Suffering for doing good

Do we really suffer for doing good?  What if I said yes?  Looking at the image below, we see Jesus Christ on the cross.  He suffered for doing good.  While some (many?) will disagree, that doesn't make it any less true.  And while you may claim it's not your truth, I must remind you of something.  Ultimately, if the Bible is truth, your truth is false if you don't believe Jesus is the Son of God.  We'll all find out, one day. But here's the thing.  If you honestly look at Christianity for what it says it is, for what's in the Bible as opposed to what people turn it into, why would you not want it to be true?  That last statement has a lot to do with the name of this site: God versus religion.  God - versus what people have turned Him into in the name of religion.  So please, I invite you to bear with me.  See why we all suffer for doing good.  Even the good things we do in these Coronavirus times - even if we don't get sick or die in the process. So here's the concept.  Jesus did the ultimate good.  He suffered - was tortured and died a horrible death.  If we're Christian, we suffer in the act of doing good, just as Jesus told us we would.  Maybe we get sick or even die in the process.  But then that's the end of our suffering. If we're not Christian, we have the same likelihood of getting sick and dying while trying to help with the Coronavirus.  However, the difference is that it's not the end of the suffering. As I said, that may not be your truth.  But it's God's truth, whether you accept it or not.  But then, what's your alternative?  If you're the kind of person who wants to do the right things, who wants to help when someone needs it, what else do you want?  What does your view of the next life have that makes it so objectionable to go to Heaven? Let's follow through those thoughts and see what comes out of it.

Suffering for doing good - for a Christian

Christians should, and I emphasize should, do good for one simple reason.  It's what Jesus asks of us.  No - commands us to do.  He died on the cross for us.  And among other things we're taught are these two.

Love for Enemies – Matthew

Mt 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

That one's tough.  Love even the people we hate.  Help people we can't stand.  For example, don't use the Coronavirus to call out people you don't like and blame them for the virus.  The Christians that do things like that, no matter how high up in the church hierarchy or in the political arena, are not doing what we were taught to do.  They are not following Jesus. That's part of why I emphasized the word should earlier.  We should love our enemies.  When we fail to do that, we also fail at being a true Christian.  Please - don't blame God for our shortcomings.  But especially, don't blame God for those who use His name to continually do things that are so blatantly not Christian. As an example, here's something else Jesus taught.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

10:25-28 pp — Mt 22:34-40; Mk 12:28-31

Lk 10:25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Lk 10:26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

Lk 10:27 He answered: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’’”

Lk 10:28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”