The sufferer is the blessed one. Christian interpretation of suffering

In Christianity, suffering has always been regarded as a virtue. The sufferer is a person who has a special favor of the Lord, because for a worthy transfer of suffering, the Most High promises to reward what, if not on earth, then beyond the threshold of death in blissful eternity.

Commandments of bliss and suffering

The preaching of Jesus Christ, embodied in the Gospels, is clearly oriented toward the people of the poor, oppressed and enduring some or other disasters. The word "suffering", a synonym of which in Christianity - the word "holy", refers to Christ to different categories of people. The so-called commandments of bliss speak eloquently about this.

In them the sufferer is a beggar, crying, hungry and thirsty, expelled for the truth, a man who is unjustly malicious. Nevertheless, Christ does not say that God will immediately relieve the suffering of the person who turned to him. Suffering can come from above and only patience, humility and resignation are credited. If suffering is transferred with resentment and anger, envy and anger, they become a source of curse, not a blessing. This behavior indicates that a person did not pass the school of spiritual life and could not stand the test.

Suffering as a Test of Faith

About suffering, as a test, the Bible says more than once in the Old Testament. "Sufferers" - the meaning of the word as such, is determined by the basis of "sufferings", which goes back to the common root with the word "suffer", that is, to endure pain, torment and adversity. Such trials are sent or let down by God in order for a person to be firmly established in his convictions and values. And besides, he was distracted from everyday vanity and, in the context of suffering, placed his concern for himself on God, faithfully surrendering to his craft. The sufferer is the man chosen for the highest reward, if, of course, he will adequately bear his fate. This idea is vividly illustrated in the book of Job, the textbook image of the unjustly suffering righteous, who later, through a worthy transfer of trials, gained the supreme mercy of God.

Suffering as punishment for sins

There is, however, a different view of suffering. It is also reflected in the Bible and is that suffering is interpreted as a punishment for committed sins. From this perspective, the sufferer is a sinner who atoned for his guilt before God. At the same time, such an interpretation puts the image of the biblical God in an ambiguous position: a vengeful character is not to the face of the Most High, who is love. Punishment for the upbringing of a criminal is one thing, but a merciless avenger who sends a flood that sizzles Sodom, punishes the death of guilty (and not so) people, creates some problems for Christian theology. How these problems were resolved is another matter. Some groups of believers have consistently refused to recognize God as the mzvozdor and the avenger of sins. Others, on the contrary, tried to develop this image to the extreme and guided them in their actions. Ultimately, this issue is still waiting for its solution and interpretation.