Bad Theology Is Making Your Suffering Worse - Paul Tripp

I want to talk more about this. I want to talk more about this. One of the ways we trouble One of the ways we trouble One of the ways we trouble our trouble is bad theology. Bad theology that Bad theology that doesn't bring doesn't bring doesn't bring the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the kinds of ways that are needed in the kinds of ways that are needed in the kinds of ways that are needed when you're going through these when you're going through these when you're going through these difficult experiences that expose you to difficult experiences that expose you to difficult experiences that expose you to all kinds of temptation. Let me say all kinds of temptation. Let me say all kinds of temptation. Let me say this, suffering is spiritual warfare. >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> Suffering exposes you >> Suffering exposes you >> Suffering exposes you to particular to particular to particular seductive seductive seductive and attractive and attractive and attractive but devastating temptations. but devastating temptations. but devastating temptations. You could argue You could argue You could argue that suffering will always either deepen that suffering will always either deepen that suffering will always either deepen your faith and your rest in God and your your faith and your rest in God and your your faith and your rest in God and your affection for your redeemer affection for your redeemer affection for your redeemer or it will weaken the same.

Suffering's a battleground. It's a Suffering's a battleground. It's a warfare. warfare. warfare. And so we want to arm ourselves for that And so we want to arm ourselves for that And so we want to arm ourselves for that battle with the beautiful theology of battle with the beautiful theology of battle with the beautiful theology of the word of God. doesn't do that. So, I want to I want to doesn't do that. So, I want to I want to talk a little bit about talk a little bit about talk a little bit about that that bad theology. One of the one that that bad theology. One of the one that that bad theology. One of the one of the battlegrounds in suffering of the battlegrounds in suffering of the battlegrounds in suffering is is is the temptation the temptation the temptation to doubt God. >> [snorts] >> Now, I I I want to >> Now, I I I want to >> Now, I I I want to I want to make this more nuanced than I want to make this more nuanced than I want to make this more nuanced than than what I just said. I believe there than what I just said. I believe there than what I just said. I believe there are there are two kinds of doubt of God are there are two kinds of doubt of God are there are two kinds of doubt of God that are very, very different and that are very, very different and that are very, very different and uh they need to be distinguished. The uh they need to be distinguished. The uh they need to be distinguished. The first is the doubt of wonderment. first is the doubt of wonderment. first is the doubt of wonderment. That is the normal life of believer That is the normal life of believer That is the normal life of believer because God is now central for you.

because God is now central for you. because God is now central for you. Because you've attached your identity to Because you've attached your identity to Because you've attached your identity to his existence, his grace, and his plan. his existence, his grace, and his plan. his existence, his grace, and his plan. Uh you're always referencing you're always referencing what is going on in your life to God. what is going on in your life to God. what is going on in your life to God. God had is becoming has become your God had is becoming has become your God had is becoming has become your ultimate hermeneutic. Do you know what I ultimate hermeneutic. Do you know what I ultimate hermeneutic. Do you know what I mean by that? mean by that? mean by that? God is God is God is the key way that you make sense out of the key way that you make sense out of the key way that you make sense out of life. life. life. And because God's ways are not our ways, And because God's ways are not our ways, And because God's ways are not our ways, and his thoughts are not our thoughts, and his thoughts are not our thoughts, and his thoughts are not our thoughts, and because what God and because what God and because what God understands is good for us, we don't understands is good for us, we don't understands is good for us, we don't always think as being good, there will always think as being good, there will always think as being good, there will be moments where we're confused, moments be moments where we're confused, moments be moments where we're confused, moments where we wonder, moments where we where we wonder, moments where we where we wonder, moments where we surprise we're surprised. That's not surprise we're surprised. That's not surprise we're surprised. That's not weak faith, that's just faith. weak faith, that's just faith. weak faith, that's just faith. That's the That's the normal That's the That's the normal That's the That's the normal ebb and flow and struggles of faith that ebb and flow and struggles of faith that ebb and flow and struggles of faith that everyone has. God doesn't tell me things everyone has. God doesn't tell me things everyone has. God doesn't tell me things ahead of time. Listen, we need to say ahead of time. Listen, we need to say ahead of time. Listen, we need to say it. God's secret will is called a secret it. God's secret will is called a secret it. God's secret will is called a secret will because it's secret.

