In preparing for this coming Sunday, I pulled a little book off the shelf that I read years ago and have re-read a time or two. The book is by Erwin McManus and is entitled, The Barbarian Way. It is a quick read and is one of those books that should be used as a reminder from time to time.
All of us need to remember what this following in The Way is all about. So many people look at Christianity and say, “Why would I want to be involved in a system of rules that leads to a boring life of restriction from the things I enjoy doing and that bring excitement? No thanks, you can have it.”
But I am reminded that Jesus did not call us to a boring life. In fact, following Christ is the most exciting, fulfilling adventure offered to mankind. When we approach our faith completely surrendered to Jesus, we realize that we are living right on the edge. The X-Games have nothing on following Jesus!
McManus reminds us that there is a difference between what religion has become and the way Jesus calls us to live. Here is what he says:
When Christianity becomes just another religion, it focuses on requirements. Just to keep people in line, we build our own Christian civilization and then demand that everyone who believes in Jesus become a good citizen.
It’s hard to imagine that Jesus would endure the agony of the Cross just to keep us in line. Jesus began a revolution to secure our freedom.
Following The Way is more than living by a set of rules. In fact, it is not about conforming but rather being transformed. Jesus did not call us to conform to a system, he called us to join the battle for the hearts of humanity. This calling is far from boring. It is a call to live outside our comfort zone every day. It is a call to give everything we have to the movement of God. And this movement is bigger than we are and greater than anything we can even imagine.
Will you join the adventure?
Clay in the Hands 
It is so fitting that you wrote about this considering one of the lectionary texts for this week (Jeremiah 31:27-34). I was reading Dr. Gloer’s commentary for this text in the commentary “Feasting on the Word”, and he said something that I think contributes to your post. He said (in regard to the old covenant spoken of here in Jeremiah, i.e. the Sinaitic Covenant) “The old was an external standard to which we must adhere. The new covenant will be “within” written on the heart. It will be instrinsic to relationship. A relationship we live into not a standard we live up to.”
Anyway, this quote of his stood out to me for the same reasons your post does. People often worry about the “requirements”, but I think sometimes the church perpetuates this habit. We are spiritual beings, and God is reaching out to us. Focusing on the relationship God offers us (and really actually focusing on it – not just talking about it) takes a lot of pressure off of people. Then, we can see this is actually very natural for us. Anyway, sorry so long!
Wonderful insight! Thanks Aurelia.