The Idolatry of Pain

The trail of tears.

Experiencing pain is a way of life for many people. Not necessarily by their choice but it is where they find themselves time and again. Much of the pain that is felt is caused by others who are in pain themselves who are reaching out for some kind of control in their own lives. The fact that those in pain, often cause more pain should cause us to reflect on whether we have been the cause of someone else’s pain. Many times those who have caused pain in another’s life are either indifferent to the pain they have caused or just haven’t thought about it.

Luke 17:1-5

17 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

King James Version (KJV)

Genesis 4:19-26

Avenged Seventy and Sevenfold

Lamech thought he had viable reason to kill the man that had wounded him and he used that experience to perpetuate the wickedness that was in his heart.

Personal vengeance was never in God’s plan.

Deuteronomy 32:35

35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;

Their foot shall slip in due time;

For the day of their calamity is at hand,

And the things to come hasten upon them.’

New King James Version (NKJV)

Romans 12:17-19

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have[a] regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

New King James Version (NKJV)

• Vengeance is the Lord’s

• Recompense is the Lord’s

• Judgment is the Lord’s

By the same judgment you mete, you shall be judged.

Matthew 7:1-6

Do Not Judge

7 “Judge[a] not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what[b]judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Moses gave a commandment of an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. The purpose was so that you would understand that judgment was to never exceed the crime. According to Moses, you were also supposed to take your offenses before one of the leaders who would ask God for a ruling on the offense. Note: This was during a time when people didn’t have a personal relationship with God, and were not filled with His Spirit.

Common thoughts & experiences that expose personal Idolatry of pain

• See how deeply I’ve been hurt

• Look at the pain I’m going through

• I am alone

• No one understands

• Ruminating on your pain and who hurt you will somehow give you power in the situation.

• God’s Word doesn't apply to my situation.

• Feeling vindicated for wrong responses because the responses were a result of the pain.

• Feeling as though you have the authority to hold the perpetrator of the pain accountable, even to the point of making them pay their dues.

• Gloating over their own pain or hardships they are going through as if it somehow validates your feelings.

• You form a tribal bond with others who go through similar situations and or pain.

The high place of pain…

We tend to create a high place out of our pain, either thinking within ourselves that our pain defines us or that it has robbed us of value. Pain, though real has done neither of these. Our value comes from God as well as our definition. We allow our pain to swallow up our thoughts, distract us from worshiping God, and alter who we are or meant to become. In this we have created an idol first of all of self, then of our pain because of its elevated position.

It is out of the worship of our self and pain that we become angry, bitter, or even a murderer if only in thought. It is our worship of our self and pain that we elevate our pain to a status higher than the influence of God’s Word into our lives. It will cause us to reach out to control the future levels of pain that come to us by way of life.

Humanly speaking, we don’t like pain or suffering; yet God’s Word says it will come. God’s Word also says how to respond as well as giving us insight into how submitting the pain we feel to God will develop our character into the image of Christ.

By trying to remove ourselves from painful situations, we are setting ourselves up for growing a deformed character similar to what would happen if we were to assist a butterfly as it was emerging from its cocoon and the pain associated with that!

Jesus, Himself faced rejection, curses, and even death at the hands of those who hated him and what He represented, even though they were his own people. Jesus knows just how it feels and is your advocate willingly offering to walk with you!

Proverbs 20:30

Proverbs 34:19-22

The answer:

Give it to God letting him carry it. Jesus came to take your pain.

Lay it out before God as Hezekiah did saying, “Hear, Oh God what they are saying about your people”.

Let God know your feelings, He is not insecure and understands you want to see the initiator of your pain taken down. David had many people throwing offensive words at him and he would tell God how he felt and that he wanted the perpetrators knocked down, the teeth torn out, and their lives ruined. God understood David and then ultimately David would end his prayer with praise to God for who He is.

Build an altar of praise. Recognize God for who He is and that He will judge justly in this situation. Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord. Sometimes we need to walk out of our valley of offense to the mountain of praise, and as Abraham did, build an altar of worship. Note: Jehoshaphat and his army won a battle like that.

Forgive. Unforgiveness stands between us and the forgiveness of God. We need to take hold of the tree of life and partake of its fruit. Forgiveness is the fruit of a heart that understands what it means to be forgiven.

Pray for God’s love and mercy to be seen in you.

Think about the words of both Christ and Stephen, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”.

Choose to respond according to the path of life which is the way Christ would and does.