We've been looking at the idea of sacrifice [giving up something important to you]. We've seen how Jesus' sacrifice reconciled (brought back together again) man and God after sin separated them. We've reflected on how truly terrible Jesus suffering was ... so why then do Christians still suffer?
Take some time to reflect, post your response ... add an image, link etc as evidence to support your response. Happy blogging yr 9
Serviam, RE Dept
Maybe have a look at this image to get thinking http://www.vsawis.org/CollExh/AAC/2005winners/images/Marcella%20Paliekara%20-%20Suffering%20Servant%20-%202005_jpg.jpg
or go watch a movie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKgOPlBfiWc
i think we suffer to understard a bit of how Jesus felt when he suffered on the cross. It could also show our apriciation of what he did for us.
ReplyDeleteimage:http://www.christusrex.org/www1/giotto/MCR-crucifix-m.jpg
i think we suffer because we deserve it in a way, like Jesus suffered for no reason- and it was VERY brutal but we sin everyday- so we also should suffer since we have a reason
ReplyDeletealso when we do something wrong and we sufferafter what we done then we know the consequences, then we won't do that again.
I think by having suffering in the world we have something to compare with joy. Say, if there was only joy in the world, then nothing wold make that particularly good as it would just be considered normal. So maybe God has created sacrifice so that we can enjoy things that we love more.
ReplyDeleteAwesome ideas so far ladies ... Eleanor, you've highlighted an A level idea called the "virtue defence" the idea that without all the bad stuff we can't fully appreciate all the good stuff ie the fire man who rescues a family from a fire, even though the fire is bad and hurts people, we see the fireman's courage because of this bad thing! Think big, Happy blogging
ReplyDeleteI believe that we suffer to fully appreciate what we have. God created life in order for all of us to experience it fully. Life carries many emotions; pain, happiness, anger, love etc. Suffering may also be a consequence of free will. As our actions may influence other people, by us having free will we have the choice whether to make others suffer or not. Because we all think in different ways, someone may carry out an action (e.g. murder)and that would cause the family of the victim to suffer. So maybe suffering is the consequence of OUR actions.
ReplyDeleteWe should sacrifice because by doing this we do it in remembrance of what Jesus did for us. As we see Jesus as our role model, we aim to follow the example He set for us. Jesus sacrificed His life to take away our sins, and it was a symbolic and significant action. So by our sacrificing, we are performing a significant and symbolic action too. In sacrificing, we test the depth of our faith by giving up something that we truly value.
Elaine Afrane
I think that we suffer because it might be a consequence of our actions, like Elaine said, but also it might NOT be because of our actions alone. Sometimes you suffer through no fault of your own;... say you're suffering of grief because someone close to you passed away,it doesn't mean it's because of somehting you have done.
ReplyDeleteAlso we suffer because it's part of life, life is tough. If life were to be simple then there's nothing to look forward to really, because you'd be expecting whatever it is to come, to be straight-forward/easy/simple/"normal". But when we suffer, we undergo little inequities [injustice/unfairness/tough times... Following how Jesus suffered for us...
Wow! Some great thinking Elaine and Joanne - are natural disasters a consequence of our actions? Why is life so tough if God loves us ... doesn't He want the best for us? Would you rather things were easy than having to suffer? Why do we have to suffer when Jesus already gave His life for us? Think big, happy blogging
ReplyDeleteI have seen other peoples comments and everyone is saying that we suffer because of our own actions. If you question what you just said that cannot be fully true. E.G. A baby which has just been born and suddenly dies. The baby was innocent and only spared a few seconds of life. Are you saying it suffered because of its actions..it did not make any actions for it to die, therefore my point proven we do not suffer because of our own actions. We suffer becuase of the sins of our brothers and sisters. This is so we can learn a lesson and show how lucky we are by other peoples disadvantages, we are grateful that God is trying to prove a point to us so we don't have to suffer as they did. This links to as Jesus died on the cross he suffered not for his sins but for the sins of OTHERS.
ReplyDeleteI can’t remember but my priest was talking about suffering during his homily and i think he said...in Judaism they believe we suffer because the sins of our past fathers, again linking why an innocent baby dies.. it died because of the sins of its past fathers as they believe in judaism? And in Hinduism they believe we suffer because of who they were in their past lives..
If you read the bible, God teaches us many ways on how to avoid suffering, just follow his example and show him you want to be forgiven and i believe he will protect you and provide you with less sufferings. :)
Sorry miss i got carried away. HA.
Sharlene Wow! Sharlene, I don't think you got carried away. I think you made some excellent points about the responsibility we owe to others to live good lives. How we live affects our loved ones! What fab thinking.
ReplyDeleteThink big
Happy blogging
Ms K
Why do we christians suffer?
ReplyDeleteWell, linking back to sharlenes post about the new born baby and stuff, it cant be because of out actions. I belive that God wants to put us to the test. If someone is our life dies or something disastorous happens then are we going to turn to the lord and question him. No. The lord is not to be questioned. When things like these happen then we look to our father for guidence, we ask him for help and know he'll be there for us. Because what is the point of being with God at one moment when everything is going our way then turning from him when it isnt. It's selfishness and it's not love. If onw of our family members is killed by, say a gang for example. Then are we to seek vengence? Are we going to hate. We must not do this for we as christians must be good disiplces of Jesus and follow his example. He forgave the Jews for putting him through so much persecution and killing him so we also must learn to forgive.
To sum up this whole thing, I think that the reason we christians suffer, it to let God know wether our love for him is true and real.
Maybe we suffer to be reminded of how Jesus sacrificed his life and what he went through, for us.
ReplyDeleteWe also have to understand WHY He did it for us. So everytime we sin, its like crucifying Jesus over and over again.
Sharlene, you've made a VERY interesting point and i agree , i think sometimes other people's disadvantages help our personal gain e.g there is only two places left in a college and you are up against another person if that person gets arrested or something it is their disadvantage but it means you will get the college place.
ReplyDeleteits Linda Kalaj by the way :)
Firstly I believe all Christians should live Godly. We have to suffer as we are still born of man. The bible mentions we will suffer and face persecution. We may suffer on earth, but our reward lies in heaven. Suffering is sometimes the consequence of sacrifice. In order to live a pure and holy life we have to suffer.
ReplyDeleteI think our suffering is punishment for our sins and probably beacuase we are not being good christians. However it could just be a reminder of the pain and suffering Jesus endured as he sacrificed his life to save our sins.
ReplyDelete