Pleasing pain?

I just finished reading a biography of David Brainerd. He died at age 29, in great misery, coughing up blood after spending himself in the wilderness of New England in pursuit of the great commission. What would cause a man to burn out his life, in such a miserable state, for the reign of Christ in the lives of Native Americans who had never heard the gospel?

One of the greatest quotes from Brainerd's diaries gives us a hint towards the answer. "When I really enjoy God, I feel my desires of him the more insatiable, and my thirstings after holiness the more unquenchable.... Oh, for holiness! Oh for more of God in my soul! Oh, this pleasing pain! It makes my soul press after God.... Oh, that I might never loiter on my heavenly journey!"

What caused Brainerd to spend his short life in the relentless service of Jesus? It was superior pleasure in God shrinking the pain in his life. The longing for God, that pleasing pain (pleasing because he experienced God, painful because he longed for more), pressed him forward on his horse, in the wilderness, to those tribes who knew nothing of Christ.

He believed that "Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. (Heb. 13)" And that God's "steadfast love was better than life (Psalms)".

How can we, as Christians in America, who are surrounded by comfort-loving, safety-seeking God-ignoring people who claim the name of Christ, cultivate in ourselves (because that description is far too true of me many times) and others a stronger love for God and his kingdom than for this life? We must suffer, but how does that play out in our lives in the wealthiest, safest country on earth?

Video: The King Jesus Gospel

Why the exodus of young evangelicals from the church?  Scot Mcknight attributes it to our presentation of the Gospel.  Looking forward to reading this one ...

The Fool's Saturday Evening Book Review

Faith is not just obtained; it’s grown into.   A dynamic, organic, evolving piece of you.  That’s how I’d describe it at least.   Where ever you are in your faith today, it’s likely not where you were 15 years ago.   For some, the trek has been aggressive and their faith only retains hints of its former self.  For others, faith has recklessly taken them miles from where they started only to bring them back stronger.   I would characterize my faith as flexible, constantly adapting to my ever changing perceptions of truth and reality.  I understand that this may not sit well with some, but it suits me just fine.  Evolving in Monkey Town is just about that.  With honest reflection, insight, and humor, Rachel Held Evans gives the reader a front row seat into the formation of her faith, from a somewhat over zealous defender of the faith to an uncertain critic tumbling on the brink of loosing that faith.   

“The space between doubting God’s goodness and doubting his existence is not as wide as you might think.”   

Growing up in the in the town made famous by the Scopes Monkey Trials, Rachel was born into faith.  Raised in church, AWANA, youth groups, and all those other things many of us are very familiar with, she was grounded in good doctrine and had a heart for others and God. 

“I guess when you grow up listening to Ravi Zacharias on your way to kindergarten in the morning, you kind of turn into a Jesus freak.”  

The surety that came in her youth began to slip however, when the all-to familiar answers failed to satisfy unsettling questions concerning the reality of God in light of justice, suffering, hell, and difficult passages of scripture.  This story, naturally, has a happy ending.  Out of the anger, fear, and struggle emerged a greater faith.   

“If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that serious doubt – the kind that leads to despair – begins not when we start asking God questions but when, out of fear, we stop.”

If you find yourself lost in an emerging faith, much of this book will resonate with you.   Though I’ve never been brought to anything that could be considered a crisis of faith, much of the thoughts and experiences that evolved Rachel’s faith can be found in my own story.   I found it an enjoyable read and think you will too, even if you find some of the seeds it plants a little uncomfortable.