I recently had a friend give me a copy of a paragraph titled "Easy-Running is an Oxymoron". I found the parallels to American Christianity frighteningly similar. So I modified the essay switching out the word 'runner' for 'Christian'. Do you think it is true?
"What is it about being a Christian that scares people so much? Why do people feel they have to put friendly modifiers next to being a Christian so everyone can feel good about it? Well, here's the ugly truth; Everyone shouldn't feel good about being a Christian. it's hard. It hurts; being a Christian requires sacrifice and heart and guts. Any attempt to water it down with feel-good adjectives is a slap in the face to those of us who still hold being a Christian sacred. In fact, if being a Christian is easy, odds are you're not a Christian at all."
I agree, being a christian is a sacred but were only human who got sins anytime we want because were not perfect. You really need to sacrifice and have a heart to that so. Thanks for sharing !
Posted by: Spartan ab workout | June 30, 2011 at 08:06 PM
joshmshep - true that Christianity isn't striving but I don't think this is encouraging that. It is talking about the difficulty of the personal death we must walk to find life in Christ. I liken it to Deitrich Bonhoeffer's quote "When Christ calls a man he bids him come and die."
Posted by: Aaron Stern | April 27, 2011 at 06:16 PM
I also agree. Christianity also , is accepting Christ in, to your heart, to your mind and strength. Well done. Keep posting.
Posted by: Jail Break | April 13, 2011 at 03:57 PM
What about Jesus' statement, My load is easy and my burden is light?
Is Christianity about striving? I think Dave Grothe touches on this with the verse he posted
Posted by: joshmshep | December 04, 2010 at 01:13 PM
Eugene Peterson parallels the Gospel to the saying of Ezekiel (chapters 2 & 3) "The message is sweet in the mouth but sour in the stomach." No matter what nice sounding adjectives we put in front of the Gospel it always requires death.
Posted by: Aaron Stern | November 11, 2010 at 10:34 AM
Short but powerful.
My favorite part is this: "Any attempt to water it down with feel-good adjectives is a slap in the face to those of us who still hold being a Christian sacred."
Posted by: Kristine McGuire | October 26, 2010 at 10:22 AM
Keith - amen. A difficult word indeed as it flies in the face of our sinful nature and our desire to do whatever we please.
Dave - great verse, and it is true that we don't have to work for salvation, but it doesn't mean that we don't have to exert effort in our walk with God. That is why throughout the Scripture there are words like courage, strength, diligence, perseverance and self-control.
Posted by: Aaron Stern | October 01, 2010 at 09:32 AM
"It hurts; being a Christian requires sacrifice and heart and guts." I'll add the one "modifier" that really makes Christianity unpalatable to the world and is altogether too often left out of any so-called "Gospel" conversation.
Obedience.
Posted by: Keith Donaldson | September 25, 2010 at 06:20 AM
Matthew 11:29-30 (The Message)
28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Posted by: Dave Grothe | September 24, 2010 at 01:43 PM
Emily - I will work on that.
Noelle - Well stated. It is the perseverance that is at times difficult though the "easier" ways ultimately are burdensome.
Mark - It is true that in our own strength that Christianity is difficult. Actually, it isn't even difficult on our own it is impossible.
Even with Christ I sometimes find the process of becoming like Christ a tough one. The word "burdensome", which could also be translated "oppressive", isn't defined as easy but rather as possible and tied to ultimate redemption therefore commands that are tied to hope.
Brooke - agreed. Thanks for posting a comment.
Posted by: Aaron Stern | September 24, 2010 at 01:02 PM
There needs to be a "like" button on here! :)
Posted by: Emily Corley | September 22, 2010 at 10:35 PM
I agree. I think to understand and walk out the heart of Christianity requires dying to oneself, being willing to undergo persecution, committing to stay on the narrow path when everything around you tempts in subtle and obvious ways that there is an "easier" option. If Christianity is a list of rules to follow and you believe that you can pull it off through moral acts of goodness, then yes, Christ is missing. If Christianity is a life of surrender, trust, hope and love in the face of everything that defies such things, then only with Christ will it be possible and even then it will require a tenacity that does not come easily. Great blog!
Posted by: Noelle Goodlin | September 22, 2010 at 05:12 PM
'This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.'
1 Jn. 5:3-4
Christianity is the most difficult thing in the world when we do it of our own efforts, making a work of the experience of the Spirit. Jesus' yoke is easy and His burden light. Perhaps we may say that if Christianity is hard, odds are you've left Christ out.
Posted by: Mark Djikaw | September 22, 2010 at 04:13 PM
Wow, that is extremely powerful. Especially knowing it was not written with Christianity in mind...
Posted by: Brooke Mikulas | September 21, 2010 at 12:06 PM