Crossroads of Agony: Suffering and Violence in the Christian Tradition

By Troy D. Ehlke

Have you ever felt a dissonance between the joy-filled Sunday school messages and the difficult sayings attributed to Jesus in the scriptures? There is a movement in American churches today that separates the Gospel into two parts: attractive and repulsive. It is probably surprising for many to know that there is more in the latter category than in the former. Church leaders know that preaching about suffering and demanding personal sacrifice for the sake of discipleship is not going to win over many converts. In fact, people tend to leave and seek out worship centers that portray Christ in kinder, gentler ways. After all, how many of the most applauded preachers of the present generation focus on Jesus teaching of self-sacrifice? More likely, sermons emerge from a prosperity gospel where God will reward the faithful and give bountifully to those who believe.
The problem with this movement is that it makes Christianity one-dimensional and shallow. When hardship becomes an unwelcome visitor in our lives, the gospel of rewards doesnt hold up or provide the slightest degree of comfort. Crossroads of Agony is an anti-thesis to the current trends in American Christianity by revealing the call to suffering that Jesus gives to all who wish to follow him. True discipleship must contend with all sides of the faith, not just the ones that make us smile or feel warm and fuzzy inside. Jesus came not to bring peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34)! As believers, we need to embrace suffering and see the value that comes with hardship undertaken for the sake of the Gospel.
This book launches its readership into an investigation of the early church through a survey of scripture, historical events, and emerging literature. Without studying the foundations of the church, contemporary communities of faith are adrift without a dependable point of reference. As Woodrow Wilson said, Those who do not know their past are doomed to repeat it. Our heritage is rich with tradition and reveals the highs and lows of human achievement. Our past is the key to unlocking a future that is keeping with Gods will. Crossroads of Agony exposes readers to a side of Christianity few opt to know about it, let alone use to guide their faith. Those with an adventurous spirit and a thirst for knowledge will discover that suffering is recast in a different light through Jesus message. What most of us have been trying to run away from is in fact something Christ is calling us towards: a life of suffering for the sake Gods message of salvation. We run because we do not find any value in hardship, but instead see it as something life-draining. Jesus, on the other hand, finds immense value in suffering and even life-producing when undertaken with a spiritual purpose. Jesus puts his life on the line for this truth: Suffering yields lifelife that is everlasting.
Crossroads of Agony is a look into the darker side of the faith, one meant for advanced Christians. The deepest truths of the faith are not attractive to the world (1 Corinthians 1:18-19), but are quite repulsive. Only when we find ourselves in the pitch black darkness of our faith heritage are we able to emerge into the light of the Gospel that shatters illusions and unites our souls with the divine. If we run from suffering, the best we can achieve is a superficial relationship with God because it means we still value our life above the Gospel. Jesus demands the opposite: the saving Word of God above all else. This level of faith development requires a new understanding of suffering, one where this world is seen as a testing ground, not the end. Reverend Troy Ehlke writes this text in the hopes that people will read it in small groups, devote time to discuss the questions at each chapters end, and develop a renewed sense of call to labor for the kingdom of God. While we experience distress in this lifetime, it is not without reward. In this world, we have the satisfaction that results from spreading the Wor

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 16, 2008
• ISBN: 9781469102986

Troy D. Ehlke

The Reverend Troy Ehlke is an ordained pastor serving with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He has received master’s degrees in the fields of theology and divinity from Harvard Divinity School, The Graduate Theological Union (Berkeley, California), and from Princeton Theological Seminary. He is currently undertaking doctoral studies at Drew University, in the area of Systems Theory and Congregational Life. He has been in residence at Christ Lutheran Church in Charlotte, NC, since 2005 and serves as their Pastor of Care and Counseling. When not actively engaged in matters of ministry, Pastor Ehlke has employed his passion for writing and has penned two critically-acclaimed works, stemming from his knowledge of biblical scholarship: Muddy Mentors and Scaly Scholars-Animal Teachers in our Midst and Crossroads of Agony-Suffering and Violence in the Christian Tradition. In 2009, Pastor Ehlke was honored by an invitation from the US House of Representatives to be its guest chaplain, where he officiated with a prayer and invocation at the opening of a spring session. Of all of God’s blessings in his life, the greatest is his beloved wife, Cynthia; their 18-month-old son, Julian; and one child yet to be welcomed into the world. They are presently waiting, with great excitement, for the birth of their second child.

