This entry accompanies the 2nd in a 4-part sermon series “Character: Christian Life Practice”.
I ran cross country in high school – the only sport I could possibly have earned a letter in because it required absolutely no coordination. Our coach, who sported a crew cut, had the slightly psycho eyes of Rasputin, and whose politics were just one notch left of Atilla the Hun, hosted each year the Iron Man Weekend at his brother’s farm. He’d have us run the exact same loops each year, through bogs, brambles, nettles and thorns, all designed for maximum damage. There was an award for the bloodiest legs at the end of the weekend.
“Mental toughness,” was what he was after. “Mind Over Pain” was his motto.
Did I gain such things through this experience? Did it improve my character? I’d say in many ways it did. It was especially a lifeline to kids on that team who, in the absence of such structure and discipline, might not have done well in school – one even might well have ended up in jail. It was a bonding experience for us to undergo the ordeal of that weekend, and in general the crucible of the cross country team.
On the other hand, such experiences can be abusive. Those who believe in a philosophy of “no pain, no gain,” often have a hard time with the value of compassion and the need for gentleness. Believing that pain and suffering are “good for us” seems a way of denying the crushing reality of suffering, and can even be an excuse to inflict it.
Perhaps more troubling is the theological issue here: can we say that God uses human suffering for our betterment? Can we ever say to someone in the midst of suffering, “this is good for you; you’ll see.” Can we imagine saying anything more cruel than that?
And yet, what would human life be in the absence of suffering? If we lived a life free from risk of harm, disease, death, would we really be human? Would we know the meaning of courage if there were nothing to risk? Is suffering, in that sense, part of the providence of God? In such a way, do we not confront the mystery of the cross?
On Sunday we’ll deal with Romans 5:1-5 (“we boast in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…”) and Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus’ 40 day ordeal in the wilderness.
Here are some questions to ponder:
* Does suffering produce character? Can you share an experience in which that was the case for you? In what ways can this be a very unhelpful, or even dangerous way to think of suffering?
* Do you think there is a gender-difference in approaching this question? I’m mindful of the way men might value “mental toughness” over the virtue of gentleness of heart. Or am I making an unhelpful generalization there?
* There’s much talk these days about “failure to launch” kids. As parents/educators/mentors, is it of value to allow kids to experience challenge and suffering – or even to program for them such challenges? Outward Bound is one example of such a strategy – a literal testing in the wilderness.
* Do you think God allows suffering? How do we fit suffering into the notion of God’s providence? (How’s that for a wide-open ended question?)
Love to hear from folks, before or after this Sunday’s sermon.
– Jeff V.
