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Sunday, July 2, 2023
Deus causa sofrimento?
Uma vez que Deus é a “Causa Primeira”, Ele é responsável pelo fato de que o sofrimento pode existir. Deus criou Adão e Eva sabendo que eles pecariam. Ele sabia o sofrimento que existiria no mundo como resultado. No entanto, Ele também tornou possÃvel a redenção. O plano final de Deus era que Deus, o Filho (Jesus Cristo), assumisse a carne humana, vivesse uma vida humana completa com todo o sofrimento de um mundo caÃdo, fosse crucificado embora não tivesse pecado, e ressurgisse à vida, tendo derrotado o pecado e morte. Todos os que colocarem sua fé em Jesus serão salvos. O dom da graça de Deus para nós custou muito a Ele. Deus conhece a plenitude do sofrimento humano de maneiras que nós não conhecemos. E, no entanto, Ele também conhece a plenitude da alegria que a redenção traz. Deus certamente permite o sofrimento; em última análise, Ele o faz para Seus bons propósitos (Romanos 1:18–32; 8:18–39).
Deus é bom e tudo o que Ele faz é bom (1 João 1:5). Deus nunca pode ser o autor do mal (Tiago 1:13-17). O sofrimento é um resultado direto do pecado que corre desenfreado. O pecado da humanidade abriu a porta para o domÃnio limitado de Satanás como deus desta era (2 CorÃntios 4:4). Sofremos devido aos nossos próprios pecados, aos pecados de outras pessoas e ao fato geral de vivermos em um mundo caÃdo. Freqüentemente, Deus permite que as consequências naturais do pecado se manifestem.
É verdade que à s vezes Deus leva o crédito mais direto pelo sofrimento. Às vezes, Deus causa sofrimento como um julgamento contra os Ãmpios ou como um chamado para que os Ãmpios se arrependam, como as pragas no Egito ou os julgamentos do fim dos tempos descritos em Apocalipse. Vemos Deus decretar consequências sobre Israel por sua desobediência – consequências que chamarÃamos de “sofrimento” (Deuteronômio 28; 1 Reis 17:1; 1 Crônicas 9:1). Vemos Deus “causar” sofrimento de forma mais passiva, entregando as pessoas aos seus pecados (Romanos 1:18–32). Mas sabemos que Deus não tem prazer na morte dos Ãmpios; Ele preferiria que eles “se arrependessem e vivessem” (Ezequiel 18:32; cf. 33:11). Em 2 Pedro 3:9 lemos: “O Senhor não tarda em cumprir a sua promessa, como alguns a entendem. Pelo contrário, ele é longânimo para convosco, não querendo que ninguém pereça, senão que todos cheguem ao arrependimento”. Deus não inflige sofrimento por prazer sádico, mas pelo desejo de atrair as pessoas para Si. Quando as pessoas se recusam a se arrepender, o sofrimento serve como parte da devida penalidade pelo pecado (Romanos 6:23).
Deus também usa o sofrimento para treinar Seus filhos e refinar ou testar sua fé (Tiago 1:2–4; 1 Pedro 1:6–9; Hebreus 12:7–11). Claro, “nenhuma disciplina parece agradável na hora, mas dolorosa. Mais tarde, porém, produz fruto de justiça e paz para os que por ela são exercitados” (Hebreus 12:11). Se Deus intencionalmente causa uma dificuldade em nossas vidas ou permite uma dificuldade em nossas vidas, Ele a usa para nosso crescimento e bem (Romanos 8:28–30). Podemos e devemos examinar nossas vidas e pedir a Deus que revele quaisquer tendências pecaminosas das quais Ele esteja nos livrando. Se necessário, devemos nos arrepender e procurar levar esses pecados à morte. Levar nossas tendências pecaminosas à morte geralmente parece sofrimento, mas resulta em vida (João 15:10–11; Gálatas 5:13–26; Colossenses 3:5–14). Mesmo que não haja pecado associado ao nosso sofrimento, Deus pode usá-lo em nossas vidas para nos aproximar Dele e aprofundar nossa fé. Não importa o motivo do nosso sofrimento, podemos levar nossas dores e lutas a Deus, sabendo que Ele cuida de nós e caminhará conosco durante o sofrimento (1 Pedro 5:7; Salmo 43).
Outro aspecto do sofrimento é a guerra espiritual. Deus permite a Satanás e seus demônios certa latitude, como vemos no caso de Jó. Em Efésios 6 lemos sobre a armadura espiritual com a qual Deus nos equipou para que possamos permanecer firmes contra os ataques do diabo. 1 Pedro 5:6–11 nos encoraja a lançar nossas ansiedades sobre Deus, resistir a Satanás, reconhecer que outros estão sofrendo da mesma forma e confiar que “o Deus de toda graça, que os chamou para sua glória eterna em Cristo, depois de terem padecido uma pouco tempo, ele mesmo vos restaurará e vos tornará fortes, firmes e inabaláveis” (1 Pedro 5:10).
Além disso, à s vezes sofremos perseguição (Mateus 5:11–12; 2 Timóteo 3:12). Jesus disse aos Seus discÃpulos: “Tenho-vos dito estas coisas para que em mim tenhais paz. Neste mundo você terá problemas. Mas tenha coragem! Eu venci o mundo” (João 16:33). Como em qualquer sofrimento, quando nossas dificuldades são resultado da perseguição, nossa resposta é nos voltarmos para Deus, pois somente Ele pode nos sustentar.
Deve-se notar que à s vezes a fonte e o propósito do sofrimento não são imediatamente óbvios para nós. Às vezes, as dificuldades podem parecer demais, ou nos perguntamos por que Deus permite que uma certa pessoa sofra tão profundamente sem culpa própria. Jesus ofereceu um vislumbre de uma resposta quando Seus discÃpulos queriam saber por que um homem nasceu cego (João 9:1–12). Eles chegaram à conclusão de que o pecado de alguém deve ter causado isso. “‘Nem ele nem seus pais pecaram’, disse Jesus, ‘mas isso aconteceu para que nele se manifestem as obras de Deus’” (João 9:3). Isso nos diz que, em parte, Deus permite ou mesmo causa o sofrimento humano para trazer um bem maior. Às vezes, é preciso sofrimento para ampliar nossa visão de Deus. Paulo falou sobre receber um “espinho” em sua carne para ajudá-lo a não se tornar vaidoso. Ele implorou a Deus para removê-lo, mas Deus lhe disse: “A minha graça te basta, porque o meu poder se aperfeiçoa na fraqueza” (2 CorÃntios 12:9). Paulo disse: “Portanto, eu me gloriarei ainda mais alegremente nas minhas fraquezas, para que o poder de Cristo repouse em mim” (2 CorÃntios 12:9).
Uma consideração adicional na questão de saber se Deus causa sofrimento é a soberania de Deus e o livre arbÃtrio humano. Sabemos que Deus está no controle de todas as coisas. Também sabemos que a escolha humana tem um impacto significativo no mundo. Sabemos que Deus não pode ser o autor do mal de qualquer tipo. Então, quando Deus “causa” sofrimento, Ele está simplesmente orquestrando os resultados do mal natural para operar em Seus bons propósitos? Será que tudo o que consideramos “sofrimento” não é antitético ao bem?
O sofrimento, não importa sua causa ou seu tipo preciso, não é uma experiência que qualquer um escolheria. Mas quanto mais conhecemos a Deus e vemos Seu caráter, mais entendemos como Ele pode enfrentar até mesmo as dificuldades do sofrimento e trabalhar para Seus propósitos. Não apenas isso, mas podemos compartilhar honestamente com Deus sobre nossas lutas e até mesmo nossas dúvidas. Hebreus 4:15–16 diz: “Pois não temos um sumo sacerdote [Jesus] que não possa compadecer-se de nossas fraquezas, mas temos um que foi tentado de todas as maneiras, assim como nós; pecado. Aproximemo-nos, então, do trono da graça de Deus com confiança, para que possamos receber misericórdia e encontrar graça para nos ajudar em nosso tempo de necessidade”. Também podemos e devemos compartilhar nossas lutas com os outros, estando dispostos a chorar juntos e a exaltar uns aos outros em amor (João 13:34–45; Romanos 12:9–16; 2 CorÃntios 1:3–7; Gálatas 6:2 , 7–10; Hebreus 10:19–25). Paulo incentivou: “Por isso não desanimamos. Embora externamente estejamos definhando, interiormente estamos sendo renovados dia após dia. Pois nossos problemas leves e momentâneos estão alcançando para nós uma glória eterna que supera em muito todos eles. Portanto, fixamos os olhos, não nas coisas que se veem, mas nas que não se veem, pois as que se veem são temporais, mas as que não se veem são eternas” (2 CorÃntios 4:16–18).
O Senhor Deus Todo-Poderoso é soberano. Isso significa que não importa quanto sofrimento suportemos, Ele não abriu mão do controle sobre Sua criação. Se Ele fosse impotente para parar de sofrer, Ele não seria Deus. Se Ele instigasse o mal, Ele não seria bom. Mas quando um Deus bom e soberano faz as pessoas sofrerem, é para seu benefÃcio eterno e Sua glória eterna (1 Pedro 5:10). Aqueles que O conhecem podem viver confiantes de que, por mais difÃcil que seja a jornada, no momento em que O virmos face a face, nossos olhos se abrirão e exclamaremos: “Agora entendo por que passei por isso! Claro! Obrigado pai. Era a única coisa certa a fazer!”
The Purpose of Suffering!
November 11, 2021 by Dr. Brian Koning in [ Theology & Ministry ]
Human experience is vast and varied, but few things exist as a universal experience like suffering. The pains and problems vary from person to person, but we all suffer. This fact leads to the common question: why does God allow suffering? Given this constant part of life, the wise person should seek to understand heartaches and how to react to suffering when it arrives.
One of the most common responses is bitterness — a deep resentment for the pain we all go through. While suffering can undoubtedly sow the seeds of bitterness and resentment, that is not how Christians should respond to it. Instead, we are called to see suffering as a part of life meant to dissatisfy us with the present fallen world and to instill in us a longing for eternity. To unpack this idea, consider the three main aspects of suffering:
Table of Contents:
Suffering as a Consequence of Sin
The first truth about suffering is the recognition that it is alien to God’s plan of life. That might sound incredible, but to the Christian worldview, it is vital. Suffering is a product of the fall, a consequence of human sin against God (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21).
Suffering is in our lives because we are living in a broken world. Some suffering is due to our sinful and wrong choices, but some is due simply to the world being fallen. This aspect of suffering should drive us to long for a better world, a world redeemed and freed from sin, a world that God will one day come again to establish (Romans 8:19-23).
Suffering as a Tool of Sanctification
Nothing is so broken as to be unusable by God. Although suffering is alien to His goal for humanity, God uses it now as part of our development as people. Nothing forces a person to confront their true self like suffering. Suffering causes our focus to turn inward, to face those parts of ourselves we might otherwise ignore. God can use suffering then to develop us into better people: the people who can love and enjoy Him forever (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4).
Suffering as a Test of Faith
Finally, suffering is the crucible by which we find our center and demonstrate the truth of our faith to the world. In times of intense pain or turmoil, we cling to what we have placed our hope in. In this way, suffering reveals whether our faith is a mere childish hope or a factual reality.
Here we see suffering as a call to live out a better and more faithful witness to the world. Like the prophet Habakkuk, suffering calls us to declare to those around us, “yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:18).
As we develop an understanding of how to approach suffering, we must be clear that suffering never becomes good. Suffering remains evil. What must be understood though, is that suffering can be redeemed; it can be made purposeful. When we are burdened beyond our strength, we must not become bitter but instead allow our faith to make us better. For the Christian, we must see suffering as a trifold call to long for a better world, to seek to become a better person and to live out a better witness.
Want more? Check out the GCU blog page and our theology degree programs.
https://www.gcu.edu/blog/theology-ministry/theology-thursday-purpose-suffering#:
God's Will Concerning Suffering
It has been said that nature is
exceedingly cruel. Wherever we turn, we are confronted with the mystery of
suffering. The human race has their part in a common suffering, of which Paul
speaks in the eighth chapter of Romans. "The creation waits in eager
expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected
to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected
it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to
decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know
that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right
up to the present time." Romans 8:19-22
Why is it that there should be
so much of suffering in the creation of the merciful and loving God? Perhaps we
shall never understand it in its fullness until we "know even as we are
known," but all of us are confronted with the fact that so long as
we live in this world, we must have a part in its suffering.
We understand some of the uses of pain in the
physical world. Pain is nature's safeguard. This was illustrated just a few
moments ago. The end of my finger began to tingle with pain. My attention was
attracted; I began to examine it and found that in some way I had cut it. The
pain that I felt was nature's call for help. If we run a splinter in our flesh,
nature, by means of the pain that follows, not only calls our attention to the
injury, but demands the removal of the intruder. If we did not feel the pain
when our flesh was burned, or cut, or bruised—our life might be endangered many
times. So pain is our safeguard in the physical realm.
It is no less so, in the mental
and spiritual realms. Without the sense of discomfort that comes to the
conscience as a result of wrong-doing, we would have no safeguard against
wrong-doing. And so, after all, pain and suffering are God's blessings given to
us in his mercy.
Seeing that such is the case,
we need not be surprised to find suffering classed as one of God's gifts to us.
We read, "For unto you it is given in the behalf of
Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his
sake" (Philippians 1:29). God's gifts are all blessings, and so,
whether we can understand it or not, suffering is God's gift to us—the
manifestation of his merciful kindness.
To be sure, much of the
suffering in the world is the penalty of a broken law. Yet who can say that
even this suffering does not work out a benevolent purpose? In 1 Peter 4:19,
we read of "those who suffer according to the will of God." In
chapter 3:17, we read, "It is better, if the will of God be so,
that you suffer for well doing than for evil-doing." These texts make it
plain that it is God's will that people suffer.
From a physical standpoint, we
note that it is impossible for suffering to be avoided, because in order to
have the capacity for physical joy, we must also have the capacity for
suffering. If our sensory nerves respond to favorable influences, they cannot
avoid responding to unfavorable ones. It is so throughout the whole scope of
life.
The possibility of pleasure,
carries with it the possibility of pain; so the Christian, even when he is
doing the will of God, will suffer. He will suffer spiritual conflicts with the
powers of evil; he will suffer under the power of temptation—sometimes very
sorely—and he will have mental conflicts with doubts, fears, and perplexities;
he will have physical temptations.
We sometimes ask why this
continual warfare must be. It is one of God's mysteries, but we know that out
of this conflict the spirit rises to higher heights, to nobler attainments, and
to finer achievements than would be possible under other conditions. The most
of us have things in our dispositions that must be overcome. We must war
against these tendencies, master our dispositions, and conquer ourselves. It is
this conquering of self, that makes us kings. The blood of Jesus Christ
is the antidote for sin; yet these things of which we have been speaking
are not sin, but natural dispositions and traits—things inherently in us. These
things, grace does not obliterate, though its high tide often overflows them.
The Christian has also to meet
the opposition of evil people. Jesus said to his disciples, "You shall be
hated by all men for my name's sake." The call to Christian service in any
capacity, is a call to suffering. Jesus appeared to Saul in order to show him
what great things he must suffer in the new life to which he was called. This
suffering, Paul explains to us, "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" (Colossians 1:24). Satan hates
Christ and is constantly warring against him, but since he can not reach Christ
directly, he attacks him through his followers. He stirs up the hatred of evil
men who hate righteousness and love iniquity, and causes them to persecute the
children of God, and he makes bitter enmity in the hearts of these evil-doers
against God's children.
When Christ was in the world he
suffered many things from the people, and had he continued in the world in the
flesh, he would have suffered many more things before this. Since he has left
the world, the remainder of that suffering falls, not upon him directly, but
upon us. As the stripes fell upon his physical body then—so
now they fall upon his spiritual body, and we, making up that
body, suffer with him that which remains of his suffering.
But it is not only his
suffering in which we share. There is something else that goes with it, and
this something else, which is the fruit of the suffering, is a divinely blessed
thing. We read, "For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our
lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are
distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is
for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same
sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just
as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."
(2 Corinthians 1:5-7). There is nothing sweeter than the consolation
that Christ gives, and this consolation can come only after suffering.
The offense of the
cross has not ceased. Satan
has not gone out of business. It is God's will that we still be here in this
world suffering the things consequent upon this life, and our present
environment. But out of it all, shall come a richness of experience, a strength
of soul, a likeness to Christ, a holy disposition, and an unshaken fidelity
which will prepare us for the eternal blessedness that awaits us, and will thus
assure our holiness throughout all the ages.
