“Many Christians end up believing that the path of Jesus is bad news. They initially hear the good news of the gospel and think life will finally work the way they want it to. But then Jesus makes them count the cost of following him. He reveals what it means to follow the One who walked the way of the cross and calls us to bear our crosses and follow him.”- Kyle Strobel and John Coe
In Chapter 6 (“Avoiding God in Our Goodness”) of When God Seems Distant, Kyle Strobel and John Coe talk about the temptations that constantly confront spiritual formation. Thus, one feels tempted to take shortcuts or bypass the messy work of growth. To seek something cleaner and more sterile.
Therefore, Kyle and John caution, we need to understand this unique temptation. Or else we find ourselves continually being seduced by it. Hence, the authors express the hope that this very simple prayer bubbles up from your soul: Lord, I want you. Without you, I can do nothing. This enables you to find rest and peace in Jesus. Not in your goodness.
Above all, when consolation wanes, a most subtle and deceptive temptation arises. To reject the path of maturity for the path of moralism. In fact, moralists hate the desert and desolation. Because it forces them to confront what they’re set on avoiding. The truth of their heart.
As a result, the authors note, moralists:
” . . . seek consolation to hide and convince themselves that everything is fine. In general, moralism is our well-intentioned attempt to use spiritual formation, spiritual disciplines, ministry, service, or just plain moral behavior to relieve the burden of our spiritual failure. Put differently, moralism is the strategy to do in the flesh what only Christ can do for us.”
Today’s question: How do we best bear our crosses and follow Jeus? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Moralism – what maturity requires?”