Most of us are brought to our knees by the first grip of
pain. Yet, why shouldn’t we experience heartbreak? It is through the doorway of
pain that we are brought into fellowship with the Son. We sit at the door of
God’s purpose and enter the slow death of self-pity. Our brothers in the faith
will offer so-called Christian sympathy which only speeds us on our way to our
deathbed. God will not offer us his hand of sympathy; instead he offers us the
nail-pierced hand of his Son and invites us to enter his fellowship. If God can
bring about his purposes through a broken heart, then why not thank him for
breaking yours? – Ron Friesen
Ron, I read some of your writings, find them interesting. As an ever "receptive to being persuaded" type, the only nail piercing I get from this is to nail the door shut. I think you missed the mark here. Not being an scholar in this subject, I cannot put my finger on what it is, but I find these kinds of statements very offensive. Risking straying from your intentions, but doesn't it follow, should we tell the parents in Sandyhook God through the gun manufacturers should be thanked for the broken hearts, their 6 year olds were sacrificed as symbols of Jesus being sacrificed, take God's gift, be happy?
ReplyDeleteRon, I don't mean this to appear that I am attacking you, not my intent at all, I think you do good work. I just want you to know this type of preaching, and I hear it often at funerals, Baptist, Pillar of Fire, Assembly of God, and even once in a Methodist church, and it's (one of) the reason I go so rarely to any religious function, it's a deal breaker. So much so that we never give to the church, but we give several thousand a year to soup kitchens and health care charities, which are church run. The church can do good work, and it should stick with statements and actions of charity and love, I might see it as having more of a function in my life than a place to send flowers when the uncles die.
Best regards.
YF, Thank you for your thoughtful response. I do not take your response as a attack at all. I can appreciate why you read my words here as you did. I would never tell the parents of Sandy Hook that they should be thankful that their children were killed. That said, there is a form of theodicy which does ask the grief-stricken to seek out the meaning and purpose of their grief. Secondly, I would say that the nail-pierced hand of God does say to the sufferer: I understand your pain and grief. I can appreciate why the last sentence sounds "uncaring" or even "mean". I can also say that I have sat with hundreds of grieving people who over the years have come to find that they would not have become the persons they are without the suffering they endured and in such cases, they find themselves grateful.
ReplyDeleteRon, Keep at it man, I think your doing a good work.
ReplyDelete