The Theology of Suffering

1. Jesus resisted and eliminated suffering When I hear this point, the image that immediately comes to my mind is the scene the night before Jesus' death, The Agony in the Garden. Jesus knew that he would have to die and he resisted his suffering. He even asks God if there was another way. But by going through with his painful death on the Cross he eliminated our suffering. Today, one of my mother's favorite expressions is "offer it up to God." She says this when I am experiencing some sort of discomfort. I feel like suffering is sometimes needed. Without experiencing any suffering one would never have a point of reference for comparison. When you are not suffering the good times seem better and you are able to cherish that time a little more. 2. Jesus rejected suffering as a punishment for sin I do not believe that God actively creates suffering in the world. I think humans create suffering for one another via their own freewill. In contrast, I think of diseases and natural disasters and think that a human being could not create such awful things. It's hard to believe that God would allow those things to exist. But I do think that when some innocent person is faced with these things that it would not be possible to function without trusting in God. Jesus did not want us to suffer. In his last breath he asked God to forgive us and to relieve us from any punishment. He also forgave the murders on the other side of him and prayed that their suffering would be little. I think Jesus would like us to repent for our sins and that our punishment is separating ourselves from God. 3. Jesus trusted a compassionate, present God It comforts me to know that God is always with me. He is compassionate. If we repent for our sins, He will forgive us and welcome us back into His kingdom. I do not know many people that would take us back after we sin against them multiple times. A Theology of Atonement/Ransom portrays God as the great king that expects to be repaid for our sins. However, as humans we can never repay our debt because it increases every time we sin. Jesus was the answer and the people's savior, through His death He eliminated the people's debt, so we could live in unity with the Lord. The Theology of Incarnation identifies God a compassionate and loving God. In this interpretation, God suffers with His people when they sin and rejoices when they do His will. God shares in love with all of His creation through the incarnation of Jesus. I associate my grade school imagery with the Theology of Atonement. Sometimes it is easier for me to understand and use the theology of Atonement. Although as I have gotten older, I have been exposed to a more mature interpretation of faith that seems more closely aligned with the Theology of Incarnation. This is also comforting because I know God feels my pain and will forgive me if I truly repent for my sins.