Faithfully Following Christ:Unexpected Insights from

PsychologyWeek 4:

Using and Misusing Faith

Plan for TodayConsider how one’s faith

can grow or wilt in the midst of the difficulties of life.

Begin by placing in mind one area of your life where right now you are struggling:Financially?Emotionally?Relationally?Spiritually?

Keep it in mind as we go through this today

Meaning in LifeMost of us would say that our faith makes up the core

meaning of our lifeAnd research shows that faith is a great way to make sense of

our existenceAs we saw last week, faith may shape the goals we pursueBut adversity sometimes disrupts our plan for how the

world is supposed to work, confusing our meaningFor example, one’s “plan” can be disrupted by a loss of job, a

divorce, an illness, an accident of some sort, or unexpected expense

Our response can tell us more about ourselves and draw us closer to God

Or cause us to turn from GodIt may reveal our TRUE sense of meaning and purpose

Meaning in LifeWe search for significance in life:

We want to matter spiritually and further God’s kingdom

We ideally seek the goals discussed last weekBut we are often taken up with conflicting

goals more than we thinkComfort (what do we work for?)Health (what do we pray for?)Peace and happiness (what do we long for?)Relationships (what explains our social media,

etc.?)

Life HappensAdversity comes in

lifeSuch as the

challenge you are keeping in mind during our time together

These challenges interrupt our pursuit of the goals that shape our meaning

We Respond to these ChallengesWe appraise them:

Threat?Challenge?A benefit?

Let’s take an example: Developing diabetes

And interpret them in light of our goalsWhat do they mean?What to do about

them?How do we solve

them?How do we manage

our emotions associated with them?

What Does Our Response say about our True Goals?Here is where we have

to be honest with ourselves

Often these uncover faulty views of suffering in the Christian lifeWe may think: I’ve been

pretty good so why did God let this happen to me?

Or, God is supposed to keep problems away so that life can be joyous

YET…largely because we don’t EXPECT suffering

The Bible on Suffering Therefore, since we have been justified

by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5 ESV)

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, (2 Timothy 1:8 ESV)

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (2 Timothy 2:3-10 ESV)

The Bible on Suffering Be patient, therefore, brothers, until

the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. (James 5:7-11 ESV)

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:19-21 ESV)

The Place of Suffering in the Christian LifeTypes: persecution, sickness, accident, relations,

mental, financialMight argue that all ultimately rooted in sinful worldKey: using them to show and grow our faith in God,

not letting Satan use them to destroy faithDepression: disheartened by sufferingAnxiety: Excessive fear of suffering (which is a form of

suffering itself!)This is in contrast to the idea the being a Christian

means no suffering!Our prayers often aim to eliminate suffering rather

than to redeem it

The Place of Suffering in Life - 2We’re called to lead a life of sacrifice and loss that

looks silly if there is no resurrection (e.g. 1 Cor 15:29-31)

If Christlikeness is the ultimate joy, then suffering has meaning in pursuit of the goal and thus is healthyWe share in His sufferingsAre changed into His likenessEven a goal as noted last week: “that I may know him and the

power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10 ESV)

Christian suffering is thus meaningful and healthyJust like the “pain” of working out promotes physical

healthVs. suffering from fighting against pain

Suffering Can Yield Benefits

Christian “Acceptance” of Hardships“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11–13)

What Had Paul Learned?Suffering is

inevitableAnd is normal and

expected in the pursuit of the goals that make our lives meaningful

In contrast, we often doubt God for not preventing suffering or “fixing” it promptly

Summary on Suffering Therefore, since we have been

justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5 ESV)

Hardships to be welcomed, not resisted

Coping must stem from meaning that sees the cause as greater than our comfort

Challenges may “diagnose” our goals here

A Crisis in Control?We want to feel that

we are in control of our lives

And often that God is controlling our movement toward our goals

But events that lead to suffering make us feel a loss of control

And this yields stress

Styles for Finding Control in CrisisFind yourself in these:Self-Directing Coping

Seek to regain control on your ownAutonomous

Deferring Coping“Let go and let God”

This works well if it is something you have no control over Illness, events away from home

But a problem if it is something you can do something about Conflict with someone, changing something about self

Collaborative Coping Working with God on the problem Gaining control through God Typically best outcomes

Positive and Negative Coping

Positive Religious CopingSees God as resource in

the midst of challengesMay involve re-

evaluating situation in light of our understanding of faithLike role of suffering

Collaborative copingTrust God, but take

action ourselves where we can

Seek spiritual support from others

Positive Coping Yields…Better physical

health10-40% lower

mortality ratesJust going to church

reduces cardiovascular risk nearly 50%

Negative Religious CopingSeeing events as God after us

in some wayPunishing usOr just having it in for us for

some reasonOr having deserted usOr not so powerful after allStems from shallow view of

God’s purposes and the meaning in life

Yields more depression, sense of not being able to do anything about the problems

Undermines other efforts to cope

Applying What We’ve LearnedConsider what IS the meaning in your life?What implicit goals and purposes do we invest in that we

hadn’t noticed before?What do our responses to adversity say about our true

goals?How do our prayers reflect our views on this?

Praying for physical versus spiritual gifts?E.g. pray the fruit of the Spirit

What changes might be made in our understanding of suffering?

In tough times, do we draw near to God?Or see him as distant or rejecting?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGewnbWryFo