The principle of "embracing suffering as a reality" is contained in the doctrine of Postribulationism. This is a most neglected teaching in Scriptures because of the arguments over whether we should even accept it is there. Faith Doctrine and Prosperity Doctrine, in particular, seek to oppose Postribulationism because they reject the suffering component in it.
We need to hear the truth about suffering with Christ in this fallen world. Jesus was worried that when we embrace him as our Lord, we would suffer, and then lose faith in him.
Matthew 24.9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
This was Jesus' message, that for Christians there will be suffering--not just when the Antichrist comes, but *all through the age!* And when this happens, it will try our hearts. It will prove our love or not. The testimony of God's Kingdom will be preached in the midst of this cauldron, so that our metal will be tested, showing our faith genuine or not.
But Jesus was convinced that his presence with us, by the Spirit, and the righteousness we exhibit, would be enough to hold us during these times. And he warned us to expect these things, that our testimony of his righteousness would be rejected in a fallen world. This is at the heart of Postribulational Theology, and the exact opposite of Faith Doctrine, which attempts to circumvent all suffering.
Faith Doctrine teaches that we can escape the troubles of this cursed world by simply "confessing it." And Pretribulational Theology opposes Postribulationism, which I outline below, by offering an alternative understanding that avoids the suffering of antichristian persecution.
2 Thessalonians 1.3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
The Apostle Paul lays it out there. Christians will suffer, but he is pleased that the Thessalonian Christians are remaining strong in their love, and not denying their faith in Christ. This is an explicit warning, to embrace Christian suffering, and not to expect immediate deliverance from it.
5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.
Note that Paul makes it clear that the wrongs done to Christians in this world may make them look like they're the "bad guys," as if God is punishing them. But Jesus will return from heaven one day, and bring angry judgment from God, to show that He has been favoring believers, and only giving the ungodly a chance to repent before inflicting vengeance upon them for failing to treat Christians right, and also for living wicked lives.
11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by His power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus' message to his disciples, before he died, was that they should persevere in their goodness, because the Lord would eventually call all men into account for their deeds, whether good or bad. It was an encouragement that in following in his teachings they would be viewed as "the good."
We need to hear the truth about suffering with Christ in this fallen world. Jesus was worried that when we embrace him as our Lord, we would suffer, and then lose faith in him.
Matthew 24.9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
This was Jesus' message, that for Christians there will be suffering--not just when the Antichrist comes, but *all through the age!* And when this happens, it will try our hearts. It will prove our love or not. The testimony of God's Kingdom will be preached in the midst of this cauldron, so that our metal will be tested, showing our faith genuine or not.
But Jesus was convinced that his presence with us, by the Spirit, and the righteousness we exhibit, would be enough to hold us during these times. And he warned us to expect these things, that our testimony of his righteousness would be rejected in a fallen world. This is at the heart of Postribulational Theology, and the exact opposite of Faith Doctrine, which attempts to circumvent all suffering.
Faith Doctrine teaches that we can escape the troubles of this cursed world by simply "confessing it." And Pretribulational Theology opposes Postribulationism, which I outline below, by offering an alternative understanding that avoids the suffering of antichristian persecution.
2 Thessalonians 1.3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
The Apostle Paul lays it out there. Christians will suffer, but he is pleased that the Thessalonian Christians are remaining strong in their love, and not denying their faith in Christ. This is an explicit warning, to embrace Christian suffering, and not to expect immediate deliverance from it.
5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.
Note that Paul makes it clear that the wrongs done to Christians in this world may make them look like they're the "bad guys," as if God is punishing them. But Jesus will return from heaven one day, and bring angry judgment from God, to show that He has been favoring believers, and only giving the ungodly a chance to repent before inflicting vengeance upon them for failing to treat Christians right, and also for living wicked lives.
11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by His power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus' message to his disciples, before he died, was that they should persevere in their goodness, because the Lord would eventually call all men into account for their deeds, whether good or bad. It was an encouragement that in following in his teachings they would be viewed as "the good."