Why So Little Suffering?

WED., MAR. 22, 2000, 8:57 AM
OFFICE, PULLIAM HALL

Your focus this morning, in your breakfast group, was the first Letter of Peter. It was a fine discussion, and you were pleased that son John Patrick was there and were proud of his knowledgeable participation. After an affirmation of Salvation and Sanctification by Peter to scattered Christians after My crucifixion, as Jesus, he, Peter recommends submission in quite a varied way. As you commented, he was writing to very “new” Christians, scattered and persecuted. They, even in small numbers were seen as a threat to the organized life of the time.

Peter had been with Me all through My active ministry, and he knew, even then, that he would have to stand up for Me at some point. Yet he also wanted this “movement” to succeed, for he was convinced that this was My Will, as the Almighty God, Father of Me, Jesus. So he counseled, in this Letter to be submissive, which would bring on suffering, but not as awful as would come in being belligerent Christians. That is, he wanted the Church to be formed and to persist, so… submit now so that at a later time they would have the power to influence in stronger ways.

Remember that Scripture has Me, as the Christ, saying, of Peter, “on this rock I will build My Church”. Did Peter know of the Scripture, “For everything there is a season… a time to be submissive… and a time to fight, even die?” His recommended stance and action was in concert, at least.

But he also recommended suffering, as a means of experiencing the fullness of God’s blessing. ( 9:19 / 9:22 ) And remember that this was a time in “spiritual history” when there was spirit, but not yet a religion that could be called Christian. Would these “zealots” for Christ, many of whom didn’t know Me, personally in body, persist and form churches that would prevail against persecution and suffering? Peter, with this Letter, was trying to bolster the spirit of persistence. And he saw that suffering was an important “impetus” to a deeper faith.

This, of course, is an early example of Both/And… for Peter knew, as you do, that while suffering can encourage the spirit to persist and increase in influence, it also can encourage giving up, ( 9:30 / 9:33 ) and just “going with the flow.” (And it is interesting to Me, Holy Spirit, but not unexpected… that as Christianity has become organized and dominant it has “meted out suffering” to some who have opposed it, or not accepted it. In such situations or instances it may demand submission from “others.”)

But, yes, o son, My title this day is addressed to you. Why have you experienced so little suffering in this life, as Bob Russell? Well, obviously, you are a Christian in a culture that is at least nominally Christian. You went to Sunday School and Church with your family, but there was no persecution for such a practice. You didn’t flaunt your commitment, but you don’t recall having to deny it. It seemed to be a choice that some folks made… and some didn’t.

After your first born-again experience you realized a difference in relationship with Me, but, again, this was kept almost “secret.” As a Methodist and then a Presbyterian you were not a “minority to be persecuted.” And, after you began to hear regularly from Me, you have been slow to acknowledge this, to avoid suffering that could come from rejection, either from those who can’t accept “mystical experiences” OR those who would see these Teachings as “from the devil” (at least not from the Lord of Scripture!)

So you haven’t suffered persecution or rejection for claiming to have this personal relationship with Me. You realize it could still come, but now with over 20 years of Teachings you are less and less vulnerable… more like the Church today as contrasted with the Church that Peter was advising to be submissive.