**ideas/excerpts from “The Centrality of the Gospel” — an essay by Tim Keller**
Moralism says “I must be bad to be suffering,” but under the guilt there is anger towards God. Why? Because you have been so moral, you feel you don’t really deserve suffering.
Relavism/Pragmatism says that suffering should be avoided at all costs…lying, cheating, and broken promises. But if suffering comes, fault is again attributed to God, because He must be either unjust or impotent.
The Cross says…
that God redeemed us through suffering. That he suffered not that we might not suffer (emphasis added), but that in our suffering we could become like him.
John 9:3
Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
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The context here is a ‘blind’ man from birth. My deaf and mute uncle, blind cousin, and mentally handicapped brother, were all sovreign acts of God for His glory. I do know that in knowing my brother for 56 yrs. has been a blessing from God in more ways than I’ll probably ever know.