Digital Commons @ George Fox University Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations 1-1-2018 Following the Man of Sorrows: A Theology of Suffering for Spiritual Formation David Russell Beach [email protected] This research is a product of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at George Fox University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Beach, David Russell, "Following the Man of Sorrows: A Theology of Suffering for Spiritual Formation" (2018). Doctor of Ministry. 281. http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/281 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY FOLLOWING THE MAN OF SORROWS: A THEOLOGY OF SUFFERING FOR SPIRITUAL FORMATION A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF PORTLAND SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY DAVID RUSSELL BEACH PORTLAND, OREGON MARCH 2018 Portland Seminary George Fox University Portland, Oregon CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL ________________________________ DMin Dissertation ________________________________ This is to certify that the DMin Dissertation of David Beach has been approved by the Dissertation Committee on February 16, 2018 for the degree of Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Spiritual Formation. Dissertation Committee: Primary Advisor: Michael Gama, DMin Secondary Advisor: Tricia Gates Brown, PhD Lead Mentor: MaryKate Morse, PhD Biblical References: All biblical references are taken from the 2011 New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted. At times, other translations are preferred over the 2011 NIV for more nuanced gender-inclusive language, especially passages considered by this writer to be referring to all of humanity when a masculine term/metaphor/case ending is used in the original. Exceptions are made to this preference when a term or metaphor is considered part of the revelation and manifestation of the second person of the trinity, who is variously revealed as Son, Son of man, Lord, Prince, King, and so on. Statement of Gender-Inclusiveness: Translation presents a complex and multi-faceted challenge for every language and culture, even those of the original languages. In this paper, preference is given to a construct of humanity that hopes to include equally every culture, every tribe, every nation, and all variations of human personality, attributes, and gender. Therefore, a beginning point for this paper will be that men and women, equally and together, are created in the image of God and called to spiritual formation into the image of God in the person of Jesus Christ. Even when masculine terms and metaphors referring to Christ as “Son” or “Man” are retained, as in the title of the paper, they are retained for revelatory reasons and not to exclude in any way daughters or women nor to elevate in any way sons or men. Some directly quoted source material may not utilize preferred gender-inclusive language. Even though the original language may be retained in these quotations (e.g. “man” rather than humanity, people, or person), it is the opinion of this author that the spirit and meaning of the original material is in keeping with the statements above. iii Copyright © 2018 by David R. Beach All rights reserved. iv Dedicated to The walking wounded, comrades of the valley, who think they are alone and yet are not. Those in wilderness experiences, exiles, and victims: may you all rise up, like the Man of Sorrows, as wounded healers who will comfort and care for the least of these— Christ’s living body. And to God who has “reconciled [us] by Christ’s physical body through death.” May we all fill up in [our] flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of [Christ’s] body, which is the church. [We] have become its servant[s] by the commission God gave [us] to present […] the word of God in its fullness—[…] the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in [us], the hope of glory. […] He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end [we] strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in [us]. Col. 1:22-29 v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am most grateful to my wife, Cynthia, without whose patience and encouraging words this work would never have been attempted. My appreciation also to my parents, Richard and Eileen Beach, for giving me a good foundation, a love of the Word, and for the Living Word. My special thanks to my good friend, study buddy, and reader John Raymond, who so graciously and generously gave his time and affection. Special thanks, too, to my Dissertation Advisor and friend, Michael Gama, whose kind and insightful feedback added to the depth and breadth of this dissertation. For my friend and reader, Tom Zook, I am glad and grateful, mostly for being able to call you friend. I am grateful for Nicholas Wolterstorff, my consultant par excellence, who graciously agreed to meet and discuss a theology of suffering. Thank you, Nick, for freeing me to pursue what is necessary, while leaving aside the non-essentials. Much gratitude also to MaryKate Morse, a wise and kind Mentor and Spiritual Director for a great group of people who make up LSF1—you are the best. For my editor, Rochelle Deans, bless you and thank you for your attention to the details and the larger picture. For Impact Church of Lowell, Michigan, who so generously gave resources, time, and facilities to explore ideas—thank you. A special remembrance goes out to Sharon Sabados whose words 25 years ago became a doorway to spiritual formation. And finally, to Elmer Graham, whose prophetic words thirty-some years ago planted a dream in my heart of doctoral studies: may the Man of Sorrows continue to be your comfort as you now enjoy Christ’s presence face to face. vi “Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand…. I have been bent and broken, but—I hope—into a better shape.” —Charles Dickens, Great Expectations Pietà (after Delacroix), Vincent van Gogh, 1889 Source: Van Gogh Museum, accessed November 26, 2017, https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/collection/s0168V1962 vii Contents Figures................................................................................................................................ xi Abstract ............................................................................................................................. xii CHAPTER 1: GETTING ACQUAINTED ........................................................................ 1 Introduction: Toward a Theology of Suffering for Spiritual Formation .........................1 The Intersection of Via Dolorosa and Imago ...................................................................5 Preliminary Questions ....................................................................................................10 Toward a Blueprint for a Construct ...............................................................................12 A Theology of Suffering: A Review of Three Approaches ...........................................19 Impassibility, Theodicy, and Suffering ..........................................................................24 Suffering and Spiritual Formation .................................................................................26 Suffering: Toward a Definition ..................................................................................26 Spiritual: Toward a Definition ...................................................................................27 Spiritual Formation: Toward a Definition ................................................................28 Suffering: A Filtering Question for Discipleship ..........................................................31 A Brief Introduction to Remaining Chapters .................................................................35 CHAPTER 2: EXPLORING THE TEXTS ..................................................................... 37 Introduction: Toward a Theology of Suffering for Spiritual Formation .......................38 Part I: A Theology of Suffering .....................................................................................38 Part II: The Role of Suffering in the Bible ....................................................................41 The OT and Suffering .................................................................................................41 Suffering in the NT .....................................................................................................50 Suffering and the Disciples. .......................................................................................52 Conclusion .....................................................................................................................55 CHAPTER 3: MULTIPLICITY ...................................................................................... 56 Introduction: Toward a Theology of Suffering for Spiritual Formation ......................56 Part I: The Incarnation and its Implications ...................................................................58 Part II: Toward a Framework for Understanding: A Five-Type Taxonomy of Relational Postures Toward Suffering ...........................................................................59