The idea that God exists primarily for our benefit is nothing new, so I suppose we shouldn’t be too surprised when, in his Easter message, Donald Trump stated how he believes that God will make America prosperous.
But those who believe in a health, wealth and prosperity gospel are making a big mistake – because prosperity is no more a sign of God’s love for a nation as personal wealth or good health is a sign of God’s love for an individual.
For whilst God is sometimes pleased to provide for us in these ways, so might his allowing us to experience suffering in our lives be a manifestation of his amazing grace too.
I’ve written previously about how it was because of his great love for Lazarus, Mary and Martha, that Jesus allowed Lazarus to die by not rushing to his aid when he knew his friend was dead [John 11: 5-6], but rather than refering again to that example of how God sometimes moves in mysterious ways, I’d like to consider something that Jesus said to the apostle Peter after his resurrection.
Before Jesus was arrested, Peter thought he was strong and insisted that, unlike all the other disciples, Jesus was wrong when he predicted that he would fall away. But despite his protestations that he was willing even to die for Jesus, when push came to shove, Peter did exactly what Jesus had said he would and denied him three times.
But for Peter, who was genuinely remorseful for letting Jesus down, it wasn’t the end. A few days after his resurrection Jesus appeared to Peter and asked him three times whether he loved him. And each time Peter said that he did.
But whilst his repeated affirmations of his love for Jesus might be seen as an opportunity for Peter to atone for each of his previous failures, it was of course, Jesus’ death that had already done that. And it was a result of recognising this that Peter was able to answer Jesus’s questions in the way that he did. It was by appreciating how much he’d been forgiven, that enabled Peter to love Jesus more than he had previously for, as Jesus had previously taught, it is those who are forgiven much, that love much.
But I’m not saying here that Peter now loved Jesus perfectly. Not at all, for if you read the book of Acts you’ll see how Peter continues to sometimes fall short of how he ought to behave. Even so, at this particular moment, I think Peter had more genuine love for Jesus than he had ever had before.
Jesus’ repeated questioning of Peter does suggest however that he wanted to deal with the elephant in the room, or in this case on the beach. Jesus wanted to let his troubled disciple know that he didn’t hold his repeated denials against him. Furthermore, his subsequent commissioning of Peter to take care of those who would follow Jesus, is as wonderfully reassuring for us as it must have been for Peter, indicating as it does that, however great our mistakes, Jesus never gives up on us and that he still has a role for us in his kingdom.
Rather than despising the weak and marginalised, the poor and those who sometimes fail, Jesus is one who does not break a bruised reed or quench a smouldering wick. [isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:20].
But there was more that Jesus wanted to say to Peter. And though Peter would have been shocked to hear what Jesus said next, I believe Jesus was nonetheless continuing to be gracious to him. This is what he said.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” [John 21:18-19]
These are enigmatic words but the gospel writer helpfully explains that Jesus said this to show by what kind of death Peter was to glorify God.
Jesus is therefore informing Peter that he would one day be crucified, supposedly upside down, for being one of his followers, something which, on the face of it, does not sound like good news. But think again.
Having just denied Jesus three times, Peter now realises that his faith is not as strong as he thought it was. But in much the same way as he’d told Peter he’d deny him, Jesus now tells him that one day his faith won’t fail and he will one day die for what he believes.
Which whilst troubling for Peter to hear would, at the same time, have been an incredibly reassuring thing for Peter know as it would confirm to him that he would not abandon his faith in the future.
All of which led me to consider how I want to die. Because whilst it might be nice to die peacefully at home in advanced old age, untroubled by too many of the inevitable consequences of being elderly, that’s not necessarily how I want to die. Because whilst, were I able to, I’d opt to slip away peacefully in my sleep, that’s not ultimately what is most important to me.
And neither do I consider it my goal to die with a healthy bank balance or in a perfectly presented home. For if I die in such comfortable conditions, how will I know that any faith I may then have in God is genuine? How, if it has not been suitably tested, will I know that my faith is real, and not merely the consequence of my favourable circumstances?
And so, since, as I die, it will be knowing for sure where I’m going that will comfort me, I now consider that, whilst it is not something I would actively seek out, were God to decide that my death will be both long drawn out and painful, then that would not necessarily be a bad thing.
Because more than dying peacefully, I want to die at peace – with God.
I want to die believing.
All of which reveals the health, wealth and prosperity gospel to be a false gospel, and those who pedal such nonsense to be liars. Health, wealth and prosperity are not necessarily what God wants for us in this life because faith in him is far more precious than any of these things.
Far then from seeing financial security and an absence of illness as a sign of God’s blessing, it may be that, along with anything else that distracts us from the real source of infinite and eternal joy, we’d be better off without them.
Which is not to say to say we should pursue poverty and pain is some masochistic misunderstanding of what it is to be a true Christian. But if, having been called to take up our cross and follow Jesus, we end up being crucified, literally as Peter was, or, as is more likely perhaps, more figuratively, then we should not be too surprised.
Furthermore we can take heart, rejoice even, in such circumstances because, as Peter himself once wrote:
‘In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. [1 Peter 1:6-9]
But the circumstances of my death are not ultimately for me to decide. Whilst I may be given the option of declining treatment, I can no more opt to die of cancer rather a coronary than I have the right to set the day of my death. It is for God to determine these things not me. But whether I end my life wealthy or in relative want, in pain or peacefully at home, I believe I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me [Philippians 4:13]
Furthermore, should God be pleased to grant me faith in him until my dying day, it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that, with full courage now as always, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
For to live is Christ, and to die is gain. [Philippians 1:20-21].
Related blogs:
To read ‘When Bad Things Happen’, click here
To read “Luther and the global pandemic – on becoming a theologian of the cross”, click here
To read ‘All’s Well that Ends Well’, click here
To read ‘T.S. Eliot, Jesus and the Paradox of the Christian Life’, click here
To read “Suffering- A Personal View”, click here.
To read “Why do bad things happen to good people – a tentative suggestion”, click here
To read ‘Monsters’, click here
Some musings 