We have not always been able to do that well. We have interpreted, and still do, suffering as divinely ordained whether for our punishment, our salvation or our sanctification. Worse, we have interpreted the disasters of others in ways so as to feel ourselves superior or chosen. When all else has failed, we have given to suffering meaning while at the same time admitting that we cannot yet understand it: “God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform.”
Yad Vashem stands out as a place where the interpretation of suffering has been “done well”. While giving no meaning to suffering itself, it has given meaning to the lives of the millions who suffered and died, by keeping their memory alive to stand as reminders and as warning of our human capacity for cruelty. It has given those lives meaning beyond that of victims, working to recover their identities as fully human persons. It stands firmly as an advocate for life in the face of death.
There is no mystery or glory to suffering. It is simply a vicissitude of human existence. The glory lies in our interpretation, in the meaning we make of disaster in order that real life can flourish.
A week ago I was out with an Indonesian friend to celebrate his birthday. We both have some bad church experiences. He agreed with me on all the problems I see in the American Church, from liberalism to plastic Evangelicals. His solution to the problem took me aback, “How much persecution do you think it would take to purify the American Church?”
Now, our parish has four State Dept. folks working to end religious persecution. We’ve had one working in very dangerous area for a Christian. Two weeks ago we an Indian Christian journalist speak to these matters. I’ve spent several years at various prayer vigils for several nations asking the Lord move to end the suffering.
So the question surprised me quite a bit! However, based on his experiences and testimony, I’ve also found it equally as haunting about what truth it might have.
When I was first saved, Watchman Nee was the subject of much discussion and we heard a lot about how the American church needed persecution to be purified. Also at the time, the prosperity doctrine was much in vogue among many evangelicals and fundamentalists.
I don’t hear much about either anymore but the American Church still knows little about suffering, and the Global South may have much to teach.