will because it's secret. will because it's secret. And I don't I don't get the script ahead And I don't I don't get the script ahead And I don't I don't get the script ahead of time. And so, I'm going to be of time. And so, I'm going to be of time. And so, I'm going to be surprised. I'm I'm going to feel in surprised. I'm I'm going to feel in surprised. I'm I'm going to feel in moments unprepared. I'm going to wonder moments unprepared. I'm going to wonder moments unprepared. I'm going to wonder how this is good, how does this agree how this is good, how does this agree how this is good, how does this agree with the promises of God? That with the promises of God? That with the promises of God? That wonderment is part of running to God in wonderment is part of running to God in wonderment is part of running to God in faith and and trying to hold on to him faith and and trying to hold on to him faith and and trying to hold on to him in moments of confusion. There's nothing in moments of confusion. There's nothing in moments of confusion. There's nothing to be ashamed of in that. But, there's a second form of But, there's a second form of of doubt. of doubt. of doubt. And, I would call this the doubt of And, I would call this the doubt of And, I would call this the doubt of judgment. judgment. judgment. It's when It's when It's when because of what I'm going through, I because of what I'm going through, I because of what I'm going through, I have brought God into the court of my have brought God into the court of my have brought God into the court of my judgment, and I have judged him as being judgment, and I have judged him as being judgment, and I have judged him as being unfaithful, uncaring, uncaring, and unkind. Now, here's the theological process that Now, here's the theological process that has been inverted in that moment. It's has been inverted in that moment. It's has been inverted in that moment. It's tempting tempting tempting when you're going through dramatic when you're going through dramatic when you're going through dramatic things that you cannot escape things that you cannot escape things that you cannot escape to use those, to use those, to use those, let those function in your mind and let those function in your mind and let those function in your mind and heart as a way of understanding God.

heart as a way of understanding God. heart as a way of understanding God. Danger, danger, danger. Danger, danger, danger. Danger, danger, danger. You don't ever allow your experiences You don't ever allow your experiences You don't ever allow your experiences to interpret who God is. You let who God to interpret who God is. You let who God to interpret who God is. You let who God says he is to interpret your experience, says he is to interpret your experience, says he is to interpret your experience, and that's warfare. and that's warfare. and that's warfare. You got to hold on to your mind. You You got to hold on to your mind. You You got to hold on to your mind. You have to run back to the word of God. You have to run back to the word of God. You have to run back to the word of God. You have to do what David is. You have to have to do what David is. You have to have to do what David is. You have to uh uh uh speak words to yourself. Speak gospel to speak words to yourself. Speak gospel to speak words to yourself. Speak gospel to yourself. Speak God's identity to yourself. Speak God's identity to yourself. Speak God's identity to yourself again. Let your surety of who yourself again. Let your surety of who yourself again. Let your surety of who God is then become a tool for God is then become a tool for God is then become a tool for interpreting what you're going through, interpreting what you're going through, interpreting what you're going through, not the other way around. Now, here's what's devastating about Now, here's what's devastating about doubt of God. If you allow yourself to begin to If you allow yourself to begin to entertain the thought that God is in fact not the thought that God is in fact not good, he is fact not kind, he is in fact good, he is fact not kind, he is in fact good, he is fact not kind, he is in fact not caring, he's in fact not not caring, he's in fact not not caring, he's in fact not uh faithful, a faithful keeper of his uh faithful, a faithful keeper of his uh faithful, a faithful keeper of his promises.

promises. promises. That will begin to weaken your trust of That will begin to weaken your trust of That will begin to weaken your trust of him. him. him. Stay with me. Stay with me. Stay with me. And because your trust is weakened, And because your trust is weakened, And because your trust is weakened, you will quit going to him for help. you will quit going to him for help. you will quit going to him for help. You will, in ways, You will, in ways, You will, in ways, stop running to him and stop running and stop running to him and stop running and stop running to him and stop running and start running from him because you don't start running from him because you don't start running from him because you don't go for help in a time of need to someone go for help in a time of need to someone go for help in a time of need to someone you no longer trust. And so you see this and people are And so you see this and people are suffering. Uh suffering. Uh suffering. Uh they quit having devotions. They say, they quit having devotions. They say, they quit having devotions. They say, "What difference does it make? It "What difference does it make? It "What difference does it make? It doesn't change anything." Uh they quit doesn't change anything." Uh they quit doesn't change anything." Uh they quit praying. Uh they quit meeting with their praying. Uh they quit meeting with their praying. Uh they quit meeting with their small group. Maybe they become small group. Maybe they become small group. Maybe they become infrequent in attendance to worship infrequent in attendance to worship infrequent in attendance to worship services. There you have it. Somehow, services. There you have it. Somehow, services. There you have it. Somehow, someway, experience has begun to someway, experience has begun to someway, experience has begun to reinterpret who God is for them, and reinterpret who God is for them, and reinterpret who God is for them, and because of that, it's hard for them to because of that, it's hard for them to because of that, it's hard for them to hold on to the goodness and holiness and hold on to the goodness and holiness and hold on to the goodness and holiness and faithfulness of God, and because they faithfulness of God, and because they faithfulness of God, and because they don't trust him as much, don't trust him as much, don't trust him as much, they're not running to him for help.

