(Ed) // The problem of (my) pain.

"The Son of God suffered unto the death, not that men might not suffer, but that their sufferings might be like His."  

George MacDonald, Unspoken Sermons-First Series

This the preface to "The Problem of Pain" by C.S. Lewis from "The Complete Signature Collection" that I have owned about ten years; bought shortly after I was saved when I was 25. At the same time I bought this book, I also purchased "The virtue of selfishness" by Ayn Rand. Those two books and the Bible were all I read for 2 years, after finally surrendering my life to God. This was a humbling time, I  truly had nothing left of me but the love of a saviour who gave his life for me and the love of my my family who had great hope for me and what God was trying to do with my life.

So these three books - a book written by God Himself (to learn about God), another book written by a intellectual former atheist who was saved by that God and the Bible he wrote (to learn about my new believing self), and yet another book written by a woman who thought that man was an “abysmal bastard,” a “monstrosity,” a “cheap, awful, miserable" idiot whose ideas were nothing short of "bullshit" (in order to learn about the world). 

The C.S.Lewis book from which this George MacDonald quote came is actually seven of his books in one.  I have read most, but have never seriously read, "The Problem of Pain"... preferring  "Mere Christianity" and "The Screwtape Letters".

I have experienced my share of pain (self inflicted, circumstantial, emotional, physical) in my life....seeking comfort in the world and my selfish pursuits; trying to turn pain in to pleasure or devising ways to avoid it all together - reviving the natural/old man); the Ayn Rand approach. And I have done little in the ways of letting it bring me closer to understanding and loving God; the Jesus/C.S. Lewis approach. 

I am thoroughly convinced that how a person deals with pain reveals if they are living as a natural man (old man) or a spiritual man (new man). Walking in the newness of life or being conformed to the image of the world.

On day three of being sick (yet again), I do not believe it was a coincidence that I picked up this book today.

“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world....No doubt pain as God's megaphone is a terrible instrument; it may lead to final and unrepented rebellion. But it gives the only opportunity the bad man can have for amendment. it removes the veil; it plants the flag of truth within the fortress of the rebel soul.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain


Rand believed that pain was a - warning signal of danger, indicating that the organism is pursuing the wrong course of action, that something is impairing the proper function of its body, which requires action to correct it. - that action being rebellion against the pain. 

Lewis saw that it's our reaction to pain that can either lead to an act of sin (rebellion) or repentance. He saw virtue in surrender and repentance. She saw virtue in rebellion. 

It is high time I learn to accept pain for what it truly is in this "earthly life" and let it transform me (new man behavior) rather than try to "make it stop" with comfort or knowledge (old man survival behavior) prolonging the life of the natural man. So I'm giving this book a whirl. I expect to find this:


The problem is not pain; but it is in letting our natural man responed to the pain rather than the spiritual man. We must surrender. Accept. Partake in the suffering of Christ. Die to self. Be ye transformed... ((be the new spiritual man)).

(L)ove,

-k.

(Ed) // Inviting Jesus into the bedroom of your heart so you can makeout.

The title of this blog makes about as much sense to me as what most Christians say in regard to their "personal relationship with Jesus Christ". Terms like "I met Jesus", "I accepted Jesus", "I asked Jesus into my heart", "I follow Jesus", "I walk with Jesus", and "I love Jesus" just plain and simply frustrate and sadden me. When people say these things, it clues me in that they may lack a true understanding of who Jesus IS and how, as a believer, they are to relate to Him. At most they are but "babes in Christ" and many, I fear, have no idea what it actually means to be saved.


Particularly in the Christian blogging community...I've read post after post by women gushing on and about Jesus as if he were their lover. How he "sings over them" and how he "whispers their name" during their quiet meditations. The PERFECT man who is handsome, loving, wise, kind, exciting, and a joy to be with.

They imagine him holding their hands or wiping away their tears in times of sorrow. They write of feeling overwhelmed by his love for them during their "praise and worship" at church. They are making a God of their own imagination and fashioning him into their very own knight in shinning armor. It is rare thing to see them actually post scripture ("The Message" bible doesn't count) and they certainly never share the Gospel.

Their "personal relationship with Jesus" has become highly sensual... based in feelings, emotions, and imagined experiences. This "relationship" to the Lord of Glory is not only a little disturbing, but it is highly unscriptural.

To truly love him, we must be passionate about what he has already done for us on the cross, not what we imagine him to be doing for us in your day to day lives. Jesus didn't come to make us happy or feel warm and fuzzy on the inside... he came to save us from death, hell, and to reconcile us to God.

So, how should you see yourself in relation to Jesus?

Philippians 3:9

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

Colossians 2:12

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Galatians 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 3:27

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:2


For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Colossians 3:3

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Those who hear the gospel ((That Christ died for your sins and was buried and raised on the third day for your justification )) and believe it are finally made aware that they are dead and lost in their sin.

And what's a dead person to do?

By believing on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, we are then IDENTIFIED with Christ's (death), able to shed the dead old man (burial), and then we put on the very much living body of Christ (resurrection). For in HIM we live, and move, and have our being (Acts 17:28a). A believer's LIFE is very literally found IN CHRIST.

The main problem I have with the whole "having a personal relationship with Jesus" is that it confuses the issue. Yes, if saved, our relationship to Christ is obviously personal in that we personally trusted and believed on Him for our salvation. But, it is NOT relational in the sense that HE is someone outside of ourselves with whom we are having a relationship... like a lover, friend, parent, etc. WE are now a part of HIS body! I once heard it put like this: we should stop trying to hold his hand and understand that we are his hand. AMEN!

And here's some truth that may be hard for some to swallow: Jesus wasn't sent to show us how to live a good life, to be our example for righteous living, or to make our life better by showering us with "blessings". He was given to us to be the propitiation for our sins... to take the punishment that WE deserve. His sacrifice was deemed worthy and we are only worthy in God's eyes if we are found IN His Son. When God looks at us (if saved), he doesn't see US (or our sin) any longer. He doesn't love us for our sake or for what we do "for him"... he loves us for Christ's sake!

So, I ask...When you look at yourself what do you see...a Christian, a "good" person, a child of God, a disciple or follower of Jesus? And when you look at Jesus what do you see... the lover of your soul, a friend, teacher, an enlightened being?

Jesus is the Saviour of the world and you can only be one of two things: redeemed and hid in Him or a sinner in need of salvation.


Don't you think it's about time you and Jesus had "the talk" about where your relationship is headed?


(Lov)e,


-k.