In God, Medicine, and Suffering, Stanley Hauerwas gets to the heart of the issue of suffering for Christians when he emphasizes the narrative quality of suffering and the need for medicine to care instead of just cure. First of all, I believe that the idea of putting suffering in context (noticing and emphasizing its narrative quality) can help in many cases to see how our suffering, and especially death, fits into the broader pattern of birth, life, and death, which is inevitable. Especially as death is encountered, we must remember that it is unavoidable, a part of life. We are perishable beings, at least for now. Secondly, I think the idea of narritve can help us to realize that our suffering is not the ultimate reality. It is real, yes, but it is not all there is.
I believe the use of narrative opens the door for a Christian response to suffering, and I believe this is precisely a primary response found in Scripture. I think the need for meaning is especially poinant, as Brody (quoted by Hauerwas) writes: "suffering is produced and alleviated by the meaning one attaches to one's experience." I think this fits with modern scientific findings, such as the placebo effect noted by Hauerwas. It als demonstrates the need for Christians to step up and assert that life has meaning. Christ put out a call for "all who are weary and burdened" to "come to me" for they will be given rest. I don't believe he is implying that our lives will become easy. In fact, I know that hasn't happened in my life. But, something has happened. Christ goes on in Matthew 11, "you will find rest for your souls." That has happened for me. I believe this hope needs to be the principal Christian focus in a response to suffering. As a poem often found inside funeral folders says, "God hath not promised skies always blue. . . . But God hath promised rest for the weary . . . and strength for the day." I believe this imparts some very important wisdom, and echoes very clearly the words of Christ in John 16: "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." This teleological understanding emphasizes that meaning is extremely important to suffering, and Christ is reminding us very forcefully that our suffering is not all that is. In fact, Christ declares that we will suffer, no question. But, and it is a glorious "but," Christ has overcome the world, and we have hope in Him.
I believe that the Christians understanding of suffering hinges on meaning, and further, on hope. This does not mean we will necessarily explain suffering, its purpose and cause. Instead, it means that we will remember and emphasize the meaning of life, or more importantly, the meaning of Christ for our life. This is the Christian hope, not only for peace in this life, but for God's ultimate triumph, which is yet to be fully realized here on earth, but will be!
Obviously, this has been one Christian response to suffering. But it is not meant to be the only word we can put forth. We can assert God's triumph and our Christian hope, and can also probe into the meaning of suffering, it scauses, and its cures. These are also possibilities. I simply assert that these should include the truth and hope that we have in Christ. Otherwise, we are in danger of coming up empty. Questioning is important, but we must not forget the "answers" we already have as we search for further answers. |
