tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7949131352956279305.post4394717723656562347..comments2023-06-07T09:48:33.298-04:00Comments on The Voice of the Martyrs Canada: We are Christians; we will sufferThe Voice of the Martyrs Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837720256522883311noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7949131352956279305.post-48931607723994123772010-12-17T16:41:00.822-05:002010-12-17T16:41:00.822-05:00I think I would personally have a hard time tellin...I think I would personally have a hard time telling a mother who is burying her beheaded daughter to just rejoice and she'll be fine (just one of thousands of stories). The verses that refer to rejoicing are meant as encouragement not condemnation, so I think we need to be careful how we in our world of ease approach those who have suffered beyond our imagination. Rejoice... why? Because great is our reward, because God is glorified through us, because Christ like character is the result, etc. "Rejoice!" is a reminder that all of these promises outweigh what would otherwise destroy us. There's also a lot of ink devoted to heart wrenching cries to God in the face of suffering (e.g. Psalms). If we look at God's response, it is one of compassion; He embraces the broken. Those who are not suffering are commanded to suffer with those who are (Heb. 13:3). Those who are suffering are commanded to rejoice in the eternal perspective that sees beyond the excruciating pain. I am concerned that we take the whole of scripture into account and that we not wield select passages to pad our own comfort zone. Are we really in a position to stand in judgment of our brothers and sisters?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com