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Crossroads of Agony

Suffering and Violence in the Christian Tradition

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TROY D. EHLKE

Copyright © 2008 by Troy D. Ehlke.

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Contents

Suffering, Violence, and War in Scripture

First Peter: Forging the Roman – Christian Warrior

The Epistle of Submission

A Suffering Community of Timely Proclamation

Deuteronomy 32: The Love behind Divine Wrath

Finding Love in Change

Suffering: The Shadow of Discipleship

Facing the Final Hour

Immersion into the Depths of Death

Death Begets Life

God of Destruction, God of Love

Yahweh: A God of Activity

Suffering, Violence, and War in Early Church History

Finding Peace in Pain:

A Martyrdom Theology

Discipleship

Suffering, Violence, and War in Christian Literature

Play Now, Pay Later

Suffering, Violence, and War in Today’s Christianity

Christians, Warfare, and the Pursuit of Peace

Making Peace with the War Demons

Seeing into the Shadows

Turning Fear into Love

Endnotes

Dedication

The topic of this book does not lend itself well for the purposes of dedication unless you look to the core of the Christian message. The heart of our faith is not secured by fuzzy feelings or picturesque images of serenity, but by the length a father will go to rescue his children. Since I was young, God made his presence known to me: to comfort me when in distress, to celebrate with during moments of joy, and to know I was loved always. I dedicate this text to God because without him, all would be lost. With him, my heart beats with hope, and my life is given purpose. I love you, God. Thank you for the gifts of your Son, your Spirit, and the very breath that I draw. May I use all that I am to tell the wonders of your ways!

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. (Matt. 10:34-36)

MANY CHURCH-CRAFTED IMAGES of Jesus are emblematic of peace and comfort, perhaps the good shepherd tenderly holding a sheep or a playful Jesus raising up a young child in his arms. What people rarely want to envision is his rebellious nature that preached words of familial fracture and advocated a lifestyle of suffering. But we cannot fully know Jesus Christ unless we embrace the aggressive, divisive side portrayed in the aforementioned scripture. Jesus came not to conjure up warm feelings with in our hearts. He came instead to shake up the world from its sense of complacency and reintroduce the love of God in ways that grate our soul. After all, the understanding of discipleship is not attractive. Few people are excited about the prospect of denying themselves, taking up a cross, and following Jesus (Mark 8:34). These imperatives are full of pain and suffering. Being a disciple of the Lord means casting aside worldly comforts and establishing a new view that welcomes pain rather than trying to flee from it.

The message of suffering does not end with the life of Jesus Christ, but instead lives on in the Christian tradition. The first place we see it is in the scriptures. The Gospels, Pauline Epistles, First Peter, and numerous books from the Hebrew Bible all contribute to the overall vision that life under God will be wrought with violence and turmoil. The writers of scripture agree that our sinful nature torments us through poorly conceived actions and pursuit of pathways in violation of God’s will. Yet even in the midst of our transgressions, our Heavenly Father uses this opportunity to extend us mercy rather than divine punishment. Now there are occasions when the Lord does cast down his wrath upon us, but it is never the end of the story. The end is a miraculous turnaround where God embraces creation despite our blasphemous ways.

