Some preachers say that because Christ already suffered for us, we should never suffer anymore.
Do I agree with this opinion?
My opinion on this question is twofold:
On the first hand, if we are in a trouble, there is always a way to lay it upon Christ and not to suffer ourselves.
On the second hand, we need to be like Christ and Christ suffered for benefit of others. (Even though it was not obvious that his sufferings benefit others.)
So, what? In every trouble (except of suffering of Christ himself) there is a better way without a trouble. But also when we are not in a trouble, there is a better way to suffer for others and receive an even greater blessing afterward as a reward in participating in suffering of Christ.
The example of Christ is intended to show that the greatest blessing happens after a trouble.
However, in every trouble I recommend to seek a way how to exit from it with help of God, not to remain in a trouble.
Can I ask, do you not think that suffering is the normal for a Christian? For instance, persecution, struggling with sin, sacrificing your entire lives for God, generally living in a fallen world. The new testament, both the gospels and the epistles, is literally full of instructions that suffering is normal and that it is purposeful for Christians (eg. Mark 8:34-38, Romans 5:3-5). It’s not that I think we have to go looking for suffering, but should we always try to remove ourselves from suffering? Being distinctive when we suffer is surely showing God’s glory, in that we look to the new creation not this life, and God enables us endure suffering.
We don’t see that our sufferings is helpful, but Bible says (2Cor. 4:17) “For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory”. We don’t see that our suffering produces glory, but should believe this as Bible says so (as well as Bible says the weird thing that sufferings of Christ himself produce good). I disagree that we should not suffer at all anymore because Christ has already suffered for us because of (Col. 1:24) “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church”. This clearly tells that we should participate in sufferings of Christ.
In my opinion however, we should always look for a way to remove the suffering if we fall into a suffering. We just cannot find a way to remove it sometimes. But as Christ has already suffered for us, our sufferings are always removable.
The above is my opinion.
Ok, thank you for taking the time to reply to me