Chapter 8 - Humble Analysis: Reaching into Bucket Two

This week, we begin to look at those times in our innocent past when we responded sinfully. While it is certainly important for us to understand how to respond to these events in a biblical manner, it is also important for us to understand why we tend to act sinfully when we are wronged.

Through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, so death spread to all men because all sinned (Rom 5:12). It is our nature to sin, because we are born sinners. But for us as Christians, there is a flip-side: Although one trespass led to condemnation, one act of righteousness leads to justification and life. Because of Christ and his work, we are no longer slaves to sin, but we are free to live in a manner pleasing to God. And this includes handling our innocent past in a way that accords with Scripture.

Rev. Viars asks 6 questions on pp. 147-148 to help us humbly analyze times in our innocent past when we may have responded in ways that were sinful. May we consider these questions as we seek to better understand how to deal with this aspect of our past and move forward in freedom and forgiveness.

Chapter 7 - Authentic Suffering and the Sustaining Gospel

Have you ever forgotten to breathe? If you are reading this, then I would dare say you have not forgotten for any extended length of time. As Christians, the gospel is--in a sense--like the spiritual air we breathe. Christ's sacrifice on our behalf has made it possible for us to be made spiritually alive.

But do we too often treat the good news as we do breathing? Breathing is involuntary; we can stop and think about it, but we don't have to do so in order to continue taking in air. The fact that we take in oxygen makes it possible for us to do everything else in life. The gospel has made it possible for us to live our lives in a manner pleasing to God, even in the midst of suffering.

I won't push the analogy too far, because it's only a fair analogy at best; the point is that we are blessed to have the word of God which tells us what he has done through Christ on our behalf. We can and should appropriate that truth, especially when faced with suffering. We who were dead have been made alive. We who were orphans have been adopted as sons of the living God. We who were without hope now have assurance of eternal life.

As we seek to keep "Bucket One" empty, let us remember our Savior and the sufferings he endured on our behalf, and by the word and the Spirit, let us be transformed into his likeness so that he may be seen by others in our own lives.

Chapter 6 - Authentic Suffering: Reaching Into Bucket One

What does it mean for us to suffer authentically? In this week's chapter, we look at what God's word says about dealing with events of our past from "bucket one" (our innocent past when we responded well).

Rev. Viars outlines four ways to view this part of our past through the lens of Scripture, and deal with specific events in a manner that puts them in their proper place and honors God:

1. Face it honestly--rather than ignoring the event or isolating ourselves, we should cry out to God and let other Christians help bear our burdens.

2. Face it biblically--how we understand God as he has revealed himself in his word, and how we understand our relationship to him is of utmost importance when dealing with the hurts of our past. As we genuinely acknowledge the sufferings of our past, God's word will properly frame our experience and enable us to suffer well.

3. Face it hopefully--we need not despair in the midst of our suffering. We serve a God who works all things together for good, who is for us, and who has justified us through Christ. In Romans 8:39 we are told that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. "Nothing in all creation" is pretty comprehensive; surely it includes our sufferings.

4. Face it missionally--God's purpose in our past is not to provide us with material for extended periods of personal introspection; rather, he is equipping us to be able to reach out and comfort others who are suffering with the truths of Scripture. We are to be part of the body of Christ, rejoicing with those who rejoice, and weeping with those who weep.

Keeping these points in mind, let us think of how we can begin reaching into bucket one as we rely on God's word to guide us, and as we allow our sufferings to bring us closer to God and to prepare to serve others.

Chapter 5 - Bad Things Happen to Good People: Another Look

In this week's chapter, we read of Rabbi Harold Kushner and his book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Rabbi Kushner's view of God and his sovereignty changed due to the events of his past; specifically, the news that his son had a disease that would likely lead to his death in his teen years. In wrestling with the implications of this news and his view of God, Rabbi Kushner concluded that he must 'sacrifice' God's sovereignty over all things in order to reconcile God's justice and his (Kushner's) own goodness.

While certainly not diminishing Kushner's suffering over the news of his son's disease and prognosis, we must call into serious question his conclusions about God, and we must do so based upon God's own words about himself.

In John chp. 9, we read of Jesus and the disciples coming upon a man who had been blind from birth. The disciples asked Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Christ's answer is profound and instructive: “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him." Jesus then proceeded to heal the man of his physical blindness and--most importantly--his spiritual blindness. From Scripture, we see that not only has God planned all things from before the creation of the world, but also that he providentially directs the specific events that occur throughout time. This man born blind was precisely so because God had determined to show his power and display his mighty works in him.

It is indeed dangerous ground we tread if we put ourselves in the place of judging the nature of God. Instead, we must humbly, carefully, and prayerfully search and hold firm to the whole counsel of God as revealed in Scripture, especially when dealing with suffering and difficulties in our past. While Kushner may not recognize the New Testament as God's word, let us not forget what God declares about himself in Isaiah 46:

Remember this and stand firm,

recall it to mind, you transgressors,

remember the former things of old;

for I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like me,

declaring the end from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,

and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

calling a bird of prey from the east,

the man of my counsel from a far country.

I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;

I have purposed, and I will do it.

(Isaiah 46:8-11 ESV)

God is sovereign over all things. God is just. God works all things together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Our view of his word will profoundly effect our approach to the past. There is no other source of truth outside of God's word to which we can turn and find true comfort and peace in the midst (and aftermath) of our struggles.

Rabbi Kushner let his own experiences shape who he considers God to be. Consider your view of God's word, and let his word shape your experiences.