Sarah’s Reviews > Letters to the Church > Status Update

Reading this part randomly in tandem with his podcast, questions with Catholics, could not be a coincidence. This section and that podcast forced me to pause and meditate on the passages on suffering as believers, and truthfully realize, mine is so very little.
“What we call sanctification, they call a prerequisite… in other words, we act as though suffering is a lifelong process where we slowly decide whether or not we will give certain things up to God… meanwhile, they are required to count the cost, surrendering everything upfront; otherwise they cannot join the church.” MAN, that is humbling.

What I found interesting earlier this year regarding church (Catholic) history, was that the catechism and becoming catechized wasn’t just to enforce correct doctrine. It was a safety mechanism to ensure that these new Christians knew what it meant to follow Jesus, because so many of them had begun to turn when they were faced with the cost. The cost was high, but the reward (He) is far worth it. To read about those Christians who beg to be worthy of losing it all for Him is shaking. American Christianity is being bought at so low a cost, and we wonder why our culture cheapens His blood.

Second, (diary moment), I have begun to ponder what we are meaning to each other when we say, “He truly wants what is best for you.”
Without context, that statement is true. Recently, there have been moments when someone is talking about their relationship, love story, job, ect and, in good heart, say something like, “I just know there is something so good in store for you, you love Him, and He wants what is best for you. It’s going to be so beautiful.”
But what does it mean for those Christians, who stand so much stronger than I, that are given none of this? Does He not also want what is best for them? Why is it that they beg to suffer for Him in such a way, when we avoid pain at all costs? Food for thought, for myself really. I have heard this said in so much confidence, and I don’t think it is wrong to desire these things. But speaking that over someone in assumption that it is what is best, is foolish. But, also, to assume that those things are not given because God only wants to give us suffering, is foolish as well.
What if we joyfully welcome every gift from above, and joyfully welcome suffering, knowing that the blessing is in both. Once again, we are assuming to know the mind of God, when we see both physical blessing AND extreme suffering in scripture. And both, as Christians, would consider themselves blessed.

Any man would be joyous over having plenty. What is shocking is to watch a whole community rejoice in persecution. That is truly unstoppable, and that is what makes the world pause and look