Scripture does more than reveal God’s ability to show mercy over judgment. It reframes our understanding of what suffering truly is by examining it according to the lens of God’s plan of salvation. When one is in the midst of suffering, there is little else she desires except to escape the pain and find refuge from whatever it is that is afflicting her. Scripture reveals how suffering is more bearable when we understand that it is not the end of the story. The faithful are destined to receive everlasting life and experience the wonders of the empty tomb. The Bible wants to impress upon the followers of the Lord that if we endure pain today, we will receive a bountiful reward tomorrow in the resurrection. In essence, we are called to keep our eyes on the prize!

But scripture is only one facet of our faith tradition. There is also early church history. Before Christianity became an accepted state religion in the Roman Empire (AD 313), followers of Jesus were punished and beaten for their adherence to a deity who was outside the imperial cult. In many places around the world, Christianity enjoys protection from state persecution, and believers are free to practice their faith without hindrance. There is much to be learned by those who were forced to choose between state worship and praise of the risen Savior. It presented a true test of faith that pressured the conscience between choosing self-preservation and dying for the cause of Christ. For those of us who enjoy the freedom of religious expression, it is imperative that we remember our fellow brothers and sisters who do not have this liberty. Examining how the church operates in a hostile environment is a helpful exercise that may spawn ideas for how Christians, who do have religious freedom, can work for the benefit of those who are suffering for their faith in other parts of the world.

Christianity has been the fertile soil that sprouted countless texts of religious literature, particularly ones that highlighted suffering as a mainstay of the life of faith. The one in particular that we will investigate together is Dante’s Inferno. This medieval epic is timeless in its imagery of a fiery hell with numerous descending circles, each one more grotesque than the next. Dante recounts the torment and horror that is associated with particular sins in the hope that those who will listen will see the grievous error of following a life of sin. For readers today, Dante’s rendition of hell is frightening, but it is meant more to persuade us than it is to terrify us. We can choose whether or not we want to spend eternity in heavenly bliss or in fiery anguish. We read about hell to remind ourselves that we have options. God does not cast us into the pit of despair; we do this ourselves. Dante reaffirms the truth that we retain the power of choice and can end our suffering in this world at the doors of death. Eternity need not be painful.

Finally, the Christian tradition is alive and well in the world today. It would be a mistake to examine only the historical aspects of the faith without taking into account the present-day influence it plays in the affairs of society. With wars and armed engagements occurring throughout the world, Christianity offers itself as a means of interpretation and aid for these disputing nations. The first way it can help is through the Just War theory so that people can assess when violence is truly necessary and, when it does come to pass, how it can be waged appropriately. Of course, wars affect societies long after guns fall silent. Soldiers return home with the traumatic memories of the front vividly etched upon the forefronts of their minds. Religion can be a source of solace and a means of coping with the demons of combat. At its best, Christianity offers the spirit serenity and brings tranquility to a soul thrashing about amidst the pains of this world.

Yet it would be a travesty of justice to promote the good side of Christianity without revealing the darkness that has come with it. The newspapers have been filled in recent years with clergy sex scandals and priests who have violated the very core ethics they swore to uphold. The holy, at times, has concealed the profane, and evil lurked in sacred places. This is what happens when sin is not taken seriously, and we pretend we can model the wonders of the Lord ourselves without the true invocation of God incarnate. Because the church has failed at times to bring healing to those who needed it most, this book offers a liturgy that may be used when the violator is none other than the body of Christ. Though it should be noted, this ritual is paradigmatic in nature and is solely meant to be a guide. The best orders of worship are not forced upon people, but rather cultivated with them so that they are personal, intentional, and transformational. The church can be redeemed as a place of health and wholeness, but it requires us to face the carnage of our past and move forward with the guidance of the Holy One.