God's purpose in this world,
primarily, is not so much to make us happy—as to make us holy.
Being holy, we are happy as a natural consequence. And so he lets us suffer
those things that develop Christian character and assure our holiness. The
things that we suffer in the process, are God's will for us. We should not
lament nor murmur, but should willingly suffer the will of God, knowing that it
will work out for us a "far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory."
Sometimes we suffer for doing
well. We are often misunderstood. Holiness is never popular with evildoers, but
we are told that "If, when you do well, and suffer for it, you take it
patiently, this is acceptable with God" (1 Peter 2:20). The
Christian can rejoice in tribulation. Like the early Christians, he can rejoice
that he is counted worthy to suffer affliction for the name of Christ, for he
remembers the promise that has been made to him. We have the promise, "If
we suffer—we shall also reign with him" (2 Timothy 2:12). Almost
anyone would be willing to reign with him—but are we willing to go with him
through Gethsemane and take the rugged way to Calvary?
Are we willing to be crucified with him, and then to bear the reproach of the
cross and the opposition of evil men and demons, and to suffer the various
things that may come upon us in this life?
The reigning will be glorious.
We shall be crowned with crowns of righteousness at his right hand. We shall
sit with him in the throne. How glorious all this is to anticipate—but the
suffering must come first.
The humiliation must
come before the exaltation,
the labor must come before the reward,
the suffering must come before the consolation.
So let us suffer what we must
needs suffer—with patience, looking forward to the glorious hope which is set
before us.
God has certain things he
desires to accomplish in us. These things can only be accomplished through
suffering. He wills to accomplish them through the only possible means; so here
is the result: "But the God of all grace, who has called us unto his
eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, make you
perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you" (1 Peter 5:10).
Suffering is the gateway into these things. We need to be settled, established,
and made to be vigorous, virile Christians—and suffering is God's way of making
us such.
Some of the finest paintings
that have ever been made, have been painted by half-starved artists in the
midst of the direst poverty, in garrets or cellars. Most of the great
achievements of the world have been wrought by men whose lives have been full
of suffering. The strength that has made their achievements possible, has come
. . .
through suffering,
through patient endurance,
through loyally striving against obstacles.
The grandest views are seen
after the toilsome and perhaps dangerous scaling to the summits of the
mountain-peaks. The mightiest triumphs come after the sorest conflicts.
The story is told of a young
lady who had a beautiful voice, who had studied under eminent teachers until
she had perfected her technique, and was ready to appear before the public. She
entered confidently upon her life's work, but as she sang to the great
audiences she failed to meet with the response from them that she had expected.
After many determined efforts to succeed that ended in sore disappointment, she
went back to her former teacher and asked him what the reason was that she
could not move her audiences.
He replied, "You have
never suffered." He knew that it took suffering to put into the voice that
quality, which appeals to the heart of the hearers.
In the same way, God knows that
it takes suffering to put into our voices, and hearts, and minds—the quality
that he desires in them. He lets us suffer, but in the end, compensates us for
it all.
Looking back over our lives
from eternity, we shall value the things which we had suffered, far more than
the things which had then seemed most desirable, for the "peaceable fruits
of righteousness" wrought in us are, in the main, the fruits of pain.
https://www.gracegems.org/31/gods_will_concerning_suffering.htm
Praising God to defeat the Enemy
Praising God to defeat the Enemy - Becky Harling
When we become serious about praising God,
Satan gets ticked. Often he will attack when we least expect it. He may attack
our minds, our bodies, or our spirits. It is important that we are aware of his
antics but also that we have a plan to deal with him. God’s Word instructs us
to “Be self-controlled & alert. Your Enemy the Devil
prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him,
standing firm in the faith” (1Pet.5:8-9).
Praise combined with the power of Scripture is
the most effective method I know for bolstering my faith & defeating Satan.
When we praise God, Satan flees. We see this principle illustrated in 2Chr.20.
Enemies surrounded King Jehoshaphat & the army of
There are times in my life when problems seem
to surround me on every side, & I feel overwhelmed, discouraged, fearful,
or anxious. When those feelings come, I know that Satan is close, so I have
learned it’s best to have a plan. Here is my plan:
Purposefully praise God, & use Scripture in my praise. When I do that,
Satan flees.
