--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lament challenges the church to…" description: "\"“Lament challenges the church to acknowledge real suffering and plead with God for his intervention. The”\" — Soong-Chan Rah" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/soong-chan-rah-33108_lament_lament-challenges-the-church-to-acknowle_2836742.jpg" --- # Lament challenges the church to acknowledge real suffering… ![“Lament challenges the church to acknowledge real suffering and plead with God for his intervention. The” quote by Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/soong-chan-rah-33108_lament_lament-challenges-the-church-to-acknowle_2836742.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/soong-chan-rah-33108_lament_lament-challenges-the-church-to-acknowle_2836742.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/soong-chan-rah-33108_lament_lament-challenges-the-church-to-acknowle_2836742.jpg) > ““Lament challenges the church to acknowledge real suffering and plead with God for his intervention. The”” [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The church must confront real suffering and ask God for help, rather than ignoring pain. **In simple terms:** Church should acknowledge suffering and seek divine intervention. Key Takeaway Address pain openly and pray for relief. Themes faith suffering spiritual honesty theology Mood contemplative hopeful serious Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - worship services - counseling sessions - faith groups - personal reflection - community support Key Concepts theodicy prayer pastoral care Questions to Reflect On - How can faith communities balance prayer with action? - What role does suffering play in spiritual growth? A Different Perspective Some may view this as too passive compared to active social justice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Challenges Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges-church-2402037/) [Lament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lament/) [Lament Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lament-challenges-3695729/) [Plead God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plead-god-1378515/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Plead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-plead-3695730/) ## Related quotes > [The church can challenge society, but society also challenges the church. That's good. We should be humble enough to be able to accept that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/the-church-can-challenge-society-but-society-also-challenges-the/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [One of the challenges of the church is to accept humanity for all it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-shadyac/one-of-the-challenges-of-the-church-is-to-accept-humanity-for-all-it/) [Tom Shadyac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-shadyac/) > [Leadership in church is one of the biggest challenges that the Church is facing because without strong leadership, the church rarely lives out its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hybels/leadership-in-church-is-one-of-the-biggest-challenges-that-the-church/) [Bill Hybels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hybels/) > [“When John Knox went upstairs to plead with God for Scotland, it was the greatest event in Scottish history.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/when-john-knox-went-upstairs-to-plead-with-god-for-scotland-it-was/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Doth Jesus Christ stand up to plead for us with God, to plead with him for us against the devil? Let this teach us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/doth-jesus-christ-stand-up-to-plead-for-us-with-god-to-plead-with-him/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“Through the medium of prayer we go to our enemy, stand by his side, and plead for him to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/through-the-medium-of-prayer-we-go-to-our-enemy-stand-by-his-side-and/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“Furthermore, if you are still in the cave of doubt and sin, plead with God to set you free. You cannot present a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-haddon-spurgeon/furthermore-if-you-are-still-in-the-cave-of-doubt-and-sin-plead-with/) [Charles Haddon Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-haddon-spurgeon/) > [“The greatest intercessors have always recognized that far more connects them with the common lot of sinners than what distinguishes them—and in any case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson-2/the-greatest-intercessors-have-always-recognized-that-far-more/) [D.A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson-2/) > [And finally I plead to God, please do not let my heart fall to the person who actually was not destined to be mine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin/and-finally-i-plead-to-god-please-do-not-let-my-heart-fall-to-the/) [Alvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin/) > [“Again, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17), and here the word to pray does not mean to beg or to plead as if God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-w-ian-thomas/again-pray-without-ceasing-1-thess-5-17-and-here-the-word-to-pray/) [Major W. Ian Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-w-ian-thomas/) > [“For the complete biblical narrative to take root in our community, lament has to become a part of our story. Emmanuel Katongole emphasizes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/for-the-complete-biblical-narrative-to-take-root-in-our-community/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [“The crying out to God in lament over a broken history is often set aside in favor of a triumphalistic narrative. We are too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/the-crying-out-to-god-in-lament-over-a-broken-history-is-often-set/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [“Lament calls us to examine the work of reconciliation between those who live under suffering with those who live in celebration. Lamentations”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/lament-calls-us-to-examine-the-work-of-reconciliation-between-those/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [You have suffered greatly, poor mother. Oh! do not lament, you have now the portion of the elect. It is in this way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/you-have-suffered-greatly-poor-mother-oh-do-not-lament-you-have-now/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [In some ways, I lament the introduction of civilisation on such a huge scale, because it has given us a lot of room to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-harper/in-some-ways-i-lament-the-introduction-of-civilisation-on-such-a-huge/) [Roy Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-harper/) ## More by Soong-Chan Rah > [“Lament calls us to examine the work of reconciliation between those who live under suffering with those who live in celebration. Lamentations”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/lament-calls-us-to-examine-the-work-of-reconciliation-between-those/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [“Are we so invested in the Western cultural captivity of the church that we are unable to accept God’s right judgment on the broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/are-we-so-invested-in-the-western-cultural-captivity-of-the-church/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [“The population dominance of Western Christianity has already come to an end. Western cultural captivity and dominance as an epoch of church history is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/the-population-dominance-of-western-christianity-has-already-come-to/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [“While we may lament the loss we experience in Western Christianity, we