Like a good soldier

NORSK
A few days back, I wrote about the calling to join in suffering. Today, the same calling reappears, and this time Paul uses soldiers as role models for joining in suffering:

Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2 Tim 2:3

I have relatively limited experience from the military, and even though it was during the "Cold War", the wars were far away. My “suffering” was therefore limited to having to endure blisters and cramps during hard marches and drills, plus the encounter with my own conviction that even military combats are evil actions and not in congruence with the commandment to love one another.

However, I have also been a soldier for Jesus almost the whole of my life and have no problems with endorsing the comparison. As a soldier, I am visible. Thus, people will associate me with the negative experiences they have had with the Salvation Army in particular and Christianity in general, and I will be held accountable. This has led to physical assaults, spitting and lots of insults and profanity.

Fortunately, very many also have good experiences, and therefore they utter words of encouragement. The strange thing is that it can also be a painful challenge with 'popularity'. When "all" people like us, but few receives the gospel and even fewer are willing to join in the mission God has given us, it hurts. I believe that it was primarily this latter variant of "suffering", which Paul focused on. If I have a passion for the salvation of men, I will suffer when they reject the gospel. It is in such situations a good soldier does not lose heart, but looks up to “the commander of the army of the Lord” and asks:

“What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
Jos 5:14

Today 'manna':

I want to be a good soldier

It is about pain

NORSK
The three first words have become standard in the headings. It creates a continuity which is important, but it is easy to forget what “it” is. “It” refers to the main focus of my dive in the ‘Well of holiness’ – which of course is “holiness”.

Is it correct that holiness also is about pain?
If it is correct that holiness is linked with the ‘other’ trinity (1), the answer must be: “Yes!”
A disciple with focus on the mission will also know God’s pain for those experiencing pain and suffering.

A couple of days ago, I wrote: 
When Moses was told to take of his shoes because he stood on holy ground, it was not because it was a meeting between God and Moses – it was even more about the third party: God’s chosen people (2).
It did not take long time before Moses heard God say: 

I’ve clearly seen my people oppressed in Egypt. I’ve heard their cry of injustice because of their slave masters. I know about their pain.
Exodus 3:7 CEB

I am convinced that Moses could feel the same pain as God felt. If not, Moses was not part of the 'other' trinity. Holiness is about identification with God and those whom he loves.

When I teach the subject of holiness, I have asked people if they think mother Teresa’s face looks “holy”, and if they take time to reflect, a majority normally say “no”. The same people are very likely to have mentioned her as an example of holiness. 
Personally I think her face is marked by pain. To feel God’s pain is a natural consequence of living with him in the world. We can feel it. Here is an example:

In March 2004 I asked a dear colleague who looked terrible: “Are you ill?”

“No”, he replied, “but I have watched and wept with God all weekend! He weeps over mass destruction, and I have seen terrible things happen. I even heard God say the name of the assassin. I think he must be a dictator in Asia.”

He had written the name on a note and wondered if I could confirm that there was a dictator by this name. I read the note and had to admit that I did not recognize the name, nor new the meaning of it. Nine months later the whole world knew the meaning of the name. On the note was written “Sunami” (3).

‘Manna’ for today:

God cares for people - therefore holiness will also be about pain. (4)

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(1) The ‘other’ trinity = God + disciple + the world
(2) See “It is about holy ground”
(3) “Tsunami” – phonetically the ‘t’ often disappear in Norwegian.
(4) Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Rom 8:17