Walking with God through Pain and Suffering

by Timothy J. Keller

How does Christianity compare to all of these? German philosopher Max Scheler, in his famous article “The Meaning of Suffering,” pointed out the uniqueness of the Christian approach. Scheler writes that in some ways, “Christian teaching on suffering seems a complete reversal of attitude” when compared to the interpretations of other cultures and religious systems.44 Unlike the more fatalistic view so prevalent in the shame and honor cultures, “in Christianity there is none of the ancient arrogance . . . none of the self-praise of the sufferer who measures the degree of his suffering against his own power to which others bear witness.” Instead of stoic endurance of high doom, “the cry of the suffering creature resounds everywhere in Christianity freely and harshly,” including from the cross itself.45 Christians are permitted—even encouraged—to express their grief with cries and questions.