On Suffering for the Name

Though it might be argued, theoretically, that a Christianity in which men know how to picket, but not how to pray, is bound to wither, theorizing is not required, because we can already observe the logic of events. The fact is that emphasis upon the life of outer service, without a corresponding emphasis upon the life of devotion, has already led to obviously damaging results, one of which is calculated arrogance. How different it might be if the angry activists were to heed the words found in The Imitation of Christ, “Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.”

The essence of pietism, by contrast, is the limitation of primary interest to personal salvation. Even today, by the highways, we can see signs paid for by somebody, which urge us to “get right with God.” The evil of this well-intentioned effort lies not in what it says, but in what it so evidently omits. The assumption is that salvation is nothing more than a private transaction between the individual and God and that it can become an accomplished, dated event.

From The New Man for Our Time by Elton Trueblood

Lent 2007

Have you ever suffered for the Name? Recently, I have begun to ask Jesus for grace and courage to suffer well for him if he calls me to do so. This has been a significant step for me because like most others, I do not relish the idea of suffering nor am I a particularly courageous man. Yet the New Testament makes it clear that those of us who wish to follow Jesus must take up our cross daily and follow him (e.g., Luke 9:23, Acts 5:41, Romans 8:17, 2 Corinthians 1:5, Philippians 1:29, Hebrews 10:32, 1 Peter 1:6). And while I have suffered in the past, it has mainly been the result of my own mistakes or wrong-doing.

Last week, however, I was presented with the opportunity to suffer for the Name and my witness for Christ was not exactly stellar.

The stimulus was the issues Trueblood raises above and I was mocked for being too pietistic. As my critic’s mocking laugh escalated, so did my anger until it got to the point where I had to leave the room before things got entirely out out hand. But once I walked out, I knew I had missed the opportunity to witness effectively in my suffering for the Name.

Afterwards, I reflected on why I let the person’s mocking get to me. Ironically, after reading passages from The Imitation of Christ, I was reminded again that my reaction, in part, betrayed the fact that I have not yet put my whole trust in Christ, that the opinions of others still are important to me. And so I am “back to the drawing board” in prayer so to speak, asking Jesus to strengthen me so that if he asks me to suffer for him again, my doing so might bring him honor and glory the next time. This will not be an easy road, but it is one on which I must embark and persevere.

Parenthetically, I was also disheartened that not one other person besides myself confronted my critic’s mocking behavior, behavior that is simply not acceptable under any circumstance, but that is a different topic for a different day.

What about you? Have you ever suffered for the Name? If so, were you able to witness effectively in your sufferings or did you fall short like I did? Tell us your stories so that we may uphold one another in our witness and respective faith journeys.