Christological Reasoning and Exegetical evidence of Pain

Amplified author-led family group bible talk, south east London, March 9th 2018

Warning: I am not a theologian but a caring follower of Christ and a loving worshiper of God, my sins regardless. So, if you are wondering, ‘Christology’ is the study of Christ, which includes, among other issues, his temptations, death and resurrection. If you have ever experienced hurt, and punishment in your life, then pain is all too familiar. According to Clive Staples Lewis, British lay theologian and Christian apologist, pain may be described as God’s megaphone to get our attention. For example, Hebrews 12: 7-12 admonishes us to endure hardship as discipline because God is treating us as His children. It is interesting how the eighth verse reminds us that if everything is hunky- dory with us, i.e. no pain whatsoever (note that no one is without sin - 1 John 1:8), then we are not legitimate, not true children of God. However, I have watched and listened to many ‘Christians’ boast about their health, finances, children, successes, etc. as evidence of blessings from God and their impeccability (Daniel 4:30-31). My hands up - I confess that at some point in my Christianity, I was like that too! I remember in my early years as a Christian convert, there was a common belief that if you were suffering, or were sick, it was because you did not have enough faith. I guess we did not learn from the experience of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, Job’s friends who accused him of sin, while his wife advised him to curse God and die. And to date, I know other ‘Christians’ when asked, “How are you?” the answer Always is, “I am good. Excellent. I can’t complain”, even when this may not be the case.

On- the- flip- side, I know more ‘Christians’ whose slogan is, “I don’t want to be around negative people”. For them therefore, life cannot be dystopic, but utopian. If you were programmed to be expressive about your true feelings, then you must respect the rule of circumspection and ensure that you keep your conversations with these ‘super-spiritual terrestrials’ as anodyne as possible lest you be labelled a 'kirk' dissident.

But has it not occurred to us that 'negativity' could be a mark of weakness? Are 'negative' people Always negative, or are there occasions when they get 'negative' - and do we bother to know why they are 'negative'? Would my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, avoid 'negative' people? Listen to apostle Paul: “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me"” (Romans 15:1-3). From the above scripture, do we give up on the weak? Listen to Paul again: “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

Should we get tired of the weak? I do not think so: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:9-10). Lest I be misquoted, there is absolutely nothing wrong in thinking positively (Philippians 4:8), while I equally believe that there is a strong link between your thoughts (e.g. optimism vs pessimism) and your health, i.e. psychosomatics (Proverbs 17:22; 23:7). In sum, there should not be an alternative to thinking positively.

Maybe these ‘Christians’ have never experienced pain in their lives – you bet I have, and I still do! If I am living on Planet Earth, then I know that it is made up of the good, the bad and the ugly, while the last two themes include physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual pain – this is reality, which no one can ignore. Do you belittle someone else’s pain, even when it results from the death of a non-believing family member, loss of employment, family misfortune, broken marriages, social exclusion, etc.? Are you genuinely sensitive or not sensitive at all - do you inwardly rejoice at the other person's adversities?

Recently, I was so heartlessly incapacitated financially, courtesy of a brazen (collusive) oppressive conduct almost only comparable to the biblical exploits of Caiaphas (John 18:13), Judas Iscariot (Matthew 26:14-16) and Pontius Pilate (Matthew 27:4), that it eventually resulted in the loss of my auntie in Africa for whom I financially cared. But listen to David: “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.” (Psalm 17:8-9)

Is it really your faith that gets your prayers answered? I do not think so! Trust me it is God who answers your prayers though He is not obliged to assent to all your supplications. When your prayers are not answered, do you often feel it is not worth living the Christian life? Do you really know what faith is? Now, embed yourself in the scripture below and in all honesty, declare openly that this is truly what your heart desires – no big cars, mansions, global travels, successful children, great career, graceful aging, etc. “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” Heb. 11: 39 – 40.

Did I hear you say, “God blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part” (Job 42: 12)? Wait a minute – seriously, are you ready to experience half of what the ‘poor’ fellow had to endure? Are you shocked that Job’s suffering and pain made him feel like he was God’s enemy (Job 13:23-24)? Did Job complain about his condition? You bet he did! (Job 23:3-4). I trust you are now meditating on Jeremiah 29:11: ‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”’

Hello! Why did God allow Satan’s tormenting agent on Paul, and why did He refuse to take the torment away even when Paul pleaded with Him thrice (2 Corinthians 12:7-8)? Or maybe Paul did not persist enough in his supplications (Luke 18:1-8)? Surely not! Listen to Paul: “Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” Did Paul back off as a result? Surely not! Rather, this life-long agent drove Paul into the arms of Jesus Christ all the time. Are you puffed up about your ‘spiritual exploits’? Hey, be very, very, careful! (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Remember Moses? He was more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3). Did he enter God’s Promised Land? No! Why? Because Moses failed to honour God as holy in the sight of the Israelites in the Desert of Zin (Numbers 20:12). Are you aware that Moses pleaded with the Lord in the hope that God might change His mind and let him enter the fine hill country and Lebanon (Deuteronomy 3:23 -28)? What was God’s reaction?

