This the second part of The Upside Down World of Theology.  Let me know if you enjoy this.

Chapter One

No good deed ever goes unpunished.

            Over the years my wife has claimed that I am a pessimist for stating this.  But as I grow older in the Lord I see more and more the truth of this statement.

            Many people will do good things to get good in return.  We give money on Sunday in order to get more blessings from God.  We help others so we can get help one day when we need it.  Our actions are often an investment in good that carries the expectation of a return of goodness in our lives.

            This becomes so dangerous as a theology because each of us must face sickness, loss, hurt, pain, and in the end, death.  When we build in this expectation of good we can become despondent when the troubled times come.  We are warned by our Lord, “Remember the word that I said to you. ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.” John 15:20 (RSV)

            In these days when personal security and pleasure are the chief aims of the world, it is to be expected that this will affect how we see the Bible and the Gospel.  We expect of God what we expect of our political leaders, that they will protect us from trouble and make our lives comfortable.

            This is most clearly seen in the current theology about the rapture.  Most today accept a pre-tribulation rapture which will get us out of town before everything falls apart.  I must admit there is a part of me that hopes this is true.  But the verse listed before and 2,000 years of history seem to go against that.

The seed of the Church

            Looking back over the history of the Christian Church one can see where the “blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church.”  Most of the times of great spiritual growth have come during, or just after times of great suffering and pain by the Church.  At times of great persecution the Church goes through seems to extend itself as well as grow deeper. 

            During times of great prosperity and wealth the Church tends to grow weaker and lose its focus as we settle into the comfort the world offers.

            The belief in a pre-tribulation rapture also seems an affront to not only those who have suffered, but who are suffering now.  How do we joyfully tell them they won’t have to go through the tribulation, when they are already?  Many today give their lives, their jobs, and their freedom for the love they have for Jesus Christ.  The pre-tribulation rapture has come too late for all those from Stephen on down through today.

            The fact is that we are called to a Gospel that more often than not has brought ridicule, loss of status, family strains, and even death.  We are called to live out and fulfill the ministry of Jesus Christ and that leaves us with a cross to bear, as well as a message to share.

            Now this is not all negative.  Many will see blessings and joy as they minister.  They will reap harvest and celebrate the good things they see God doing.  But others who are just as faithful will find hardship and even death waiting as the reward for their faithfulness.  They will discover the greater joy in this.  As Stephen Curtis Chapman asks in his song What Kind of Joy.

            “What kind of joy is this, that counts it a blessing to suffer?

            What kind of joy is this, that gives the prisoner his song?

            What kind of joy can stare death in the face and see it as sweet victory?”

The next words answer, “This is the joy of a soul that’s forgiven and free!”  Then he states, “I’ve found this joy for my soul is forgiven and free!” 1

            It must be remembered that we serve a God of whom scripture states,

“Yet it was the will of the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand;” (Isaiah 53:10 RSV)

Some versions even state, “It pleased the Lord to bruise Him:”  God’s pleasure is not in the pain or the suffering, but in the blessing and eternal hope that comes through it.  Because of sin, and the evil of Satan, often those who seek good are bruised and this shows both the weakness of evil, and the strength of God and the Church. 

            From the days of the Roman persecution we have the story of Christians being taken to the Coliseums to die for their faith.  The women and children were tied to poles and the men were allowed to be free to protect their families from the wild animals which were turned loose with them.  The crowd anticipated good sport.  But the Christians started singing and the crowd grew still.  Even as some of the Christians died the others continued singing praise and faith in Jesus.  Then something wondrous happened.   Some of the people got up from their seats and started moving toward the arena itself.  They climbed over the wall and went into the arena with the Christians.  When one was asked why he was going to his death, the response was that these people have something worth dying for, while he had nothing worth living for.  2

            Christians are a people who can make places of worship in Catacombs (basically where the entire cemetery is underground and the bodies are up close and personal) and honor the God of life there.

Works righteousness

            Another great danger is that this is too close to works righteousness.  If I am good enough, then God will bless me and then God must save me.  Yet scripture is very clear that no one is good enough, or can ever be good enough except Jesus Christ.

            Whether our lives are good enough or not has little to do with the blessings or trials of life.  We are told in the Bible.

 “so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”  (Matthew 5:45 RSV)

            God’s grace is extended to all, THANK GOD!  It is not because of how good we are, but because it is God’s very nature to love and to bless.  Jesus shows us the nature of God.  Or in other words, it’s because of how good God is!

 “But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,    bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.    To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.”  (Luke 6:27-29 RSV)

            This is not God commanding us to do what He wants.  It is a glimpse of the very character of God.  When Adam and Eve chose their own way and wanted to be gods themselves, God had compassion and made a way back for them and us.

            How did God respond to Adam and Eve rejecting God and seeking to become god themselves? “Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"” (Genesis 3:9 NKJV)

            That is the true heart of it.  That we do good because God has been good to us.  That we give because God has given so much to us.

            We are told to give a tithe, a tenth, of all we receive back to God.  How much is the tithe of salvation?  How much should we tithe for God’s love?  How much can we give to be a tithe of our very life which is a gift from God?  To be totally honest we never could offer even a tithe of all the blessings God has already given us.  Our attempts to do so only become a source of guilt to us.  So we learn that we must accept the grace of God with thanksgiving and praise.

            So, you see, this is not a pessimistic doctrine, but a glorious message that the love and grace of God are more than sufficient to give us the victory in life, as well as from life!  As my favorite song says, “Victory in Jesus!”

1  From the CD For the Sake of the Call by Stephen Curtis Chapman.  Produced by Sparrow.

2  This is an old story for which I have not been able to find the source.

Why did God ask "Where are you?"” after Adam and Eve fell?

Why do you think God leaves us here when we are saved?  Wouldn’t it be better for God to take us to heaven after we are saved?

Why do some Christians suffer and others seem to live secure pleasant lives?

How does the sacrifice of Jesus affect how you face your suffering?