The following is message from a friend on facebook with an interesting question for believers to ponder. See her question and my response below...
September 7 at 8:03pm
Hey Kirby! Hope that you and Libby are doing great. I wanted to ask you something - it's not really that big of a deal, but maybe you can provide some perspective and wisdom. How does a Christian balance sympathy with fun or just life in general? I'll explain by an example. There is a facebook group my friends started for their baby girl (unborn) who was diagnosed with a rare disorder, and she will not be able to live (unless by miracle) outside of the womb. It is a heartbreaking situation. There are so many things to feel heavy and heartbroken about - at what point, if any, can you say "enough"? I don't want to not feel sad. I feel TOO sad, I think - because I could look all day long at these groups and websites and TV and there is so much sadness. How do you balance it with "hey, I just want a beer"? Is there any disconnect? I don't know if I'm even making any sense. I guess I just feel guilty sometimes that I'm not sitting at home praying my heart out and feeling gloriously saddened over the plight of the world, or even just problems my friends are facing that I can't even imagine. I don't believe that we as Christians are called to do that. But since the sadness remains, how do we deal? And at what point do we just have a beer? I'd appreciate your insight as a student of God :) I think the law is turning me into a line-drawer...when there may be no line. Thanks!
My response was a follows...
Mandy, wow it is great to hear from you and wow, that is a really huge question that deals with much. Please take what follows as my thoughts, but I am certainly open to correction. In reference to what your friends are going through, that is completely awful!!! Children that experience disorders and malformations etc. is certainly a test of faith. When we see these horrific medical issues, I personally think we are witnessing the some of the worst aspects of the fall in Eden. It was not just our moral nature that fell, but I believe all of creation as well as our genome fell with it. Sin has had some ugly effects on our existence, and these sad diseases are some of the worst. Now, with that being said, lets turn to your thoughts of being sad. Now, I realize this may sound crazy but I think it is actually a good thing for you to hurt with your friends. In Matthew 5:1-11 when Jesus is giving the Beatitudes, he ends up demonstrating all those things. He comforts those in mourning, he weeps with people who have lost relatives, he heals people with sickness. I think that as believers, we are called to do the same. What greater testimony can we have to Christ than to show people the love of Christ at moments when God seems far, far away. Your sadness demonstrates the work of the Holy Spirit in your life by causing you to love on your friends and support them. Now, for the tough part and I mean this respectfully. I think the question of just relaxing versus having sympathy may be the wrong question. Perhaps, and again I could be wrong here, but maybe we should ask ourselves not when we can no longer be sad, but do we possess the depth of faith to love and comfort people when we are empty inside? Will we draw a line? Jesus never did. He loved people to the point of death because he wants to save a people for himself and have fellowship with them in a place where human bodies are restored to what they always should have been.Lastly, I think there is a healthy balance that does occur naturally in the way of life when we support each other. You probably don't come home every single day thinking about your friends, but even if you did, what do you think God is asking from you by placing them on your mind. Also, we have to be careful that we don't internalize everyone else's pain to the point that we become depressed. But...I would argue that as believers, you and I are called to minister to people in situations like your friends because Jesus ministers to you and I in our deepest, darkest, God-questioning struggles. So, to stop my ranting, Mandy, I think you know the answer to this question. If this were the little sister of the guy you are dating or if it were your child or your brother or sister, would you ever stop? Its not that there are some days when you just want to have a beer and say screw it, its that those days do come in life, and when they do, we remember the love of a savior that transformed us and called us to transform the world with the love of God. Sorry this is so long, but I absolutely love talking about this stuff. Another ramification of this discussion might be how the sovereignty of God relates to this. Let that one back your noodle and then get back to me. In the meantime, let me know the names of your friends so that I can pray for them!!! And as always, take care of yourself and tell your mom and dad I said hello....
Blessings,
KO
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