There's There's a piece of the great spiritual war a piece of the great spiritual war a piece of the great spiritual war that that that is suffering. We trouble our trouble by We trouble our trouble by unrealistic expectations of life. If you're going to be prepared for the If you're going to be prepared for the suffering that will surely come, suffering that will surely come, suffering that will surely come, you better have a robust theology of the you better have a robust theology of the you better have a robust theology of the fall. Because if you don't have a robust Because if you don't have a robust robust theology robust theology robust theology of the fall in the Garden of Eden of the fall in the Garden of Eden of the fall in the Garden of Eden and the results on everything about the and the results on everything about the and the results on everything about the environment in which we live, environment in which we live, environment in which we live, you will not be prepared. you will not be prepared. you will not be prepared. I love the way I love the way I love the way that Paul talks about this that Paul talks about this that Paul talks about this in Romans 8. He says, "The whole world in Romans 8. He says, "The whole world in Romans 8. He says, "The whole world is groaning is groaning is groaning waiting for redemption." You live in a waiting for redemption." You live in a waiting for redemption." You live in a groaning world. You groan when you're in groaning world. You groan when you're in groaning world. You groan when you're in pain. You groan when you're in distress.

pain. You groan when you're in distress. pain. You groan when you're in distress. You groan when you need help. You groan You groan when you need help. You groan You groan when you need help. You groan when you long for something better. The when you long for something better. The when you long for something better. The world you live in groans. It's not just world you live in groans. It's not just world you live in groans. It's not just us that are waiting for redemption. This us that are waiting for redemption. This us that are waiting for redemption. This world, the environment in which we live, world, the environment in which we live, world, the environment in which we live, is crying out for redemption. And to live in a world And to live in a world where you can expect hardship. where you can expect hardship. where you can expect hardship. You can expect difficulty. You can expect difficulty. You can expect difficulty. You can expect pain. You can expect You can expect pain. You can expect You can expect pain. You can expect sorrow because this world is sorrow because this world is sorrow because this world is dramatically broken, not functioning the dramatically broken, not functioning the dramatically broken, not functioning the way God intended. And see, if you don't embrace that And see, if you don't embrace that theology, theology, theology, you leave yourself you leave yourself you leave yourself with unrealistic expectations. Here's with unrealistic expectations. Here's with unrealistic expectations. Here's the second thing, naive to the the second thing, naive to the the second thing, naive to the temptations that will come. temptations that will come. temptations that will come. Because you're expecting things things to be way different than they're to be way different than they're to be way different than they're ever going to be. I ever going to be. I ever going to be. I I can't tell you how many people I've I can't tell you how many people I've I can't tell you how many people I've counseled, how many people have counseled, how many people have counseled, how many people have approached me, how many people have approached me, how many people have approached me, how many people have talked to me who are shocked talked to me who are shocked talked to me who are shocked at the fact that suffering has entered at the fact that suffering has entered at the fact that suffering has entered their door.

their door. their door. Surprised at the things that Surprised at the things that Surprised at the things that they're facing. Selfism Selfism will get you into trouble. will get you into trouble. will get you into trouble. Now, what do I mean by selfism? Well, 2 Now, what do I mean by selfism? Well, 2 Now, what do I mean by selfism? Well, 2 Corinthians 5:15 says that Jesus came so Corinthians 5:15 says that Jesus came so Corinthians 5:15 says that Jesus came so that those who live would no longer live that those who live would no longer live that those who live would no longer live for themselves. Here's what sin does to for themselves. Here's what sin does to for themselves. Here's what sin does to me. me. me. Sin Sin Sin is essentially selfish. Sin inserts me is essentially selfish. Sin inserts me is essentially selfish. Sin inserts me in the middle of my world in the middle of my world in the middle of my world making it all about me. That's the one making it all about me. That's the one making it all about me. That's the one place for God and God alone. Sin causes place for God and God alone. Sin causes place for God and God alone. Sin causes me to reduce the field of my concern me to reduce the field of my concern me to reduce the field of my concern down to the claustrophobic confines of down to the claustrophobic confines of down to the claustrophobic confines of my wants, my needs, my feelings. Sin is my wants, my needs, my feelings. Sin is my wants, my needs, my feelings. Sin is self-absorbed and self-focused, selfish self-absorbed and self-focused, selfish self-absorbed and self-focused, selfish in the normal sense of what it is. You in the normal sense of what it is. You in the normal sense of what it is. You could argue that Paul is teaching that could argue that Paul is teaching that could argue that Paul is teaching that the DNA of sin is selfishness. The the DNA of sin is selfishness. The the DNA of sin is selfishness. The chemical composition of sin is chemical composition of sin is chemical composition of sin is selfishness. That's what it is. It's my selfishness. That's what it is. It's my selfishness. That's what it is. It's my world. It's what I want, when I want it, world. It's what I want, when I want it, world. It's what I want, when I want it, how I want it, where I want it, and who how I want it, where I want it, and who how I want it, where I want it, and who I want to deliver it.

