David Wayne on a Theology of Suffering

Some of the most profound blogging going on just now can be found over at David Wayne's Jollyblogger. As most of my readers probably know, David has cancer. Since a good friend of mine has cancer right now, and since I shouldn't be surprised to find someday that I myself or someone very close to me will have cancer, David's perspective here is I think very helpful. Read his latest post along with the many comments.

David is occupying that space where theology and real life intersect in a way that cannot be ignored. I will not attempt to quote him, but suffice to say he is talking about a theology of suffering rather than a theology of glory. See the links he provides for further explanation.

This is important stuff. This is life and death stuff. I do want to quote one of the commenters here, because her words resonate with some thing I've been saying lately. A theology of glory will let you down when the cancer comes. Cancer, sickness, death, all these things will seem like a failure of God's.

Anyway, here's the comment I wanted to quote. Anne wrote:

After receiving my cancer diagnosis, (the same as yours, two and a half years ago) the thing I was most struck by was how Christians come across as somewhat surprised when we begin to die.

Yeah, it "strikes" me too. It's not like the evidence isn't overwhelming that we too will grow sick and die someday (unless a dreadful accident intervenes . . . or Christ returns). This is why we need a theology that is adequate to the task of explaining suffering in the context of the Lordship of Jesus. Excuse me, but all our talk of victorious living and power and "gifting" falls woefully short of filling this need.

[BTW: I see Nate has posted on the same subject. Note his title: "Delivered UNTO suffering." Nate's take is really interesting, and actually expresses something I'm not sure that I've ever seen expressed quite so well. I won't quote him directly, but suffice to say, he's onto something!]