(no subject)

[chess]

'comfort' is not the right word.

'I'm sure you get a lot of comfort from it' is not a phrase I would agree with, regards to Christianity.

I do get a lot, I know; I get a lot of blessings. I get a coherant framework for my life, there are moments of fierce and powerful joy, there is community and friendships, there's a whole number of things-to-do that become more attractive options, there's even a ton of free food.

But 'comfort' is not the word I would use, because it implies that Christianity is something that I can use to justify the things I would do anyway. Believe me, it isn't. There are much darker paths along which I would have strayed was it not for my faith.

I have been saved not only in the overall metaphysical sense of where I am going when I die, but in many small ways from many small deaths I would otherwise have found. The journey has been glorious and in places unbelievable, but rarely comfortable. My faith sustains me, it keeps my head above the water and the sharks at bay, but comfort? That's generally a warning sign.

Comments

Bonhöffer understood

[marnanel.livejournal.com]

"When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die."

Comfort

[icyflower.livejournal.com]

"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; A time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

"...a time for comfort, a time for discomfort."

Apparently, I have too much time right now. My comments are getting too long. :)

Re: Comfort

[chess]

I'd disagree with your first statement. Many people want comfort, or are at least willing to settle for comfort because they don't know any better or how to achieve anything better. Some people have different aims, good and bad; joy, power, self-advancement, the comfort and happiness of others. A seeker after one of these will often abandon comfort, even avoid it, in order to attain more of what they are after; I suppose it could be said that some of them lead back to comfort, but I'm not sure it's such a universal motivation as it appears at first thought.

The Holy Spirit is known as the comforter, yes. As I've said elsewhere now, 'comfort-as-a-verb' isn't always too far off; it's an important part of the way God keeps our heads above the water, and the only way that we can even hope to live the injunction not to worry. I think there is a perception of Christianity as some kind of mental soma, though, and that perception needs to be dealt with.

Re: Comfort

[mair_in_grenderich]

oh I remember reading somewhere that a better translation these days for the word comfort as used then was "strength". forget where though :/

[ptc24.livejournal.com]

When I was actively Christianity-curious, I definitely noticed the "Christian Food Conspiracy", as I sometimes call it.

I expect that there's a collection of sharpened and smoothed-off edges associated with any belief system. I expect that Christianity, "done properly" (whatever that means) is more of a challenge than a comfort, something to aim at, something to keep you sinking through despair into outright numb - 'comfortable' - apathy. I don't know. For a number of reasons I could never accept it myself. Part of me is bitter about this. Another part of me is apt to wonder on occasion whether I really did, whether I'm really doing the right thing. But whenever I indulge these sides of me too much, the other side of me, which has its own reasons, fights back, and I'm caught in the middle of myself.

Sorry, this wasn't intended as a rant. But I feel I need to say these things occasionally.

[senji.livejournal.com]

Hmm....

If someone said soemthing like that to me then I'd probably reply something along the lines of:

"Those who think they have found comfort in Christ have failed to understand the message he brought. Christ came to discomfort us, and hence save us."

That's a very roughly formed theology though...

[senji.livejournal.com]

Hmm, that's not right - it denies all comfort from Christ, whereas I intended to deny essential comfort from Christ.

Hmm...

Christ may bring comfort for some personal worries, but Christ's message should inspire a deeper discomfort in the face of the inadequacy of the world, and our own imperfections.

Hmm...

I'm flailing a bit here - anyone help? :)

[tienelle.livejournal.com]

Something along the lines of Christ only bringing comfort to people while doing (what they believe to be) his work?

[senji.livejournal.com]

No. Not really.

Err...

More that Christ can bring comfort for the things you can't change, and discomfort for the things you should, or something.

[tienelle.livejournal.com]

But changing those things you should change could get pretty unpleasant. Does Christ not comfort you as you do this, or does he (as phamster suggests) just grant the strength to carry on anyway?

[senji.livejournal.com]

Bit of both I think...

[phlebas.livejournal.com]

Maybe comfort is the right word, but only as a verb rather than a noun?

[chess]

Yes, sometimes comfort-as-a-verb isn't too far off. I just found the phrase 'a comfort to you' somewhat dismissive and condescending, and so I decided to try and explain what was wrong with it as a concept.

[phamster.livejournal.com]

I prefer to refer to it as strength. The strength to do what needs doing. Whetever that's continuing with what you are doing. Changing an attitude to leave a crowd, facing something. Whatever, it's strength. Not comfort. There's almost never any comfort in doing what needs doing. As simply because it needs doing, means you have to step away from what's comfortable and already being done.