Now, it would be it would be be great to Now, it would be it would be be great to be able to say that we're all free of be able to say that we're all free of be able to say that we're all free of this. this. this. But, But, But, hear the gospel. Yes, the power of sin hear the gospel. Yes, the power of sin hear the gospel. Yes, the power of sin was broken in the justifying mercies of was broken in the justifying mercies of was broken in the justifying mercies of of Jesus, of Jesus, of Jesus, but the presence of sin is being but the presence of sin is being but the presence of sin is being progressively eradicated. We call that progressively eradicated. We call that progressively eradicated. We call that progressive sanctification. So, that progressive sanctification. So, that progressive sanctification. So, that means there's still sin living inside of means there's still sin living inside of means there's still sin living inside of me. And as long as sin is living inside me. And as long as sin is living inside me. And as long as sin is living inside of me, there will be that draw to put of me, there will be that draw to put of me, there will be that draw to put myself in the center, to make life all myself in the center, to make life all myself in the center, to make life all about me, all about my comfort, my about me, all about my comfort, my about me, all about my comfort, my pleasure, my ease, a predictable life. You want to know You want to know if there are any vestiges of selfism in if there are any vestiges of selfism in if there are any vestiges of selfism in you? Just think about your behavior in Just think about your behavior in traffic. I don't know about you, I don't know about you, but I want to drive on roads paid for by but I want to drive on roads paid for by but I want to drive on roads paid for by other citizens who choose not to use other citizens who choose not to use other citizens who choose not to use them.

Selfishness of sin. You see, if if if Selfishness of sin. You see, if if if although in my confessional theology, although in my confessional theology, although in my confessional theology, I sing of God's glory and I I say I want I sing of God's glory and I I say I want I sing of God's glory and I I say I want to live for God's glory, there there are to live for God's glory, there there are to live for God's glory, there there are ways in which I stick myself in the ways in which I stick myself in the ways in which I stick myself in the middle of the world, I make this about middle of the world, I make this about middle of the world, I make this about me. Why do we get me. Why do we get me. Why do we get mad mad mad at God when we suffer? Because we are too important to us. Because we are too important to us. You could argue that the four most You could argue that the four most You could argue that the four most important words of the Bible are the important words of the Bible are the important words of the Bible are the first four, in the beginning God. If God first four, in the beginning God. If God first four, in the beginning God. If God is on site, this whole story is about is on site, this whole story is about is on site, this whole story is about him. And it's hard And it's hard to tolerate anything to tolerate anything to tolerate anything that is uncomfortable if you are in the that is uncomfortable if you are in the that is uncomfortable if you are in the center of your world. I mean, if you get mad when somebody I mean, if you get mad when somebody disagrees with you, if you are irritated because somebody if you are irritated because somebody has a distracting habit, if you hate to wait a little bit in the if you hate to wait a little bit in the line at Starbucks, however, however, are you going to deal are you going to deal are you going to deal with your life being turned upside down with your life being turned upside down with your life being turned upside down by suffering?

just expands just expands the drama the drama the drama of suffering. You're not just suffering of suffering. You're not just suffering of suffering. You're not just suffering the physical thing you're going through. the physical thing you're going through. the physical thing you're going through. You're suffering You're suffering You're suffering that has hooked that has hooked that has hooked your love of self. Listen, your love of self. Listen, your love of self. Listen, the idol of idols is the idol of self. the idol of idols is the idol of self. the idol of idols is the idol of self. There is no idolatry more attractive, There is no idolatry more attractive, There is no idolatry more attractive, more seductive, more deceptive than the more seductive, more deceptive than the more seductive, more deceptive than the idol of self. The idol of self is the idol of self. The idol of self is the idol of self. The idol of self is the idol that exposes us to all other forms idol that exposes us to all other forms idol that exposes us to all other forms of idolatry. And if there are ways in which you are And if there are ways in which you are still worshipping at the throne of self, still worshipping at the throne of self, still worshipping at the throne of self, you will find suffering intolerable in you will find suffering intolerable in you will find suffering intolerable in every way.