Baptism and the Great Tribulation

By Rev. Daniel Woodring

Death, guilt, depression, heartache—this issue of Higher Things touches on these issues. It’s hard enough to make it through each day without such issues weighing you down, but the fact is that they make up the reality that surrounds us in this world. “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). There’s no avoiding it.

Unfortunately, this is no less true for teenagers than for it is for adults. You’ve got problems. Whether it’s living with the death of a friend or relative, treating an eating disorder, overcoming an addiction, coping with stress, getting over a brutal break-up, or simply getting along with your parents or siblings, in this world you will have tribulation.

But what is really hard to take is that Christians don’t have a “get out of tribulation free” card. Being a Christian doesn’t mean that our lives will be free from worry, sorrow, or pain. Our Lord Jesus doesn’t save us from our misery, but saves us in our misery. He doesn’t magically lift us out of this world’s tribulation, but leads us safely to the life of the world to come. Being a Christian doesn’t mean we will never face death, but rather that death becomes for us the gate of eternal life.

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him,“Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who came out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

While Holy Baptism does not take away the great tribulation, it does unite you with Christ, so you will never suffer hardships alone. He is there to be your shoulder to cry on and support to lean on. In fact, He makes the great tribulation a blessing for your faith—you trust and rely on Him more.

This is the way of the baptismal life. And yet, in man’s constant rebellion to the ways of God, a different way is desired—a religion that helps us forget the pain we face in our daily life. Instead of hymns that recognize our weaknesses and point us to Christ, choruses are chosen to pump us up emotionally with talk of personal victory and success. Instead of God’s Sacraments, we are given a mountain-top experience that makes us feel good about who we are and relieves the pain and tears of this great tribulation.

I have to admit that when I was a teenager, this was exactly the kind of religion that I wanted. Those years certainly were a great tribulation, and I sought relief in Youth for Christ, Christian rock, and playing in the praise band at church. But relief was always temporary, and I soon would find myself crashing and needing another fix. Up and down. Up and down.There had to be a better way of life.

What I didn’t realize is what I really needed was the life that had been already given to me in Holy Baptism—a life in which Christ was present and active even when it didn’t feel like it.

As hard as man may try to create a spirituality that lets us ignore this great tribulation, the reality is that these efforts will always end in failure. Nonetheless, we will one day come out of the great tribulation, and every tear will be wiped away. God Himself will dry them.

The Rev. Daniel Woodring is pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in New Buffalo, Michigan. He is the executive director of Higher Things.