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Today we had a lesson that talked about the gospel big picture. The definition for me was that when we understand the big picture and the fulness the gospel offers, we can manage or accept anything that life “throws” at us. I listened for a while & I couldn’t take it
anymore. So I raised my hand & told the following story. There was a woman that I was talking to & I asked how her family was. I have
known them for many years. She told me that she has a Grandson who had bone cancer. It went into remission for 5 yrs & now came
back. So, in PH I ask how the “big picture” would help that family face this particular crisis?
IMO when we face a critical problem like this, our attention becomes very focused trying to come to a solution to the problem at hand.
The “big picture” may not help in a situation like this. For some of us, prayer may not help in an effort to find comfort. God may not
appear to us in our own personal sacred grove. Too often we seem to want the simple answer to fix or explain a complicated or
challenging problem. For me, challenging problems are not easily solved with simple answers. As an outsider, when I can’t give the
solution to a problem, I can always show compassion & (hopefully) understand.
Giving simple answers to complicated problems always bug me.
I agree with your point, MM. There are a few of us here that have had experiences where that point is very solidly driven home, and this is invariably connected to our faith crises. The “comfort” of being relieved of all earthly ills and pains (physical, spiritual and/or mental) at some future time and place that we don’t even know actually exists does little when facing a major life crisis. I find that usually people who are talking about it in the way you mention the lesson was intended have never had such a crisis. Some of us do and some of us don’t, and those who haven’t or haven’t yet simply cannot understand it from the point of view of those who have. I am not opposed to teaching faith and belief, and I do believe and hope in the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But there are situations where that hope and belief does little in the here and now.
I think that there is a benefit to the believe that this life is a test or personalized educational curriculum designed to bring about the best possible learning experience. Sometimes people get truly raw deals in life and this belief can give them a sense of hope and purpose through it all (check out my signature lines). The downside of this belief is that we can be dismissive and unsympathetic when someone goes through an awful experience. We will likely give them platitudes that we think should be helpful and if they don’t work then we might just blame them. “If only they had more faith, or been more prepared with extra supply of faith like the wise virgins in the parable.”
The gospel (meaning here, the system and teachings of the church) can work wonderfully. However, we tend to treat it like a one size fits all solution/panacea and if it isn’t working for you then you must be doing it wrong.
What seems to get lost in these lessons is, Jesus Christ had to go experience the garden of Gethsemane to get through the crucifixion. He was part of the plan salvation. We hear very little about His experience or the process He went through.
That is the key for us when we experience our challenges in life.
Instead, we go for the easy answer. What Jesus experienced was not easy. What you & I go through is now always easy.
Minyan Man wrote:
Instead, we go for the easy answer. What Jesus experienced was not easy. What you & I go through is now always easy.
I like to think that when I meet my maker face to face and before he wipes every tear from my eyes or tells me “well done good and faithful servant”, He will share a good cry with me out of an overabundance of empathy and say something like, “That was hard. I’m sorry for the pain that you went through. Welcome home.”Roy wrote:
Minyan Man wrote:
Instead, we go for the easy answer. What Jesus experienced was not easy. What you & I go through is now always easy.
I like to think that when I meet my maker face to face and before he wipes every tear from my eyes or tells me “well done good and faithful servant”, He will share a good cry with me out of an overabundance of empathy and say something like, “That was hard. I’m sorry for the pain that you went through. Welcome home.”
I like to believe this too. I think this is the lesson the Parable of the Prodigal Son is teaching (even if we weren’t so good or faithful).
I’m currently trying to be in a “be the Jesus” mindset. Roy wrote:
I like to think that when I meet my maker face to face and before he wipes every tear from my eyes or tells me “well done good and faithful servant”, He will share a good cry with me out of an overabundance of empathy and say something like, “That was hard. I’m sorry for the pain that you went through. Welcome home.”Maybe in a “be the Jesus” mindset we come to realize that Jesus has cried with us and Jesus wipes away our tears because we are Jesus. Can we validate our own pain? Can we recognize the strength that came from within when we overcame it? And can we be that Jesus for other people in our lives that are in need?
nibbler wrote:
Maybe in a “be the Jesus” mindset we come to realize that Jesus has cried with us and Jesus wipes away our tears because we are Jesus. Can we validate our own pain? Can we recognize the strength that came from within when we overcame it? And can we be that Jesus for other people in our lives that are in need?
Amen!
Roy wrote:
I think that there is a benefit to the believe that this life is a test or personalized educational curriculum designed to bring about the best possible learning experience. Sometimes people get truly raw deals in life and this belief can give them a sense of hope and purpose through it all (check out my signature lines).The downside of this belief is that we can be dismissive and unsympathetic when someone goes through an awful experience….
The gospel (meaning here, the system and teachings of the church) can work wonderfully. However, we tend to treat it like a one size fits all solution/panacea and if it isn’t working for you then you must be doing it wrong.
This is a beautiful thread, with great insights I agree with completely. Often what is taught at church teaches in generalities. In many cases, expanding our lense and seeing that bigger picture, “Think Celestial” mindset is very helpful, it can bring peace and often let go of minor troubles or concerns that fill our daily life.
But there is only 1, “one size fits all” answer we learn from the gospel…that Christ loves us and at times he may be the only one that fully understands our trial.
Most other lessons or advice, I believe we can take it as general instruction…sit back and see “does this apply to my situation” and if it does that can help. If it doesn’t apply to that very specific instance, it’s not the answer that applies.
Christ descended below all things, suffered an infinite cost of pain, affliction, sickness, emotional stress, fatigue…every imaginable human trial. He experienced it. He paid that price….what did he buy with that infinite atonement, that cost???
Infinite Grace.
There is no end to his love, his understanding, the strength and comfort he can provide.
He earned that right.
I fully believe he stands at that door knocking to provide. We ask and he’s there. I feel that is also why we can pray for others and unlock those blessings in their behalf. Why we receive and feel blessings when often we don’t see how or why we should receive them. Our prayers in supplication, and the prayers of others have power.
I don’t know why there is cancer in life. There isn’t a cookie cutter answer. I think it’s wrong for anyone to assume an answer for someone else’s trials. But Christ knows.
He is the source of truth, and knows each of us individually.
The answers are with and through him.
Rqatkins wrote:
Christ descended below all things, suffered an infinite cost of pain, affliction, sickness, emotional stress, fatigue…every imaginable human trial. He experienced it. He paid that price….what did he buy with that infinite atonement, that cost???Infinite Grace.
There is no end to his love, his understanding, the strength and comfort he can provide.
I love the idea that, through the atonement, Jesus went through the length and the depth of the human experience. He fully understands our temptations, weaknesses, pains, and sorrows on an individual and personal basis.
Rqatkins, I absolutely love what you have said here. Christianity has done a great job of killing the mortal Jesus in order to worship an immortal king (which is ironic, given how Jesus spoke of kings and rulers). Jesus was both mortal and immortal, just like the rest of us, and I believe we miss completely one of the most important elements of the Restored Gospel when we focus only on his immortal Godhood. Luke 2:52 might be my favorite verse in all of our scriptures, since it includes Jesus growing and developing in favor with God. He literally was one of us, and we don’t focus enough, I believe, on his actual mortal life and the example he taught us, as one of us, in his actual ministry.
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