Comments on: Where Have All the Laments Gone? Part 1

By: Dave DeCook

Dave DeCook — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:34:30 +0000

John, thank you for the stimulation to explore lament. Do you have more resources on this subject you can recommend? I put this quote from your blog into my journal: Lament is God’s gift to lead God’s people from anger to grief. I find myself still angry about an event in my life and I suspect that my “all things work together” theology has short-circuited an adequate lamentation and grief.

I would take issue with laying this at the feet of Calvinism/determinism (yes, you qualified it with some other descriptors). Far from being to blame for our lame lamentation, this Biblical theology gives us the proper person to direct our lament toward. Without that, of what value is our exercise of emotion? It certainly doesn’t build our personal relationship with our Creator/Completer, unless it is to reinforce a sense of His absence. But Scripture says He is close to the broken hearted.

In my own life some of major barriers to lament are these. 1. A social, economic lifestyle arrangement (read “the good life in the suburbs”) focused on removing suffering and the suffering from me; 2. A premature triumphalism (this is almost a uniquely American disease, and yes, relates to the “culture war;” 3. My constant resort (dare I say addiction?) to the defense mechanism of denial, in which rather than hurt, I will say, “sticks and stones….” All of these are simply a form of lying that stiff-arms a groaning creation and a groaning Christ.

Thanks again.

By: Christina

Christina — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:49:20 +0000

Interesting post. I agree that Christians shouldn’t be hesitant to bring our grief and sorrows to God. He did, after all, create us as living, breathing, feeling human beings, not emotionless robots. I also believe it’s possible to honor the sovereignty of God– to trust that He is in control of all that happens, and that He uses tough/sad circumstances for His ultimate glory– while still engaging in lamentation. I am not convinced that the two behaviors are mutually exclusive because I have done both.
- Christina

By: Pat

Pat — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 23:59:14 +0000

Just this week I was on my face before God lamenting and wailing, repenting for some things and asking God for help. I had just reached the end of myself. I had no answers, felt so burdened and didn’t know if I was carrying the wrong burden or not. What a release this provided for me! Afterwards, I realized just how much I had been carrying. Do I have answers yet? No, but I do feel an emptiness in a good way. I’m devoid of self and that is very good indeed! Lamenting is counter to our society that wants to feel good about everything, but there are unexpected riches in the lament. PTL!

By: Sue

Sue — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:38:32 +0000

How can we not lament, at least at home in our own private worlds? How sad that people learn to not go to God in those times and spill their sorrows out on him. How saddening that must be for God, also.

What a weird whack culture Christianity has created. Seriously distorted and dysfunctional. Still, there are lots of signs of life around about

By: Kacie

Kacie — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:44:28 +0000

Joel is actually a great example of what I was just going to say – the gospel music that is brought out in the inner city culture (often African-American) is much better at lament and mourning, in my experience. They experience sorry as a community and it is reflected in their music. Joining a gospel choir (even as a white girl) was a freeing experience for me.

I noticed your comment on Jesus Creed today – My hubby is a fundy – MBI – DTS guy too, and I laughed at your comment. He is at DTS now, and I can’t help but wonder how his (and our) theology will continue to change over time.

To be honest I’m surprised at how un-fundamental DTS was when we moved here two years ago, especially after hearing so much about their conservative history.

By: Jason Myers

Jason Myers — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:28:37 +0000

John,

Rob Bell just gave an excellent message about the same topic, its worth the 40 minutes to listen to the podcast. I think you would track with alot of what he was saying. It was called “Learning to Lament in a Culture of Denial.” It was on March 1st.

On another note, I was wondering about our paper. I know we pick a missional theological topic, which in a way is an exegetical paper, but I was wondering if there was a section on application? I couldn’t remember if that was this paper or the next one…

Thanks
Jason

By: Chaplain Mike

Chaplain Mike — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 03:22:00 +0000

How little “Bible-believing” Christians really know, understand, or believe the Bible! We are blatant Docetists. The contemporary evangelical programmatic church, with its emphasis on separation from the real world and the creation of an artificial “kingdom” has caused many of us to forfeit authentic humanity in the name of a counterfeit spirituality.

By: Mich

Mich — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:41:47 +0000

Amen Brother Ken!

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:48:55 +0000

I believe that Christ-followers NEED to understand and practice lamenting. Lamenting is taking your case to God. Just like conversing, debating, and collaborating with any true friend, you eventually come out to a place of understanding if you stick with it long enough. It seems like most Christians today profess “God’s will” when they are in their theological mindset, but the rest of the time they just bitch about the way things are … and the way things are going in this country (particularly in Michigan), I think we’re in for a lot more bitching. Why can’t we take our case to God for some serious lamenting? No doubt He has a few things to teach us yet.

By: John

John — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:07:13 +0000

Joel #3,
I’m sorry for the tragedies you’ve faced. Your comments give me hope. I have a friend who teaches at a Grand Rapids kids at risk school. She reports similar losses of students she’s come to love. God bless you.

I agree that the prosperity gospel a heinous distortion of the gospel of the kingdom of God.