A Different View of Suffering

The early church took a view of suffering that stands in testimony to our comfort-addicted culture. For example, Ignatius of Antioch, a martyr in the second century, forbade his community from asking the empire to show him mercy. Instead, he wrote them,

Allow me to be an imitator of the suffering of my God. If anyone has Him within himself, let him understand what I long for and sympathize with me, knowing what constrains me.

The ruler of this age wants to take me captive and corrupt my godly intentions [to die for my faith]. Therefore none of you who are present must help him. Instead, take my side, that is God’s. Do not talk about Jesus Christ while you desire the world…I take no pleasure in corruptible food or the pleasures of this life. I want the bread of God, which is the flesh of Christ who is the seed of David; and for drink I want his blood, which is incorruptible love.