In the end, this text is a primer for our discussion on violence, suffering, and the church. There is no conclusion because each of us must form the conclusion for ourselves. Each essay begins with a lesson that it is trying to convey and ends with a list of questions for discussion. Read this book with a small group and challenge yourself to formulate answers to the tough questions our religious heritage poses. You will find that Christianity is a tradition filled with mystery, devastation, irony, and hope. Some are turned off by its darker sides while others find it to be the medium for their connection to the divine. You can accept it, deny it, but you cannot ignore Christianity. Its influence is simply too great for us not to explore. My hope is that you will see God active in the affairs of the world. He is one who loves us enough to give us the freedom to make mistakes, yet he will not abandon us. My conclusion after this exploration is that God is loving and eternal: two qualities that keep me getting out of bed every morning. But what I think is inconsequential. You need to decide, Is Christianity a viable source of wholeness with its core of violence and suffering? This question is what I hope will launch you into an exploration of God’s church as well as the one you will return to after completing this book. How you answer the question determines how you will proceed with the rest of your life. If you believe the church is a worthwhile vessel of the holy, then you will dedicate your life to spreading the good news of Christ. If you believe the church is irreparable and devoid of the Spirit, then you will create your own spiritual path apart from the tradition of Jesus. But what you cannot do is remain undecided. After all, Jesus says, I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth (Rev. 3:15-16). Whatever you do, choose. Be hot or be cold, but after reading these essays – do not be lukewarm. A choice is required, and it’s up to you to make the call. Maybe Plato was right: There is a peace that can only be found on the other side of war. May you find the peace to which he is referring.

Suffering, Violence, and War in Scripture

Lesson: One way that scripture understands suffering and discipleship emerges from the belief that Christians are spiritual warriors of God. First Peter draws from the rich history of Roman conquests to draft a view of Christianity defined in militaristic ways. There is an ongoing cosmic battle between the forces of good and evil, and it spills over into the lives and consciousness of believers. First Peter challenges the faithful to embrace our identity as soldiers and make sense of our suffering as part of our code as warriors. In the end, through the power and grace of God, we will emerge victorious.

First Peter: Forging the Roman – Christian Warrior

AS THE IMPERIAL Roman army marched victoriously across the countryside of Europe, Christians developed their faith within the boundaries of Rome’s military conquests. First-century Christians had to reconcile the death of their charismatic leader with the hard times that confronted their evangelistic mission. First Peter is no exception to this era of initial identity formation. In this text, the author attempts to shroud Christianity in a manner similar to the Roman approach toward warfare. First, First Peter examines the necessity of obedience and subordination in the hierarchy of Christian organization. New religious communities must possess some superstructure if it is going to sustain an existence from one generation to the next. Secondly, First Peter utilizes the Roman army’s sense of duty to encourage boldness and discourage cowardice among Christians who face adversity to their faith. Finally, First Peter formulates its world vision in terms of a cosmic battle between Christians and those persecuting Christians so that oppression is securely rooted in the divine plan. Warfare is often a powerful agent in the consolidation of identity as it congeals individuals into a unified front. First Peter truly envisions Christians as spiritual warriors of God.

First Peter is quite adamant about cultivating a sense of obedience among its Roman Christian audience. The entire text is filled with references demanding obedient service to God. The author writes, In this you rejoice, even if for a little while you have had to suffer various trials.¹ This verse clearly shows the author’s belief that life in this world will be filled with heartache for Christian disciples. Paul Achtemeier interprets this selection of First Peter as meaning: The gaze is shifted in these verses from the future results of God’s merciful act of begetting a new people (hope, inheritance, salvation) to the present results: suffering and testing.² Christians are called to temper the glory of what is to come with the existing reality of oppression.

The dichotomy between present and future exists because Christianity alters the entire perspective of living in Roman society. No longer is each day carried forward in search for increased self-worth, but is rather transformed into the pursuit of God’s kingdom. In other words, the self must be negated if God is to achieve the highest standing within a person’s hierarchy of priorities. The author states, Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct.³ This is the divergent point where Christianity must be seen apart from the inclusive pagan religions of the Roman Empire. Christianity demands its adherents to strictly serve God alone and, more importantly, to