When reading the Old Testament, the chastisement of the Jews is relentless. Every time they turn their back on God through disobedience, they are attacked, enslaved, or displaced. Every time. But they kept on doing it.
Reading about the Old Testament Jews reminds me of watching a horror movie. You scream fruitlessly at the screen “Don’t do it!! Exile and slavery are waiting behind the door!!” Alas, alack.
That is the thing, characters in a horror movie do no know they are in a horror movie, they live their lives as if all is normal.
So too, life in chastisement seems much the same. Do you think that your average brick making Jew in Egypt realized that his people were being purified? Nope. He was a pre-occupied with making bricks as I am with going to work each day.
Chastisement can be that way. Many have this notion that chastisement as a sudden and unmistakable event of obvious biblical comeuppance “Sodom and Gomorrah” style. Sometimes. But if the Bible teaches us anything …
December 20, 2010 at 5:32 am
Question? If chastisement came when they turned away from God, and you say we are in chastisement now, why are those persecuted or chastised the ones who appear not to have turned away from God? The priest in Iraq for example. He was faithful, he was described as trying to protect those in the church, why would he be chastised? I would think it would be the unfaithful, those who turn away, who would be chastised. To me, they are faithful and suffering, and I ask the age old question, Why, Why do faithful people suffer? If it is a chastisement that seems unfair. Just a question.
December 20, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Just to confuse everyone:-), no one said life or God was fair. Our blessings are the most unfair. Just a thought:-).
December 20, 2010 at 3:59 pm
If we are united with our Lord and God, we will suffer just as Jesus did.
If you are NOT being persecuted, if you are not suffering in some way for loving and following Jesus, then you need to see if you are really following Jesus and becoming just like Him.
December 20, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Good comment. I don't like it, but it's good:-). The Second Sue
December 20, 2010 at 6:19 pm
I know life is not fair, and I know blessings are many. But the article was talking about Chastisement. Chastisment is Punishment for turning away from God. Suffering is different. I get that. My question was, as the article is saying, why would faithful Christians be chastised?
December 20, 2010 at 6:28 pm
I guess my thinking is that none of us is as faithful as we think we are, hence, a part of the mystery of God, forgiveness, chastisement, suffering. Job. Why Job? When he had the opportunity to face God directly, God honored him with the most amazing response ever, and he repented. Was that chastisement or suffering? Or both? And there's another really good comment on the NCR page about chastisement of those who are what some would call less fortunate. For me, the chastisement in the U.S. might be the most dangerous – deadness/silence. There is a spiritual deadness to our country that is most profound. I am afraid on a daily basis that many whom I have known throughout my life who claim Christ but do not show any evidence whatsoever will get to the end, and hear, Depart from me. I never knew you. That silence will be deafening.
December 20, 2010 at 7:34 pm
If God were fair, we'd all be doomed. Thankfully, He's not "fair", He's merciful.
December 20, 2010 at 8:41 pm
I guess that is my point Matthew. Chastisment implies that God is DOING it to us, rather then, allowing it to happen. Two different things, again. Yes, I know in the book of Job, God, did put him to the test. But I also know, time and again we humans fail. That is why He sent Jesus. Because he could do what we cannot, wipe away our sins with his Blood. Sue, I know none of us is sinless, which is why we have the Sacrament of Confession. But God is merciful, right?? I know what you mean about the silence (especially about things like abortion). So I guess in that sense, Society can be chastised even though not all are going against God? But if I am doing everything in my being to be faithful, I am receiving the Sacraments… why would GOD CAUSE my suffering? If He allows it, okay, But this article implies that he CAUSES it. That is not merciful to me, and would make me feel hopeless if that is the case.
December 21, 2010 at 3:37 am
Sue
Reading comprehension is a good thing.
You said "If He allows it, okay, But this article implies that he CAUSES it."
As my post said "We tend to think of chastisement as something unusual sent by God. More frequently, and the Old Testament confirms this, chastisement is God allowing us to suffer the consequences of our own contrary wills. And do we suffer."
Care to retract?
December 21, 2010 at 4:51 am
Patrick,
Thanks for clarifying. When you said, "Every time they turn their back on God through disobedience, they are attacked, enslaved, or displaced. Every time. But they kept on doing it." So, in my reading comprehension of that, I thought you had to turn your back on God for chastisement. I guess I did misunderstand. But thanks for clarifying, and for making me feel stupid. Since I am struggling with some serious suffering, I asked a question. I guess you thought it was a dumb question. For that I am sorry. I can't figure out why, when I look for comfort, I get put down. But I do retract, I did misunderstand, and I guess I am stupid. Merry Christmas.