Do You Find Being Christian A Burden?

 

Photo by: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Kafziel

I used to find being a Christian was a heavy burden. When I was first a Christian, I was afraid of God and his anger. I was raised in a strict, fundamental church. I thought I should strive to be perfect. Of course, I couldn’t become perfect so I was in despair.

I learned from a traveling preacher that this isn’t what God wants from us. No one is perfect but him. I learned that if we could become perfect, Jesus needn’t have died for us. He covers us with his perfection. This was a great relief to me, but sometimes when I sin I can still feel pretty discouraged. There are so many ways to goof up and choose wrong things.

I often remember Jesus said, “My burden is light.” And when asked what the most important commandment was he answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 In Micah 6:8 it says, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?  Micah 6:8  This is not a burden, it is a privilege.

 I’ve been listening to songs sung by Danny Gorky. He has such a strong, beautiful voice and the songs he sings are uplifting. One of them speaks to this subject. It is called, Love God Love People. I thought I’d print the lyrics here because I think they are true. I’ve shortened the length a bit.

Love God, Love People:

I've been running in circles
Jumping the hurdles
Getting caught in that rush of doing so much
I'm feeling kinda worn out.

 All this checking the boxes

Trying to be flawless
Has me spinning my head, catching my breath
Too afraid to slow down

 I tell myself to keep this up                                                                                           That God wants more than just my love                                                                         But I've been complicating things                                                                                     It's just like me to overthink

 Gotta keep it real simple, keep it real simple                                                                      Bring everything right back to ground zero                                                                'Cause it all comes down to this                                                                                       Love God and love people.

We're living in a world that keeps breakin'
But if we want to find a way to change it
It all comes down to this
Love God and love people

 Oh, this is freedom

The keys to the Kingdom
Knowing life will be found when love can be loud
'Cause love is what it's all about

 I tell myself to keep this up

That all God wants is just my love
No more complicating things
No more need to overthink

 Gotta keep it real simple, keep it real simple

Bring everything right back to ground zero
'Cause it all comes down to this
Love God and love people

We're living in a world that keeps breakin'
But if we want to find a way to change it
It all comes down to this
Love God and love people

 Love is patient, love is kind

Rescues hearts and changes lives
Love is all we need to make things right

Gotta keep it real simple, oh
It's really so simple,

Gotta keep it real simple, keep it real simple
Bring everything right back to ground zero
'Cause it all comes down to this
Love God and love people

 

We're living in a world that keeps breakin'

But if we want to find a way to change it

It all comes down to this

Love God and love people

 Songwriters: Ben Glover, Danny Gokey, Jeff Sojka, Colby Wedgeworth, Riley Clemmons. For non-commercial use only.