The Cost of Avoidance

I have noticed something recently about American culture (including Christians). I assume it goes on around the world also but I have no proof of that since I have never been exposed to much culture outside of my own. What I noticed is that one of our main goals in culture is to avoid pain at all costs.

When I first saw the movie The Village I absolutely loved it. I wasn't quite sure why however. Now, after a year or so, i think i understand. The intriguing plot line involved a huge effort to create a utopia. Of course, the definition of the utopia was a place that got rid of pain as much as possible. However, the utopia failed and the village realized pain is something that can't be run away from.

Interestly, the idea of running away from pain is something our culture has not come to realize is impossible. In fact, it's not only impossible, it never even results in the expected outcomes. Christianity is a religion that embraces pain. Even if thats not what you see on TV, it is what you will see when you take a look at Jesus' life...especially the cross. Dont get me wrong, I am not saying it calls its followers to chase after pain but only to embrace it when it comes, because it will come. It even seems the result of embracing the pain when it is greatest is the religions greatest growth, idividually and corporatley.

I have noticed in myself that I often buy into the lie that comfort is where the "good life" lies. But as soon as I take the path of comfort and safety I find myself with a sense of decay within and complete numbness. I think pain is a direct result of the fall of humanity but it seems God can even use our greatest fall for good. I love that I follow a God that decided to embrace human pain himself and show that the "good life" does not come from seeking sensual pleasures for the self.

C.S. Lewis said that one of our greatest errors as humans is that we often chase after secondary pleasures as firsts. Such as seeking after sex as a first. Sex was never intended to be seeked after as a first only a second within the context of love as a first. There is a still a good feeling when seeking sex as a first but it will never be satisfying outside of it's context of love. This is why the more you have sex the more you find you need it because it didnt do what it was supposed to do. Love involves pain and heartache, something we run from...sex by itself involves no effort which results in no lasting pleasure. Another one is freedom, we chase after individual freedom of choice as a first and find we become slaves to the choices we made. Freedom is can only be truly found in self-sacrifice.

Be wary of any Christian that claims pain will not be an integral part of your life. One of the great things I find about following Christ is that pain is not something I am afraid of or have to run from but something that I can embrace whole heartedly because I know what it produces. As a matter of fact, beware of anything or anyone that tells you they will take away the pain. Whenever we take away the pain we take away true pleasure, because true pleasure tends to come about after pain in my life.

Stop trying to run, you can never outrun pain.