I did a bit more searching and reading. I believe I understand this subject much better. I was thinking in terms of having control over my actions. Silly me, I forgot I have zero say in the matter. God will bring about everything in our lives and frame evil (suffering) against us to bring about the necessary changes which produce godly characteristics.
From my understanding, it does appear that we are called to suffer, specifically even moreso when we are called to follow Christ. It would appear that according to one of Ray's papers in the Lake of Fire series about judgment on the house of God, we are expected to suffer for Christ every day in order to be worthy...
"And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than Me is NOT WORTHY of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is NOT WORTHY of Me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, IS NOT WORTHY OF ME" (Matt. 10:36-38).We are to go through extreme hardship, persecution, and tribulations & God strengthens us so that we can endure.
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape [Gk: ‘sequel’] that you may be able to bear it" (I Cor. 10:13).
"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we SUFFER with Him, that we may be also glorified together" (Rom. 8:17).
"That no man should be moved by these AFFLICTIONS: for yourselves know that we are APPOINTED thereunto" (I Thes. 3:3).
"...all your PERSECUTIONS and the AFFLICTIONS with which you are bearing... which you are SUFFERING... you who are being AFFLICTED..." (I Thes. 1:5-7).
"Yea, and ALL [in every era] that will live godly in Christ Jesus SHALL SUFFER PERSECUTION" (II Tim. 3:12).
"...that ye may be counted WORTHY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, for which ye also SUFFER" (2 Thes. 1:4-5).In Hebrews 12:6 God gives us examples of HOW He deals w/our sins & shortcomings:
"For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?"
II Cor. 4:17"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more EXCEEDING AND ETERNAL [eonian] WEIGHT of glory.""For I will shew him [Paul] how GREAT things he must SUFFER for my name’s sake" (Acts 9:16).
"Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me DAILY, the care of ALL THE CHURCHES"! (2Co 11:28)
We MUST go thru suffering like Paul and the other disciples, although each in the own order and according to God's will. Each person's salvation is worked out by God thru suffering and that suffering is specific to each individual. God didn't call upon the disciples to suffer the exact same things. But they suffered nonetheless...
"Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that WE [Christians, followers of Christ] MUST through MUCH TRIBULATION [Greek: thlipsis--affliction, troubles, burdens, persecution, anguish] enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).I agree that suffering and what it produces is what sets us apart. God's works being done in us separate the Called from the Chosen, the tares from the wheat, the kept fish with the unwanted, a little leaven vs. the whole lump.
I had a brain fart and was thinking in carnal terms, as if I had a choice one way or the other. God's work being done in us causes many changes & my focus shouldn't be on suffering at the hands of others, it's all from God. I forgot that in the end, it's all ONE.
I have to admit, Ray's paper on how "Hard is it to Get Saved" is my all time favorite paper!
-JL
I'm not sure there's an 'either/or' aspect to the question. Firstly, I don't know if it's scriptural to say "we are called to suffer for Christ by following Him". Clearly, we are warned that to follow Him will bring about suffering, but it doesn't necessarily follow that this is our calling. We are called to have faith and be obedient. That faith and obedience results in persecution...but not always and only persecution. It seems to me from scripture ( both from the examples of Paul and the admonitions given) that we aren't supposed to be out there seeking this--indeed, both Christ and Paul avoided it on numerous occasions--but being faithful and obedient and rejoicing when it happens. For me so far, this has been a blessing to be lived, and not so much a commandment to be followed.
Beyond that, we suffer the consequences of our own sin and shortcomings. This develops character in us eventually as we begin to learn to love justice, show mercy, and walk humbly with our God. Maturity.
We also suffer a host of evils like illness, weakness, disappointment, dismay, doubt, fear, pain, grief, and every other evil up to and including death. These we suffer by the will of God that we may be humbled by it.
It's not suffering that sets us apart. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. It's what suffering produces and how it is received that's a mark of the few and the many. That's my take, anyway. You want scripture, I got it. Wink Show me yours, too.
Better reading:
http://bible-truths.com/splinter.html