Does Christianity Put Too Much Emphasis on Suffering?

Every Christian knows the value of suffering. One may not know it by heart, but one knows it at least in theory. We are taught about it from the very beginning. Even our Lord did not escape suffering, and He warned us that we would also suffer in this world.

Perhaps, it couldn’t have been clearer than when Jesus Himself told His disciples how necessary it is to carry one’s cross.

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24, NABRE)
Without suffering, there would be less compassion. It is those who have suffered more who can relate to those who are hurting in life.

The problem starts, however, when Christianity puts more value on suffering than it should.

When this happens, what we achieve is not an increase in compassion or mercy but a lessening of it. It may even come to a point when we become callous to other people’s pain.

Have you ever heard some Christians advise fellow Christians to just accept their current sufferings because it is what God wills? Have you ever heard teachers and leaders speak about it to people in such a way as to totally disregard their earthly condition?

While we cannot avoid suffering altogether and while there is true value in suffering, there is also the risk of overemphasizing it to the point that we already ignore helping those who need to be helped.

“If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?’” – James 2:15-16 (NABRE)

Before suffering, the Bible teaches us first of all about love, also known as charity.

Is it love when we say to a brother or a sister who is hungry, “Accept your suffering and be a good Christian.”
Is it also love when we see a sick friend and say, “Endure your illness for it is God’s will. Just carry your cross.”

Wouldn’t it be mean for us to do so?

When Jesus walked among those who were sick, He did not tell them to just be brave enough and accept this as their sacrifice in life. Instead, He had pity upon them and healed them.

“When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick” (Matthew 14:14, NABRE)

When Jesus saw that the thousands of people who followed Him to a remote place were hungry, did He just tell them to starve?

“When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, ‘This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.’ [Jesus] said to them, ‘There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.’ But they said to him, ‘Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.’ Then he said, ‘Bring them here to me,’ and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over—twelve wicker baskets full.” – Matthew 14:15-20 (NABRE)

Finding Balance When It Comes To Suffering

Let us not take the value of Christian suffering to the extreme. While we should not forget that suffering has its place in testing our faith, it should never eliminate the compassion we have for others who are suffering.
Those who lead are the ones who should first make the necessary sacrifice as Christ did and not impose unnecessary suffering on others.

Let us commend those who are ready to sacrifice themselves out of love, but let us never be blind to the needs of our neighbors. To them, may we be beacons of light reflecting the love and compassion of Jesus Christ who never turned away from anyone who needed His mercy and His love.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, NABRE)

Jocelyn Soriano is the author of Mend My Broken Heart, Defending My Catholic Faith and 366 Days of Compassion.

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You may also want to read “Does God Want To Take away Our Joy?”