Faith and suffering

We have been focussing on history for the past two issues and continue in this one, focussing on the history of our Mennonite Brethren denomination in Canada.

We have done this in order to help us collectively realize what a treasure we have in our heritage. We are privileged to live in a country where we can meet freely to worship. We can share our faith with those around us. We live in a very protected society.

However, we have examples throughout history, and also in our present time in Third World countries, where this is not the case. Stories abound of people who daily suffer and die for their faith.

Both the apostle Peter and the apostle Paul talk about suffering for our faith, saying that this is a normal part of being a follower of Jesus. However, if this is normal, what does that say for those of us who virtually never suffer for our faith? Those of us whose forebears came from Russia after the Revolution know that they suffered, but were they suffering for their faith or for their supposed wealth? In any case, that does not affect us in the 21st century.

Does suffering for our faith mean something different for us who live in North America and other so-called peaceful countries? In Canada we don’t suffer like people in Colombia or India or Angola, for example. We are warned in 1 Peter 4 and 5 about insults for our faith, and suffering coming from our fellow citizens. But do we recognize the forces that attack our faith in Canada? It isn’t the outward forces that attack us, but rather the inward forces – the forces attacking our spirits and our minds.

We have become quite acculturated to the society in which we live. We can no longer be distinguished from our neighbours. The music we listen to, the TV and movies we watch, are probably the same ones our neighbours hear and watch. That is not necessarily wrong. I do not want to go back where keeping legalistic rules distinguished us. However, do these media become insidious attacks on our faith that we bring on ourselves, rather than being thrust upon us? We all know that what we take in through our eyes and ears affects how we react and how we live.

Another way we have become acculturated to our society is in our business dealings. We hear about businesses that shortchange their customers. When friends were having their house built recently, there were a number of Christian businesspersons who provided shoddy work while at the same time demanding immediate payment. (I am sure there are also many business people who go well beyond their obligations in ensuring good workmanship.)

And how about our response to politics? Here too we should reflect the love of Christ, rather than be as malicious and abusive in our language as people around us. Do we remember to pray for our government officials, rather than maligning them?

Our actions need to reflect our faith. The apostle Peter states, “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5–8). If we apply this, then suffering for our faith might be an outcome, but it would be one that would honour our Lord.

About this issue

This Herald contains many stories. Angeline Schellenberg reminds us, in “Staying alive – with stories,” of the nourishing power of stories. She reminds us too that it is often more effective to simply let the story do its work, instead of trying to drive home the lessons it may contain. In light of that, the temptation to explain the meaning of what’s here must be resisted. But, perhaps a few words can be offered about why they’re here. Bruce Guenther’s bird’s-eye history tour has reached the MB Church in Canada. What an abundance of stories exist between the lines of that overview! How could we begin to tell even a few of them, and which would be representative? We chose a few roles in the church to highlight the gifts and people God gives the church. The Mountain Park Community Church story was told at the recent B.C. Conference convention and we felt others would find it encouraging too.

Speaking of stories and the good gifts of God they reveal, we also want to acknowledge the writers who, in this issue and the others, help us with their particular gifts of observation and narrative. Some are long-time writers for the Herald, others are newer to our pages. It’s a pleasure to work with them, and also with our columnists and those from agencies who regularly provide us with news.

—dd