passes, but the beauty remains." 

Renoir is also reported as saying, "For me, a painting must be a pleasant thing, joyous and pretty — yes, pretty. There are too many unpleasant things in life for us to fabricate still more."

Reflections on suffering and evil

Going Beyond Clichés: Christian Reflection on Suffering and Evil is an interesting lecture by Donald A. Carson at the Lanier Theological Library in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, April 27, 2013.

Carson proposes to lay down six biblical pillars that together sustain a platform on which to build a Christian worldview concerning the difficulty of suffering. I found some minor points with which to quibble, but the bigger picture offers great insight. I recommend you watch/listen.

The Six Pillars to Support a Christian Worldview for Stability Through Suffering are:
1. Insights from the beginning of the Bible's storyline
2. insights from the end of the Bible's storyline
3. insights from the place of innocent suffering
4. insights from the mystery of providence
5. insights from the centrality of the incarnation and the cross
6. insights from taking up our cross

Three excerpts:
"If you live love enough, you will suffer."
"If you live love enough, you will be bereaved. If you don't live long enough, you will bereave someone else. Most of us manage both."
"No matter your worldview, you must face the reality of suffering and evil."

I Reckon

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Here in East Texas and the Southern United States, it was once very common to get the response "I reckon." When we say or said that the meaning was "I think" or "I suppose". When Paul uses these words in Romans 8:18, he may sound like a Southerner, but he means something much more definite than supposing. Paul is accounting, had calculated or counted up the situation and is confident of the truth he proposes. If we study Romans chapter 8, we can find the things he counts toward the truth that present sufferings have no right or realm to compare to further glory.

Sufferings have a purpose. Christians have a future. Seen in that light, we see small sufferings and resplendent glory. In ourselves we focus on and maximize the bad. But the reckoning clears away the fog that we see Christ only.

There is a future hope, vs. 19-25
There is a present intercessor, vs. 26-27.
All things work together for good vs. 28-30.
All is grounded in God and His promise, vs. 31-39.

The troubles of Job

Job 1:21-22 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Job 2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Did Satan initiate the troubles of Job? What was God's part in it? Can God be credited with work that Satan did? In Job 1:11 Satan says, "But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face." And then in verse 21 of all his loss Job says, "the LORD hath taken away," and the Bible says in this "Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." When we get to chapter two, of all this God says Satan "movedst me against him."

When Satan went "forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job," Job's wife told him to "curse God, and die." Rather Job replied, "What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" Again the Bible says in this "did not Job sin with his lips."

Anyone care to explain how they see these verses?

Can we agree with all these statements?
1. Job SINNED NOT (in this).
2. GOD SINNED NOT (not in this, not ever).
3. All Satan does IS SIN.

If so, let us consider:
1. Job SINNED NOT, and he said God took away his children and his belongings (1:21-22), and also said that he received what happened at the hand of God (2:10). If Job sinned not in what he said, then God is in some way responsible for what happened. If God were not responsible, then Job would have sinned because that is what he said in both places.
2. GOD SINNED NOT, and he said to Satan "thou movedst me against him." (2:3) Since God sinned not in what He said, then Satan is in some way responsible for what happened.
3. All Satan does IS SIN. Yet the Scriptures attribute the calamitous events to both All-Holy and Righteous God and to all-sinful Satan. These are the same events -- death of his children, loss of his assets, and miserable boils from head to foot -- not different events. So there is some sense in which God can be responsible for the same events carried out by Satan, and yet Satan be guilty and God be righteous.

Oops

Acts 19:13-16 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

I wonder if God gave the sons of Sceva a split-second between "who are ye" and the man leaping on them? That frozen moment in time just before the pain begins. That split-second to think "oops" just before the consequences of our actions hit us.