"That is enough," the LORD said. "Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan. But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see."

Wow! Imagine having worked for your employers as CEO for 40 years, achieved incredible feats with 100% support of your Chairman…and then one mistake resulted in your dismissal. You tried to convince your boss to change his mind and he said, “Don’t even go there!” Not only that, you were shown the organization's fantastic vision that was about to be brought to fruition – you had worked tirelessly for 40 years leading the organization towards the goal – but directed to diligently, without any iota of envy, prepare your deputy to succeed you. Wow! Is this not mind-blowing? Are we 'spiritually narcissistic'? Did I hear you say, “Christ has paid the price”? Eh, again, do be careful – do not trivialize the celestial! What do you make of Matthew 27:45-46?

‘From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[c] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).’

Do you not imagine that during the three hours which the darkness continued, our Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ of Nazareth was in agony, wrestling with the powers of darkness, and suffering God's displeasure with our sins, for which he was now sacrificing his soul? Have there ever been three such hours since the day God created man on Mother Earth, such a dark and dreadful experience? Do not trivialize in the name of GRACE! It may interest you that pain for us Christians, means grace and must lead to fear, humility and introspection (Hester, 2007).

Truly, we have been saved…but is that a licence to deliberately sin? We all fall short from time to time as we are imperfect people. However, Paul in Romans 6: 1-2 asks us,

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” Why did my Lord Christ have to go through the crucifixion experience? The answer is, 'Adam' – the fall of man and introduction of pain into the world! (Genesis 3). Christ’s actions, therefore, should serve as an example for us to believe that God is not unaware of our pain. How old was Joseph the first time he dreamt about ruling over his family? 17.

What followed? His brothers became angry and envious to the point that they tried to kill him; they eventually sold him into slavery. There is more besides: Joseph’s good looks and wisdom caused him more trouble in Egypt than he ever imagined - wrongly “sued” and jailed for sexual harassment by his boss. And why did the freed chief cup-bearer (Joseph's former jail mate) for two years not remember Joseph, but forgot him in jail (Genesis 40:23)?

Despite David being anointed king and chosen by God, why was he constantly on the run (for his life) from King Saul from between seven and 10 years (1 Samuel 13:14)? Have you lived in caves and always in hiding like David, subsisting often on only what your loyal friends hand out to you? I bet if you had, as a Christian, you would question God. David was innocent but Saul was bent on exterminating him (1 Samuel 23). I am sure we would have reacted differently - doubt God's motive for anointing us kings but allowing our lives to be in constant danger. Wait for this: I would have cut off King Saul's head and exclaimed, "God delivered my enemy into my hands!" But David was not like that.

Would we have had the incredible story of Ruth without the tragic loss endured by Naomi? Though her name meant pleasant, Naomi preferred to be called Mara, which meant bitter (Ruth 1:20, 21). Has it ever occurred to you that by your actions you do cause God pain? Let us see what Genesis 6: 5-7 has to say:

“The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So, the LORD said, ‘I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth – men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air – for I am grieved that I have made them.”

Sadly, my natural disposition is a deep-seated self-preserved arrogance, which eventually translates to pride when 'occasions' demand. This I constantly share with my family and ask for prayers for the simple reason that God opposes the proud (James 4:6). This is really, really, scary. And I have fallen several times – obviously, pride preceded each fall. But God has always been gracious as He continually allows me to get back up again (Proverbs 24:16). But each fall has really, really, been painful! However, I have come to see each unpleasant experience as God’s discipline for my good so that I may share in His holiness (Hebrews 12:10).

So, when I suffer pain from my falls, I need to humbly make myself available to be trained by God’s righteousness and peace – that is the only way by which I can gain strength to continue fighting this race (Hebrews 12:11-12). What is the state of your heart – your thoughts? Jeremiah 17:9 reads: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Do you deceive yourself by answering “Excellent…’can’t complain”, when actually your behaviour is causing other people around you misery? You are not “fine”, brother/sister, if you affect others negatively – I am equally guilty.

How about Matthew 15:19 for a think? “For out of the heart come evil thoughts--murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” Seriously, are you free of any of the above sins? Now let us find out: Murder (Matt 5:21-22): "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, 'Raca,' is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.”

In sum, all of us are murderers – I am a struggling one at the moment because of the difficulty I am having with letting go of the intense hatred I have for people who have recently deliberately done Evil to me for my honesty and forthrightness. Do not get me wrong, God allowed them, just as He allowed Judas Iscariot to deliver Christ into the hands of his murderers (Acts 2: 36). But what does Christ say about our enemies? “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:44). What does Paul have to say? “Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?” (1 Corinthians 6:7). I love Romans 12: 19-20 though: ‘Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

See how deceitful my heart is: As I can only pray for my enemies, do I expect God to destroy them? That should not be my motive! Rather, I should emulate Christ Jesus, who despite being crucified to death, had this to say: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34). Adultery (Matt 5:27-28): "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” So, we all have committed adultery – that suggestive TV commercial, Newspaper ad, the explicit Internet selfies of celebrities, etc. The second and third looks you give the scantily-dressed lady, the thoughts in your head about that work colleague of yours, your school mate, your neighbour, the man/woman you visually undress, etc. Guilty, guilty, all of us are guilty – no exception!

Sexual Immorality: If you are into pornography, prostitution, bestiality, pedophilia, incest, masturbation, homosexuality (Romans 1:28), Sodomy (Genesis 19:4-7; 2 Peter 2:6-10), etc. you may want to look more into the Bible. Note that I hate not the sinner but whatever my Bible considers to be sin. Just as everyone else is entitled to his/her faith, I am entitled to mine as well, and considering that this is what my faith teaches, I am not ashamed to identify with my God. Again, I discriminate not; rather, I love everyone!

Theft: Do you steal from work, e.g., use office time to make phone calls, send text messages, smoke? Do you use your office stationery to meet personal needs/for gains? Do you cheat during exams, get some organizations/persons to write your university assignments for you, dodge transport fares, steal from tithes and offerings, fail to give to God, etc.? Again, we all are guilty.

False Testimony: I remember managing a service where falsehood was perpetrated against me, but I was wise enough to be documenting all goings-on from the day I assumed the job, after having noticed extreme financial and emotional manipulation of vulnerable clients by the workers. Unfortunately, the organization was too scared of being taken to the tribunal in spite of the overwhelming evidence I provided. I had to resign unprepared so as to preserve my professional future. And lately, I was unbelievably lied against by some 'power'- wielding individuals who belong to a group ironically charged with upholding Truth and Honesty. And while I attended a meeting during which I was asked to defend myself, it was obvious to a neutral interviewer that I was being heartlessly traumatized (Ecclesiastes 4) for my forthright and transparent practice…and she said: “Yusuf, may I advise that you do not allow this experience to discourage you from continuing in your honest ways." My immediate response was: “Never…I am a Christian…I am a Christian and will tell the Truth till death.” Was I proud to say that! Unfortunately, interviewers expressed their powerlessness to outright disregard the malicious untruths that had been propagated against me. And King Solomon came to mind at this stage: "If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still" (Ecclesiastes 5:8). Interestingly, Solomon reasons that: "...the more knowledge, the more grief" (Ecclesiastes 1:18) - oh, how I wish I had remembered this earlier! But I still rejoiced in my adversity: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) - based on King Solomon's dad's assurance: “As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15). Slander: Do you maliciously say words with the purpose of damaging the reputation of others, or do you 'spread' truths but with a hostile intent (Psalms 34:13; Proverbs 15:28)? Do you backbite? Remember that our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ of Nazareth was the victim of several slanderous remarks (Matthew 11:19) and of false testimonies (Matthew 27:63). Seriously, should we not be deeply ashamed that we are carrying out this same despicable act today?

Conclusion As an individual from a practical Muslim background, I do not see my Christianity as a joke whatsoever. I am a sinner who falls short from time to time though not deliberately, but I have no one else except my Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ of Nazareth to continually run to. Would God regret that he created you – have you become His enemy? We cannot deliberately keep on hurting God because it is dangerous to do so. Hebrews 10: 26-27 reads: “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” As we reflect on this season (Easter), my prayer is that we never fall into the hands of the living God, because it is a most dreadful experience. I pray that we emulate Jesus Christ in ALL His ways, and may our hearts be filled with gratitude for the inconceivable sacrifice our Lord Christ had to subject Himself to for us to have a relationship with His Father, which in turn leads to our Hope in Eternity with Him.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”