Let me show you how this works, & then give
you some passages of Scripture to use for specific attacks from the Enemy. In
the space below, you may want to add Scriptures that have been particularly
meaningful to you.
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When I believe Satan might be attacking me, I
immediately begin praying a prayer similar to this:
“Lord Jesus, I exalt You as the King of Kings
& Lord of Lords. I praise You that You have overcome the evil one &
that by Your death & resurrection, Satan has been hurled down. Thank You
for reigning in my life & that my days are in Your hands. I trust You
because You promise to deliver me from evil. Thank You that I don’t have to
fear the Evil One because You have already defeated him. Because of Your blood I
stand as a victor over every evil plan of his to attack me. I praise You that
all power, authority, & honor belong to You & that someday every knee
will bow. All the nations will come & worship You alone.” (Rev.19:16; Rev.12:10;
Ps.31:15; Rev.15:4)
Some of my favorite passages of Scripture to
use to defeat the Enemy are listed below.
When Satan is attacking me with fear:
Ps.27:1—“The
LORD is my light & my salvation—whom shall I fear?”
Ps.46:1–3—“God
is our refuge & strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we
will not fear, though the earth give way & the mountains fall into the
heart of the sea, though its waters roar & foam & the mountains quake
with their surging.”
Ps.91:1-2,
4-5—“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest under the shadow
of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge & my fortress, my
God, in Whom I trust.’ … He will cover you with His feathers, & under His wings
you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield & rampart. You
will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.”
Phil.2:9-11—“Therefore
God exalted Him to the highest place & gave to Him the name that is above
every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in Heaven & on
earth & under the earth, & every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
When Satan is attacking me with self-doubt:
Jn.15:5—“I
am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me & I in him, he
will bear much fruit.”
Phil.4:13—“I
can do everything through Him Who gives me strength.”
Heb.10:35-36—“So
do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to
persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has
promised.”
When Satan is attacking me with feelings of
being overwhelmed:
Ps.45:4—“In
your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility &
righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds.”
1Jn.2:14,
20—“The Word of God lives in you, & you have overcome the Evil One.… But
you have an anointing from the Holy One, & all of you know the truth.”
Rev.12:11—“They
overcame him by the blood of the Lamb & by the word of their testimony.”
When Satan is attacking me with feelings of
guilt or shame:
Jn.15:3—“You
are already clean because of the Word I have spoken to you.”
Col.1:22—“But
now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present
you holy in His sight, without blemish & free from accusation.”
Rev.5:12-13—“Worthy
is the Lamb, Who was slain, to receive power & wealth & strength &
honor & glory & praise!… To Him Who sits on the Throne & to the
Lamb be praise & honor & glory & power, forever & ever!”
When Satan is attacking me with disparaging
thoughts about my body:
Ps.139:13-14—“For
You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise
You because I am fearfully & wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I
know that full well.”
When Satan is attacking me with thoughts of
despair:
Jn.11:25—“I
am the resurrection & the life.”
1Pet.1:3-5—“Praise
be to the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has
given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead, & into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept
in Heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power.”
Desmascarando o evangelho da prosperidade
Há uma crença em nossa cultura de que muitas pessoas são enganadas pelo que é chamado de “evangelho da prosperidade”. É um falso ensinamento que, em essência, diz: "Se eu for cristão, Deus promete me abençoar com muita saúde, riqueza e prosperidade". Este ensinamento é um grande perigo para aqueles que acreditam nele. O que acontece é que as pessoas colocam sua esperança no que Deus dá, acima e acima do próprio Deus. O problema é que Deus nunca promete uma vida de riquezas, conforto e prosperidade abundante, então, quando uma pessoa experimenta sofrimento, ela sente como se Deus tivesse mentido para ela.
Leia 2 Timóteo 3:12
Debata: Por que os seguidores de Jesus não devem esperar que nunca passarão por dificuldades?
O que é um falso mestre?
