On Saturday I stood at the graveside of my dear Christian friend Ellen Bazen. Before addressing the gathered family and friends, I once again pondered the question, "Why do believers have to die?"
Tag Archives: Suffering
Suffering and Glory
July 2, 2010 – 11:46 AM
We are greatly encouraged to feature a new article by TGC Council member and pastor of Willingdon Church (in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada) John Neufeld. In "Suffering and Glory," Neufeld uses Romans 8:18-25 to lift our eyes heavenward as a means of seeing our suffering in the light of eternity. Here's how Neufeld opens: Living [...]
Semester in the Seminary of Suffering
March 8, 2010 – 7:54 AM
As I journey through this semester in the seminary of suffering, I am realizing that I have sought too long to avoid suffering in my life. Furthermore, my eyes are opening to the plain truth that I know too many people--Christians--like me. We do not have a proper theology of suffering. We do not get trained in a proper theology of suffering that incorporates both the mind and the heart. As a result, we do not know how to minister to others in their suffering, providing trite, cliché, theologically and emotionally hollow answers to questions we're unwilling to wrestle with before the Living, Triune God.
He Holds the Keys to Death
March 1, 2010 – 11:28 AM
“I have wanted to believe that my son’s death caught God by surprise,” she said through tears. “But now I realize he was not surprised at all.” She and her husband had come to our most recent Respite Retreat, a retreat for couples who have faced the death of a child, and we had just finished discussing Jesus’ words about himself in Revelation 1:18, “I hold the keys of death and the grave.” In other words, no one goes through the door of death unless and until he opens that door.
Preparing For the Big Issues Facing the Church
March 1, 2010 – 7:59 AM
If there were vital, fast-growing movements of churches -- orthodox in theology, wholistic in ministry, and committed to culture-making -- in the great global cities, so that 5-10% of the residents of the 50 most influential cities were gospel-believers, a) it would have a great impact on culture-making, b) it would help the church learn new ways of reaching the never-churched (since they concentrate in cities), c) it would connect western churches more readily to the new churches in the non-western world, d) it would unite churches across traditions and models.
Homesick For Heaven
February 24, 2010 – 4:14 PM
Nancy Guthrie has done us a wonderful service by bringing together serious authors for a serious book on pain and suffering.
The Multiple Means to Joy: Spurgeon on Suffering
January 21, 2010 – 2:22 PM
Mankind has said and written many things throughout the ages. Some of it needs to be commended and retold throughout every generation so that others might benefit from the records of wisdom. Some of it needs to be destroyed, or at least held aloft in public contempt so that others might not fall prey to [...]
Unlocking the Bible: Rejection (Luke 4:28-30, 6:11, 8:37, 23:21, 23)
December 16, 2009 – 4:11 PM
At the inauguration of His public ministry, Jesus announced that He had come to preach good news to the poor, to release the oppressed and proclaim the year of Jubilee in which debts would be cancelled and slaves released. The response? “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this” (Luke 4:28).
Jesus Has AIDS
December 1, 2009 – 5:15 PM
Jesus has AIDS. Just reading that in the type in front of you probably has some of you angry. Let me help you see why that is, and, in so doing, why caring for those with AIDS is part of the gospel mandate given to us in the Great Commission.
I'm Thankful for Pain
December 1, 2009 – 9:19 AM
For various reasons, this past year has been the most painful year of my life by far. As of late, God has graciously given me a mild reprieve, but I still spend a lot of time thinking about all that happened this year and the way God used trials and tribulations to remold and reshape me.