Suffering

[savedbygrace05]

Suffering is a part of life for all people of faith and none. The bible is quite clear that suffering will or should mark our lives as followers of Jesus.

Rom 5: 3 - 4 "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope..."

Suffering for the Christian in Pakistan or parts of India will be very different from that of the Christian in the UK. My question is - in your opinion and experience, what does suffering for the Christian look like in our culture?

 

[Bungle_Bear]

I don't think there's anything different or noteworthy about suffering in UK for a christian - it's the same suffering everyone else endures. Perhaps you are more aware of it as it is part of your faith?

There does appear to be a perception of persecution, but I'd say it's mostly a misconception or is self-inflicted. Of course there will be one or two cases of genuine persecution, but the same goes for any group and it's not endemic.

 

[ianb321red]

Suffering is a part of life for all people of faith and none. The bible is quite clear that suffering will or should mark our lives as followers of Jesus.

Rom 5: 3 - 4 "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope..."

Suffering for the Christian in Pakistan or parts of India will be very different from that of the Christian in the UK. My question is - in your opinion and experience, what does suffering for the Christian look like in our culture?

For me, Christians don't suffer in the UK - at least not in the sense of when attending church or being true to your beliefs could cost you or your families lives....

But - I do think physical suffering will come to Christians in the UK in the next few years...

 

[lismore]

My question is - in your opinion and experience, what does suffering for the Christian look like in our culture?

I have known one or two Christians who were quite lonely, not being able to find a church or Christian group in which to fit or having left or being forced out of their church group over certain issues.

For example, I knew an older lady, now gone to glory. She was 'encouraged' to leave three churches because she disagreed with their stance on all belief systems leading to heaven and ended up on her own, more or less.

Sometimes staying true to your beliefs will lead to hostility from those inside denominations.

 

[King Mob]

I have known one or two Christians who were quite lonely, not being able to find a church or Christian group in which to fit or having left or being forced out of their church group over certain issues.

For example, I knew an older lady, now gone to glory. She was 'encouraged' to leave three churches because she disagreed with their stance on all belief systems leading to heaven and ended up on her own, more or less.

Sometimes staying true to your beliefs will lead to hostility from those inside denominations.

Your narrative hardly exemplifies suffering.

 

[lismore]

Your narrative hardly exemplifies suffering.

When we can't post on a Christian Forum without atheists posting acerbic silly remarks

Here's a bible reference for you:

The fool says in his heart "There is no God." (Psalm 14:1)

If the fool professes atheism in his heart, what can be said for the one who professes it openly. Surely a double fool.

 

[King Mob]

When we can't post on a Christian Forum without atheists posting acerbic silly remarks

Here's a bible reference for you:

The fool says in his heart "There is no God." (Psalm 14:1)

If the fool professes atheism in his heart, what can be said for the one who professes it openly. Surely a double fool.

A but my foolery is all my own doing, yours is from a foolish source.

 

[theFijian]

For me, Christians don't suffer in the UK - at least not in the sense of when attending church or being true to your beliefs could cost you or your families lives....

But - I do think physical suffering will come to Christians in the UK in the next few years...

The OP uses the word 'suffering' when what he actually means is 'persecution', as obviously not all suffering is a result of persecution. People suffer through ill health, unemployment, broken relationships, crime, financial hardship or other things not directly related to their faith. Christians in Pakistan will also suffer from these things and others more directly related to their cultural, social, political and religious context.

If by physical suffering you mean imprisonment as a form of persecution, then that could be a possibility. In the Ashers Bakery case in Northern Ireland I don't know whether a custodial sentence is possible, if it was it would be absolutely ludicrous.

 

[King Mob]

In the Ashers Bakery case in Northern Ireland I don't know whether a custodial sentence is possible, if it was it would be absolutely ludicrous.

You're right, to think people could be so bigoted in our civilized society.

 

[lismore]

You're right, to think people could be so bigoted in our civilized society.

It was doubly wrong though. Well at least to me.

To turn away customers because of who they are, doesn't sit right.

Then to take a business to court, when you could go to another business and get the required service done. Doesn't sit right either.

Extremes on both sides just lead to more extremism.

 

[theFijian]

You're right, to think people could be so bigoted in our civilized society.

Your society is not civilised

 

[Nige55]

Your society is not civilised

I couldn't agree more !

 

[King Mob]

I couldn't agree more !

How do either of you know?

 

[Nige55]

How do either of you know?

Because I have eyes and ears.

 

[theFijian]

How do either of you know?

The same way that you would know

 

[King Mob]

The same way that you would know

Interestingly enough i believe we do live in a civilised society.
I'm intrigued to decipher why you believe otherwise?

 

[King Mob]

It was doubly wrong though. Well at least to me.

To turn away customers because of who they are, doesn't sit right.

Then to take a business to court, when you could go to another business and get the required service done. Doesn't sit right either.

Extremes on both sides just lead to more extremism.

You were doing so well too, then you stated you couldn't understand why someone who was refused a service simply because of their sexual orientation should pursue their grievance.

Would you give the same advice to a black man who was refused a meal in a restaurant because of the colour of his skin?

The irony in your observation is overwhelming.

Cheerio

 

[ianb321red]

Interestingly enough i believe we do live in a civilised society.

yep definitely a civilised society, no doubt about it..

BBC News - Ched Evans row: Jessica Ennis-Hill is sent rape tweet

 

[theFijian]

Interestingly enough i believe we do live in a civilised society.
I'm intrigued to decipher why you believe otherwise?

Of course you believe you live in a civilised society, what I'm intrigued to decipher is what is your basis for believing so. How do you know that what you believe to be civilised, is actually civilised?

 

[ianb321red]

Interestingly enough i believe we do live in a civilised society.

If you truly believe that we live in a civilised society then try cycling round central London every day like I do - I can promise you that this'll knock this silly delusion out of you....