November 15, 2004
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Heartache.
Driving home tonight, I felt a lot of anguish inside. My thought, “I need desperately to pray,” in order to unburden my heartache. The longing to pray was immediately followed up with the tempting thought, “Hrm… maybe I should just pop in the DVD and watch another episode of Friends.” Heartache sometimes comes so badly that it’s easier to placate it with quick-fixes than dealing with it head-on. (Anybody else ever feel that way?) Of course, it’s only through prayer – a meeting with the heart of God - that there is true heart-resolution and victory.
“What does your heart ache over?” you ask.
You probably won’t believe me — or perhaps you’ll think I’m crazy, but I must admit to you that sometimes I want so badly for my fellow Christians to care for the lost that it hurts more than any amount of romantic heartache I’ve had in the last five to ten years. I love the lost. God loves the lost. And it appalls me that most Christians do not even think in those terms. It’s more usual to give a reluctant, guilt-ridden admission of, “I should probably evangelize” than to declare, ”I love the lost” or “My heart aches for the lost.” The latter, strangely, is not the usual sentiment among Christians. And it bothers me.
And I don’t know what else to do about it but pray.
Comments (3)
how was pbc missions conf? i’m gonna try to give you a call today (tues)
I think I ache (right now) about people who live out a version of Christianity that may not be authentic to what Christ would have us live. It’s almost like aching for the lost, because I think maybe to some degree, mainstream Christianity has become lost (or at least severely diluted) in legalism, capitalism, and commercialism. See my ongoing discussions of late for what inspired my concern…
and I don’t know what else to do about it but pray.
and sometimes i lose sleep… prayer is always productive!