harder to believe than not to

I want to draw your attention to an interchange between Jesus and his follower and friend, Peter. In John 6 Jesus teaches some difficult things, including the necessity of eating his flesh and drinking his blood. Some in the crowd say, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Then we read, “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”

Jesus said many hard things. Some are difficult concepts to grasp. Take these for example:
-If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters–yes, even his own life–he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26)
-Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34)

Other sayings are hard not because we don’t understand, but because we do, and the demands they place on us seem too great. Take for instance the following:
-Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… (Matthew 5:43)
-If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. (Matthew 16:24-25)

There are many people who believe Christianity is for the weak-minded or those needing an emotional crutch. What they don’t understand is those who bear the name Christian in its truest sense are people who have made a costly choice. American novelist, Flannery O’Connor, wrote, “What people don’t realize is how much religion costs. They think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is the cross. It is much harder to believe than not to believe.”

I wonder if sometimes we as Christians forget that. Do we think faith is that “big electric blanket,” that our lives should be blessed (and by blessed we mean “comfortable” and “easy”)? Do we think our trains should always be on time, our cars should never break down, we should never need major dental work, and our friends should always respond positively to the Gospel of Christ. And are we disappointed with God when life is not like that?

Sometimes the Christian life feels great and everything seems to be in order. But I hope that when life is confusing or we have doubts we can respond like Peter did in John 6. After many of Jesus’ followers left he turned to his chosen twelve and asked if they, too, were going to leave. Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” I pray that no matter what happens in life that confuses or disappoints you will always remember that whatever God is working on, it’s ultimately for your good. And that no other way of living is so true and satisfying as life with Christ.