Article 7

Affirmation: We affirm that suffering of various forms is a normal part of life in this fallen world. We also affirm that God positively ordains suffering for his people for His own good, loving and wise purposes. We affirm that suffering should not be thought of as a strange thing by christians. Nevertheless, we affirm that part of the christian hope is in the eradication of suffering in the age of glory. We affirm that while christians are to patiently endure and even rejoice in their suffering, they are not to seek it out or relish it.

Denial: We deny that suffering comes upon us as a result of our weaknesses of faith. We deny that suffering happens against God’s will for our lives. We also deny that the appearance of suffering in our lives requires special deliverances that entail financial gifts to ‘men of God’, positive declarations and prophetic proclamations.