Suffering: What a Fellowship

Three-hour waits in check-out lines, missed flights; spring break plans ruined; the threat of airport closures—air travelers’ experiences can be described with one word: suffering. But at the bottom of this suffering avalanche, are the real victims of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security funding lapse.  TSA employees have been working without pay since Feb. 14. They can’t pay rent, childcare, groceries, or gasoline to get to work. They are taking second jobs as Uber drivers, in some cases taking riders to the airports of the suffering.

But these TSA employees are not forgotten by some. Northwest Arkansas National Airport officials are asking the community to help support Transportation Security Administration officers currently serving at Northwest Arkansas National Airport during the ongoing partial federal government shutdown. While TSA officers are not permitted to accept cash donations, they are able to accept certain in-kind support. Specifically, donations in the form of food or gift cards are allowable, provided they are distributed equitably among all staff. Travelers and TSA have formed “a fellowship of suffering” and with it is making a statement: “We are in this together.”

A fellowship of suffering is not new.  Christ called his church to join in the reality of the hardship of the faith experience of life. Lent is a time when the church is called to reflect on the journey of suffering—none greater than the road to the Cross—to realize the renewal of resurrection.

The comfortable church knows “fellowship”—the eating and meeting kind. But Christ calls the Lenten church to “the fellowship of suffering” that is more fulfilling.  Paul wanted this fellowship for himself and his favorite church—the Philippian church—to suffer like Christ so he could be raised like Christ.  Christ wants this fellowship for all His Church, like the Smyrna Church, one of the seven churches judged in Revelation 2:8-11. Smyrna knew how to do fellowship of suffering:  

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”

We’ll see that suffering is certain, but not forever. Second, we’ll see—looking forward through Smyrna—that comfort is certain as well. Church, look in and look forward. What fellowship do you want to be known for— a fellowship of eating and meeting, or a fellowship of suffering that Christ will crown in the end.  I call it a “What a Fellowship” fellowship. 

First, know that suffering is certain, but not forever. Don’t run; it’s temporary.  Christ looked in and acknowledged Smyrna’s suffering. They faced pressure, poverty, slander, prison and death. We see that in verses 9, 10.

The pressure of emperor worship was a part of the fellowship suffering of the church. You had to bow down to Caesar. But Rome was lenient. If you simply took a pinch of incense and burned it on the altar of the bust of the emperor once a year, you got a certificate certifying you worshipped Caesar. But to the Christian Church at Smyrna, even a little pinch was an inch too far toward idolatry.  

Poverty was also a part of the fellowship of suffering of Smyrna.  Because Smyrna did not worship the Roman way, they were shut out of the marketplace. Slander was part of the “fellowship of suffering” of the church. Smyrna was talked about because Christians taught that Jesus was the Son of God. Prison was part of the fellowship of suffering of Smyrna.  To be a Christian in Smyrna meant that at any time, you could be arrested. Prison has always been a part of the reality of Christianity.  Finally, death is part of the fellowship of suffering of the church.  Christ said that if they persecuted me, they would persecute you. That persecution includes death. Polycarp, the pastor of Smyrna was ordered to “Swear by Caesar or be burned at the stakes.” He refused to pinch an inch. He did not run.  

Church, don’t you run from your fellowship of suffering even though a pinch of idolatry will spare you in the short term. There is a great temptation to take a pinch and run. Don’t take a pinch of idolatry and burn it to the god of money to avoid suffering. As a church, the temptation is to not spend money on real ministry, but on real estate, on bigger sanctuaries. Personally, there is a temptation to worship mammon that comes in many ways—cars, careers, and houses. They can be gods. The question is, church, what do you want to be known for: “a” fellowship of eating and meeting or a “What a fellowship” fellowship like Smyrna. They didn’t run from the certainty of suffering. Because they knew it was temporary. They knew something better was coming. 

Second, comfort is coming for the Lenten church that is in the fellowship of suffering.  Christ promised a crown of eternal comfort for the fearless and faithful church.  We see that in verses 10 and 11. Fearlessness is a key to victory over suffering. Don’t fear Satan. God is in control of him. He has set a limit on the length of suffering Satan is permitted to inflict. Faithfulness is also a key to your victory over suffering. It was for three Hebrew boys—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These three boys were thrown in a fiery furnace for not bowing down to the king.  When the king came to witness the execution, he was stunned to see not three but four men in the fire. The fourth in the fire was Christ. They were in fellowship of suffering. Not one hair on their head was singed.  

Christ promises a crown of life for Christians and the church who are fearless and faithful. Polycarp, fearless and faithful, refused to bow to Caesar. He was condemned to burn at the stakes. He did not run. He saw his suffering as an opportunity to praise God. Listen to his prayer:

“I praise thee that thou hast judged me worthy of this day and of this hour, to participate in the number of thy witnesses, and in the cup of thy Christ." 

As the wind drove the flames away from him and prolonged his suffering, a sympathetic soldier put an end to his misery with a sword.  Yet he received his crown of life.  

See your suffering as an opportunity for praise and participation in “What a Fellowship” suffering, “leaning on the everlasting arm.’”

We travel the road of suffering together—yes, both airport passengers and airport personnel of His beloved Church.