should acknowledge that it may be God’s will that oppressive Western systems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/while-we-may-lament-the-loss-we-experience-in-western-christianity-we/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [“The crying out to God in lament over a broken history is often set aside in favor of a triumphalistic narrative. We are too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/the-crying-out-to-god-in-lament-over-a-broken-history-is-often-set/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [“The evangelical culture moves too quickly to praise from lament. We do not hear from all of the voices in the North American evangelical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/the-evangelical-culture-moves-too-quickly-to-praise-from-lament-we-do/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [“The spiritual rituals of Native American Christian communities are perceived as exotic pagan practices that dabble in syncretism and are inferior to the rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/the-spiritual-rituals-of-native-american-christian-communities-are/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [“An elevated view of one’s self leads to the perception of other cultures through the lens of American Christian exceptionalism. Other cultures are viewed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/an-elevated-view-of-one-s-self-leads-to-the-perception-of-other/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [“The dismantling of privilege requires the disavowal of any pretense of exceptionalism. Lamentations”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/the-dismantling-of-privilege-requires-the-disavowal-of-any-pretense/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [“Non-Western expressions of Christianity, therefore, can be portrayed as inferior to the successful formula for ministry put forth by many white evangelicals in mainstream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/non-western-expressions-of-christianity-therefore-can-be-portrayed-as/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [“American Christians may be fearful of the dramatic changes that have already occurred in the world and in American Christianity. Could that fear be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/american-christians-may-be-fearful-of-the-dramatic-changes-that-have/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [“For the complete biblical narrative to take root in our community, lament has to become a part of our story. Emmanuel Katongole emphasizes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/for-the-complete-biblical-narrative-to-take-root-in-our-community/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [“Korean American immigrants that meet faithfully at 5:00 a.m. every day to pray at the church before embarking on a twelve-hour work day are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/korean-american-immigrants-that-meet-faithfully-at-5-00-a-m-every-day/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [“A narrative of success propels white evangelicalism over and above other forms of American Christianity. Evangelicals often fail to embrace the important examples of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/a-narrative-of-success-propels-white-evangelicalism-over-and-above/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) [Explore all 15 Soong-Chan Rah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) ## More Lament quotes > [In some ways, I lament the introduction of civilisation on such a huge scale, because it has given us a lot of room to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-harper/in-some-ways-i-lament-the-introduction-of-civilisation-on-such-a-huge/) [Roy Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-harper/) > [My heart sobbed a lament that was hard to ignore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-macalister/my-heart-sobbed-a-lament-that-was-hard-to-ignore/) [Katie MacAlister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-macalister/) > [A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle; ...they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-myriad-of-men-are-born-they-labor-and-sweat-and-struggle-they/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [You have suffered greatly, poor mother. Oh! do not lament, you have now the portion of the elect. It is in this way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/you-have-suffered-greatly-poor-mother-oh-do-not-lament-you-have-now/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“A premature death does not only rob one of the countless instances where one would have experienced pleasure, it also saves one from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-premature-death-does-not-only-rob-one-of-the-countless-instances/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [The liberal reward of labour, therefore, as it is the affect of increasing wealth, so it is the cause of increasing population. To complain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-liberal-reward-of-labour-therefore-as-it-is-the-affect-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [There are two responses to really awful things. One is to lament and say, "Oh my God, oh lord." And the other is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcbride/there-are-two-responses-to-really-awful-things-one-is-to-lament-and/) [James McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcbride/) > [I didn't want normal until I didn't have it anymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-didn-t-want-normal-until-i-didn-t-have-it-anymore/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Lament calls us to examine the work of reconciliation between those who live under suffering with those who live in celebration. Lamentations”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soong-chan-rah/lament-calls-us-to-examine-the-work-of-reconciliation-between-those/) [Soong-Chan Rah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soong-chan-rah/) > [You do not lament the loss of hair of one who has been beheaded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/you-do-not-lament-the-loss-of-hair-of-one-who-has-been-beheaded/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Every lover's lament has an element of boasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/every-lover-s-lament-has-an-element-of-boasting/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“None but a fool or an infant could forget a father gone so far and cold. No. Lament is a pattern cut and fitted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/none-but-a-fool-or-an-infant-could-forget-a-father-gone-so-far-and/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Do not vainly lament, but do wonder at the rule of transiency and learn from it the emptiness of human life. Do not cherish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/do-not-vainly-lament-but-do-wonder-at-the-rule-of-transiency-and/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [I lament the want of a liberal education. I feel the mist of ignorance to surround me - Nathanael Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/i-lament-the-want-of-a-liberal-education-i-feel-the-mist-of-ignorance/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Lament For J Among the small graves a soft shaft of sunlight gently rains On a memory; etches, as a glittering finger, Golden corn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-james-roll/lament-for-j-among-the-small-graves-a-soft-shaft-of-sunlight-gently/) [Alan James Roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-james-roll/) [Browse all 236 Lament quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lament/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Lament challenges the church to acknowledge real suffering and plead with God for his intervention. 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