Comfort zones are just, well, comfortable.
No matter where we are in our journey we tend to seek predictability and routine over the wild ride of following the real Jesus.
The pull toward institutionalism and religion is a continual gravitational force that draws all of us away from the risky and unfettered lifestyle of an intimate communion with God as the central, guiding North Star.
I admit this in myself.
I recently found encouragement from Floyd McClung in his book “Follow: A Simple and Profound Call to Live Like Jesus.” He says:
“I have written this book with the underlying belief that any hierarchy and all institutionalization of the church lead us directly away from Jesus Himself. We must, therefore, constantly return to Jesus as our source and our example for how to live life and how to do church together. Studying His life, spending time in His presence, seeking to be filled with His Spirit, and fulfilling His mission with others in community—this is how we are to experience life as Jesus intended it.”
Floyd goes on to say that this book is about “how to be a fully devoted disciple of Jesus and not a pretender or an unthinking captive to cultural Christianity.” He says the beauty of living the Jesus way is summed up by living his simple lifestyle: love Jesus, love the world the way Jesus loves it, and to love others who love Jesus.
Worship—Love Jesus.
Mission—Love the world.
Community—Love one another.
While we may be continually challenged to forsake the comfort zones of religion, the Jesus-following life is inherently authentic, God-connected, and impactful in God’s infectious-yeast sort of way.
