Christian life and mission: adversity or riches?

“America is blessed with power and riches because it is a Christian nation.” “The majority of rich people in Singapore are Christians.” “How awesome would it be to be one of the celebrity Christians like so and so; they are the embodiment of a blessed life, having both abundance and influence!”

A handful of comments like these are what I frequently hear from certain Christians I’m acquainted with, prompting me to pause and reflect. Is material abundance truly the defining criterion of a genuine Christian life? We must delve deeper to consider if a life pleasing to God is defined solely by prosperity and not by adversity.

A closely related concern is the pursuit of a “successful” ministry. The emergence of megachurches and celebrity pastors has put extreme pressure on pastors of small churches to reassess their approaches to ministry.¹ The concept of successful ministry has become intertwined with pursuing supposedly “better” strategies that promise “bigger” outcomes.

An inescapable reality

Given the evolving perspectives on Christian life and ministry, varied experiences of believers from various contexts are worth considering. This brings us to Kar Yong Lim’s chapter in Asian Christian Theology: Evangelical Perspectives (ACT). The chapter, “A Theology of Suffering and Mission for the Asian Church,” reflects on the plight of Christians facing oppression in the Majority World.² Lim’s primary concern is the often-overlooked place of suffering within the broader mission narrative of Christianity.

According to Lim, the adversity faced by believers is primarily attributed to the emergence of Islamic extremism, coupled with the political influence of non-Christian religions and ideologies. Buddhist nationalism of Myanmar and Sri Lanka and the communism of China also represent evident challenges for Christian witness (Lim, pp. 182-183). Following the publication of ACT, persecution has intensified without any indication on the horizon that the plight of Christians in many Asian nations will improve.³

Five Theological Responses to Suffering

In light of this reality, Lim demonstrates that suffering is not a mere byproduct but an inescapable aspect of the Christian life and ministry. Drawing on the life and teaching of Paul, Lim highlights five key ways that Christians can respond to suffering and hardship. First, looking at Paul’s mission to the Gentiles, Lim reminds us that suffering is intertwined with mission, shaping its very essence and trajectory.⁴ Enduring strong opposition and other forms of hardship is an inherent aspect of what God has called him to do. Second, the growth and establishment of Christian communities in Corinth were a direct result of Paul’s endurance (2 Cor 4:12). This reality remains unchanged, resonating throughout history and continuing to shape the formation and growth of Christian communities in the contemporary moment.

Third, suffering for the sake of God’s work is unique in the sense that it accomplishes more than just producing maturity in character. Some philosophies, like Stoicism, look at suffering as an opportunity to embrace the impermanence of the world and to mature one’s virtue.⁵ But suffering holds a deeper value. It could be one’s meaningful engagement in God’s redemptive mission for the world (2 Cor 6:2 cf. Isa 49).

Alongside this, fourthly, Lim emphasizes the theological significance of suffering in Paul’s thought, drawing parallels between Christ’s suffering and the apostle’s hardships. Because Christ’s death was the central part of his salvific mission, Paul viewed his suffering as a crucial element of his identification with Christ. Paul expressed this by stating that he is “always carrying in the body the death of Jesus” (2 Cor 4:10-11). Elsewhere, he added that he is “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” (Col 1:24). This does not imply that human suffering has any atoning power or that Christ’s death was insufficient to redeem us from sin. Rather, it entails how a genuine identification with Jesus Christ in the proclamation of the gospel might lead one to experience the same afflictions that Christ himself endured.

Fifth, a believer’s willingness to share the message of salvation even within a hostile environment serves as a powerful testament to God’s all-encompassing love and grace for all people. Throughout history, there are countless examples of Christians who, through their unwavering dedication to their faith, willingly embraced martyrdom. In doing so, the people ministered to were inspired by their courage, bringing them to salvation. Finally, Lim underscores the humbling realization that success in ministry ultimately stems from divine work. Despite the toils and trials faced by the apostle Paul, God’s sovereign hand ultimately orchestrates outcomes and brings about transformation in the lives of the believers (2 Cor 13:4).

Lim invites readers to reconsider their perspective on suffering in Christian life and ministry by exploring Paul’s theology of suffering. In his words,

If taken seriously, Paul’s life continues to tell a story of endurance and patience in ministry, love and devotion to the churches, faithfulness and obedience to the gospel message, sacrifice and service for his Lord, sincerity and integrity before God, and, above all, a rejection of triumphalism and its accompanying pride and self-focus (Lim, p. 189).

Suffering takes on a sanctifying role, guiding us towards its redemptive purpose and orienting our vision of the ministry to the wisdom and power of God (1 Cor 1:18-31).

Confronting complacency

I am convinced that the growing complacency among believers and the association of wealth to the Christian life and ministry profoundly impact our perception of suffering. When Christianity is detached from hard labor and enduring persecution for the sake of the gospel, we begin to craft or elevate a version of Christian life that resembles the idols of this world. We become engulfed in a culture that prioritizes comfort and affluence, even within the community of faith. It becomes difficult to speak of Christian faithfulness and blessedness apart from the discourse of wealth and fame.⁶ This prevailing perspective ultimately overshadows the true essence of Christian discipleship (Luke 9:23-24). Lim encourages us to reassess our perspective on suffering through the lens of Paul’s ministry. We can recognize therein the reality that some challenges in life are not meant for us to overcome; instead, they are meant for us to endure (2 Cor 12:7- 10).⁷

C. Paul Mojica is a faculty member at the Center for Biblical Studies – Institute and Seminary. Since 2009, he has been serving as a Pastor-Elder of FCF-Baguio Mission Centre in Baguio City, Philippines. He contributes to collaborative works in philosophy and serves as an editor at Wise Ideas Publishing Co. Paul and his wife, Pauline, have been homeschooling their children, Paull Amos and Psalm Ayla. He is currently pursuing PhD in Theological Studies with AGST.