The smallest branch can start a fire.

(Source: unicornofthesea)

Just another one of those days.

Hello, Ben Rector.

Anguish (n.) - excruciating or acute distress, suffering, or pain.

I am speaking the truth in Christ- I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit- that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
Romans 9:1-3

A lot of my friends have been posting a story on their facebook status about a certain student’s argument with a teacher about the existence of God, with the surprising twist at the end revealing that the student was Albert Einstein. With these statuses came lots of comments, some of which came with ridicule.

Now I want to set things straight a little. For the most part, they are right. Right in that the story is falsified, but not right in their mockery. The story of Albert Einstein telling off his teacher is not true, and it makes me sad that a lot of brothers and sisters repost something that is not true. Granted, it’s a great story, but that very last line extremely bothers me knowing that its a lie and used to try to get people to believe (much like Prosperity Gospel, among other things). We’re followers of the truth and that is what we should be proclaiming. Reposting or reblogging things without thought just makes Christians seem like gullible sheep who will believe anything they’re told and sounds good. Make sure what you’re saying is real and founded on the Word. I mean, aside from the whole “Albert Einstein” misquotation, I think the story is very witty and a good read.

Now this is the part where atheists and agnostics reblog me or reply and say “YOUR WHOLE BLOG ISNT TRUE BECAUSE CHRISTIANITY IS FALSE SO STOP POSTING”

Let me tell you this, there is truth behind the Word of God. Most nonbelievers haven’t even read through the Bible, or they might have gotten snippets of it and taken things out of context at best (Super facepalm to those people who post up ridiculous arguments of Leviticus rules and submissiveness of women without knowing the context and meaning behind it all). Read the Word with an open mind and with knowing the cultural context and underlying meanings behind it all. I’m not saying that I have done this, I’m still in the process of doing so and will be, probably for the rest of my life. But I know this: God is real and has been working so evidently in my life and in the life of others that it is just undeniable. To the nonbelievers who want to argue about this: don’t do it over tumblr, please. Talk to me in person and we’ll discuss this.

So how does this all relate to the definition of anguish and to the bible verse I put up earlier? Well, having read certain comments from specific people, I had enough. I was pissed. It isn’t just localized to these specific facebook statuses either, but I see these people mocking and ridiculing Christians through facebook, through tumblr, through twitter. Every chance they get, they lunge and attack through sarcasm and insults. I see this on a bunch of other “funny, just for fun” sites I go to when I’m bored too. I wanted to start rebuking and putting up arguments against people, but I don’t have all the time in the world, I’m pretty busy for the most part. Plus, knowing the nature of these people (especially those on the just-for-fun sites) any response will result in trolling and even more scorn along with the occasional “I’m going to use evidence and even the bible out of context to prove you wrong” type of replies that seriously makes me go:

So instead, I fume for a couple of hours maybe and forget about it. I would sometimes even think to myself that once Jesus comes back, I would say “I told you so”.

Now going back to the verse. Paul is writing to the church in Rome saying that he has sorrow and not just anguish, but unceasing anguish. Why? Because his fellow brothers have not yet tasted salvation. He goes as far as to say that if he could, he would give up his own salvation, his own place in heaven, for his brothers. Think about that. Paul isnt kidding around here, and he’s not exaggerating. If you read all of Paul’s other letters, you can tell when he’s being serious and when he uses sarcasm to prove his point. He even says in verse 1 that he’s not lying and “[his] conscience bears [him] witness in the Holy Spirit”. He’s basically swearing to God that he’s not lying about this, because truth be told: they probably thought he was lying. But look also at Paul’s life. How he spent his life after his encounter with God. He went everywhere to preach the Good News and to love on people and show others the Love that he was shown. Just read through 2 Corinthians 11:16-33. We know he’s not lying.

Now think. Hell. Eternity. Pain. Suffering. Agony.

Verses Heaven. Eternity. Peace. Glory. Worship. Joy. Love.

This is what Paul would give up, just so his brothers can have it. But he knows already that this isn’t going to happen and can’t, for only Jesus can bear the wrath and the suffering (which He already did) for the salvation of others.

The point here, is that Paul has this unceasing anguish and this love overwhelming for Jews who do not yet know Christ as their savior. Likewise, we as Christians need the same anguish, the same pain and distress over our friends who would suffer hell because they haven’t been redeemed through Christ. So where was my anguish? Where was my burden and my great sorrow? When I face ridicule and when I face persecution for my faith, there are two feelings that I should be overcome with (not limiting me to two, but the two main ones that I should feel): joy and sorrow.

Joy because I am suffering for HIS namesake and that I am blessed for it says in 1 Peter 3:13-17

And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong

And sorrow because those who persecute us are not yet saved.

Where was my joy and my sorrow? All I felt was anger and annoyance. On the other hand, while being pinned onto the cross to die,

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Luke 23:34

God, I pray that You give me more and more forgiveness in my heart, for more joy, and for more unceasing anguish. Father, I pray that I will be relentless in loving others, just as You have been relentless in loving and pursuing me. Whatever trial you place before me, I ask that You guide me and that when I turn away or try to do things by my own might, You rebuke and lead me onto the right path. Break my heart for what breaks Yours and let everything I am be for Your kingdoms cause.

Amen.