Leia 2 Pedro 2:1
Os falsos mestres introduzem uma heresia sobre Deus que soa como a verdade, mas não é completamente verdadeira. (2 Pedro 2:1-3, Judas 4)
Os falsos mestres são motivados pelo ganho financeiro e atacam as pessoas que os seguem. (2 Pedro 2:14-16, Judas 11, 1 Tim 6:9-10)
Os falsos mestres visam agradar os ouvidos de seus ouvintes, em vez de compartilhar verdades que podem ser difÃceis de ouvir, mas são necessárias para a liberdade. (2 Pedro 2:17-20, 2 Tim 4:3-4)
Leia 1 João 4:1
Discuta: Por que é importante reconhecer que nem todos os que dizem falar em nome de Deus são verdadeiros professores?
Quais são algumas falsas promessas comuns e a que elas levam?
O evangelho da prosperidade promete direito a bênçãos materiais e fÃsicas. Falsos mestres pegarão passagens como Gênesis 12, 15 e 17, que são sobre bênçãos espirituais, e dirão que são sobre bênçãos materiais. Isso leva as pessoas a buscarem a Deus pelo que Ele pode lhes dar. (João 6:25-27) As Escrituras dizem que a crença em Jesus significa que recebemos o espÃrito e todas as bênçãos espirituais.
O evangelho da prosperidade promete que a expiação de Jesus cobre a doença e a pobreza. Os falsos mestres dirão que na cruz, Jesus morreu por nossas iniquidades, tristezas, enfermidades, enfermidades e pobreza. (Dennis Edwards - As Escrituras dizem que Jesus morreu por nossos pecados, e "por Suas pisaduras fomos curados." Deus promete cura e Ele promete suprir todas as nossas necessidades. Ele nos pede para buscá-Lo primeiro, e depois todas essas outras coisas serão acrescentados a nós.) Isso leva a acreditar que os verdadeiros cristãos nunca devem ficar doentes ou ter dificuldades financeiras. As escrituras dizem que existem pessoas “salvas” muito piedosas que adoecem e vivem de maneira humilde. Nossa liberdade da doença e da morte está nos Novos Céus e na Nova Terra.
O evangelho da prosperidade promete que a doação cristã leva a uma compensação de Deus. Os falsos mestres usarão passagens como 2 CorÃntios. 9:6-9 para dizer que quanto mais você der a Deus, mais Ele dará a você. Por exemplo, se eu der $ 10, Ele me dará $ 1.000. Isso leva a motivos errados em dar. As escrituras dizem que damos com um coração alegre, acreditando que Deus suprirá nossas necessidades.
O evangelho da prosperidade promete que a oração/fé é uma ferramenta para forçar Deus a conceder bênçãos. Os falsos mestres usarão passagens como Tiago 4:2 ou Mateus. 21:21 para dizer se você tem fé suficiente, Deus é obrigado a agir em seu nome. Ou se você puder reivindicá-lo antes que aconteça, Deus certamente o dará a você. Isso leva a uma visão errada da oração e a uma má compreensão da fé bÃblica. A Escritura diz que devemos orar para que a vontade de Deus seja feita, e fé é confiar no que Deus disse, que não podemos ver.
Denis Edwards: (Acho que Deus quer que usemos essa promessa em Mateus. 21:21. Nós reivindicamos essa promessa quando oramos. Deus quer remover a montanha de obstáculos que o inimigo coloca em nosso caminho. Mas precisamos buscá-Lo em oração. Precisamos nos aproximar de Deus de todo o nosso coração, mente, corpo e alma. Quando o fizermos, Ele promete responder à nossa oração e nos dar as coisas que desejamos Dele. Mas tenha cuidado com o que você ora. Se insistirmos à nossa maneira, Ele pode conceder-nos os nossos desejos, mas enviará magreza às nossas almas.)
Discuta: Como essas promessas comuns levam a um evangelho “centrado no homem” em vez de um evangelho “centrado em Jesus”?
Construindo nossa esperança em Cristo e na eternidade
Como seguidores de Jesus, devemos vê-lo como nossa maior bênção nesta vida. Nossa esperança não deve ser viver para esta vida, mas para a que está por vir. (Lamentações 3:24-26, Romanos 8:16-18)
Aplicação Pessoal
Considere se você já foi exposto ao evangelho da prosperidade, há alguma promessa comum em que você acreditou que não é de Deus?
Como você pode depender de Jesus para ter uma visão do evangelho menos “focada no homem”?
https://www.highview.org/discipleship/resources/1734/debunking-the-prosperity-gospel
