One of the most damaging myths embraced by modern Western evangelical Christianity is the idea that one’s faith in God can and will eliminate one’s suffering. Or, at the very least, transform suffering into joy. That somehow our suffering is part of God’s purpose.
But what if our suffering isn’t meant to be relieved or transformed? What if it’s the true way in to an authentic experience of the Divine?
In fact, what if the witness of exploited and marginalized communities has something to teach us about the nature of Divine Love and how that Love comes alongside those who suffer…not to alleviate pain, but to be in solidarity with those who hurt?
This week at New Wineskins we’ll begin a summer series of occasional conversations about what John of the Cross termed “the dark night of the soul.” We’ll kick off the conversation by viewing a video from The Work of the People featuring Pete Enns, author and co-host of the popular Bible for Normal People podcast, titled “Outside the Script.” In the video, Enns uses the popular biblcal story of Job as the basis for undertanding suffering not as a consequence for behavior or lack of faith, but as a gateway for encountering the Divine.
Please join us this Sunday, June 30, in the New Wineskins Virtual Theology Pub powered by Zoom for a discussion on how Divine Love often emerges from within the most difficult of struggles, not in spite of them.
6:00pm ET: Happy Half-Hour (informal meet & greet time)
6:30pm ET: Presentation & conversation begin
Check out this week’s discussion video
Click here to view this week’s discussion video (email address required, no subscription necessary).
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