“All great Christians have
been wounded souls.”
— A.W. Tozer (1897–1963)
Titles of articles don’t come
naturally to me, and the title of this one – with the word ‘greatness’ included
– doesn’t sit entirely comfortably, but the Holy Spirit confirms it in my
heart; it is the one who has suffered, the one who has been a wounded soul, who
is great in the kingdom of heaven. As those who are last come first, so this
polar reversal extends to those who have endured significant pain. They are
blessed because they have been, what the world would call, cursed. They become
well-rounded, ‘great’ Christians.
This truth is an encouragement to many; to those who are enduring, to
those who have endured, and even to those who will endure.
The only one not rapt by this rapturous compensation of God’s is the
person who resists endurance because they refuse to suffer. The gospel is of no
help to these. Why would such a person need hope from elsewhere (i.e., God)
when they can procure their own hope, especially via coping mechanisms far
removed from obedience?
An Encouragement to Continue to Struggle Well
We can trust this 1) fact and 2) promise of God’s: 1) “Consider him who endured such
hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose
heart...” 2) “Now,
discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it
yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by
it.” (Hebrews 12:3, 11 [NRSV])
If Jesus struggled, so will we. If he was lifted out of death into life,
so will we be. Going to the cross is symbolic, as is carrying the cross. The
resurrection is also symbolic for the life we receive – which is the fruit of
obedience – by the power of the Holy Spirit when we submit to suffering rightly.
This is no sadistic calling, and we have to be careful not to reduce it
as Stoicism for Stoicism’s sake.
Wounded souls get a great boost in understanding and applying this
Christian life because they know how to understand and apply themselves to this
life in general. Their hearts have been tenderised and their minds, opened. But
there is no false humility in these. That’s the test. Suffering ensures
pretence is a luxury ill-afforded when the only thing that matters is
authenticity and compassion.
***
A cosmic Gospel reversal resounds: those who have suffered and who bear evidence
of healing for the wounds of past are blessed disciples.
© 2014 S. J. Wickham.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.