There is an e-mail floating around the internet that insinuates that John Lennon’s untimely death was a consequence of presumptuous remarks made by the Beatle in a 1966 interview published in the London Evening Standard. The Evening Standard quotes Lennon as saying …
'Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue about that; I'm right and I will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now…’
The inference in the often forwarded e-mail is that Lennon’s hubris resulted in a divine punishment. The philosophical argument presented in the e-mail is: blasphemers are punished by God by having Him end their lives prematurely.
However, a philosophical argument can be proven false if just one observable even
t is found that contradicts it. Such can be found when considering the lifespan of humanist Isaac Asimov who said:
"I am an atheist, out and out. It took me a long time to say it. I've been an atheist for years and years, but somehow I felt it was intellectually unrespectable to say that one is an atheist, because it assumed knowledge that one didn't have. … I don't have the evidence to prove that God doesn't exist, but I so strongly suspect that he doesn't that I don't want to waste my time."
Asimov lived for 72 years. Other non-believers also lived long lives: Bertrand Russell 98 years, Clarence Darrow 81 years, Voltaire 84 years, George Bernard Shaw 94 years, and Jean Paul Sartre 75 years.
What about the reverse theory? Does God distribute blessings for good behavior?
There is a movement within Christianity that promotes the teaching that if you are obedient to God and invoke the power of His name that you will have health and wealth. This movement is called ‘word of faith’ or the ‘health and wealth gospel’ and it has many slogans, including ‘name it, claim it’.
Many nationally known speakers promote the health and prosperity gospel. A good sample of these teachings can be found in an article by proponent Kenneth Copeland entitled ‘How to Prosper From the Inside Out’. In the article Copeland states that God’s will for Christians is prosperity. H
ere is a quote from the article:
‘If you're a businessman, that means the Holy Spirit will show you how to increase your profits and reduce your expenses…If you're a student, it means the Holy Spirit will show you how to excel in your classes. In fact, if you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and are baptized in the Holy Spirit, somehow inside you is the answer to every financial problem, every spiritual problem, and every physical problem that exists.’
What is Copeland’s basis for this teaching? He bases the idea on a verse in the New Testament which says ‘Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.’ (3 John 1:2) It is important for the reader to notice, though, that Copeland is ‘proof texting’ his teaching. ‘Proof texting’ is an action by a speaker or writer where an idea is put forth and then ‘proven’ by various scripture quotations. ‘Proof texting’ can be valid as long as the writer does not twist the meaning of the scripture by taking it out of context. Verse 2, read stand alone, seems to imply that God wants us to prosper and be in good health. However, is that the meaning we get out of the verse if it is read in context?
Before looking at the scripture in context it is helpful to understand a little bit about these three letters written by the Apostle John. First John was written to the Christians of Asia Minor. It is a general sermon that lacks personal references. Second John is slightly more difficult to unravel. It’s written to the ‘chosen lady’ but scholars are not sure if the ‘chosen lady’ is literal or a figurative reference to a church. Third John, however, is clearly a very personal letter written by John to a ‘beloved’ friend named Gaius.
Here now are the words of Third John, in context …
‘The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.’ (3 John 1: 1-4)
In context you see that 3 John 1:2 is not a general comment by God indicating that it is His will that all Christian’s prosper. Instead it is a personal remark to Gaius in which John affectionately prays that he will prosper and be in good health. Don’t we all want our friends to prosper and be healthy? That does not necessarily make it God’s will for every Christian!
There is an important principle to understand here. In order to correctly interpret scripture it needs to be read in context. An old friend of mine would frequently say ‘context is king’ and he taught me the ‘sandwich’ principle. Do you want to understand what a Bible verse really means? Read the verse before and after it! 
That’s the sandwich principle.
Another method of verifying the context of a Bible verse is to try to understand it in the context of ALL other scripture. Let’s apply this principle to the idea of the ‘health and wealth’ gospel. Is it God’s will that Christians be healthy and wealthy? Does a relationship with Christ automatically mean that Christians avoid suffering? How does the WHOLE Bible answer these questions? Let’s look …
Does the Bible teach that Christians will suffer? Psalm 34:19 says ‘Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.’
Why do God’s children suffer? Suffering produces dependence on God. Dependence on God allows Him to assist us with the power at His disposal. When God’s powerful assistance is demonstrated to us and in us it brings Him glory. Look at this exchange between Jesus and His disciples recorded in the New Testament …
‘As He (Jesus) passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so th
at the works of God might be displayed in him.’ (John 9:1-3)
Suffering also deepens and strengthens our relationship with God. The New Testament records these words of James: ‘Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.’ (James 1: 2-4)
God uses suffering to test our mettle. Because of this, Peter said that we should not be surprised at the intense challenges that face us …
‘Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation … Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name…Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.’ (1 Peter 4)
Remember, God has a plan for us when we suffer. He uses suffering to humble us so that we retain our servants heart. He uses suffering to teach us to trust in Him and not ourselves. Suffering can also provide us with the experiences that enable us to empathize with others who are suffering.
My wife and I went through the trial of having premature twin boys. They 
came 14 weeks early. Our oldest weighed less than two pounds at birth. His brother weighed less than three pounds. It was a very difficult time but now we have the unique ability to encourage others who are going through that same challenge.
The Apostle Paul said ....
‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
'For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort. (2 Corinthians 1)
Entering into a relationship with God does not automatically mean that your problems and trials go away. It is no guarantee of health and wealth. But the Bible does promise that God is with us in our suffering and that it drives us closer to Him! That is why the Biblical writer James encouraged us to “consider it all joy when you encounter various trials”.
(The portion of this posting on the topic of suffering was inspired by a sermon by youth pastor Frank Shimkus.)
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