Jesus Is Such A Burden!

“How can you live so freely and happily in Christ?!” she said, “for us, Jesus is such a burden!”

Strange Assimilation

In this Asian country, Jesus often becomes a new burden once becoming a Christian. This is strange because Jesus came to relieve our personal burden of sin and free us from the burdens of religious legalism and self-righteousness.

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Asking more questions about this situation exposed the sad reality that for many new Christians their lives are made harder by entering upon the Christian life and leaving their old life. They are free from their sin, and talk joyfully about it, yes, but their hearts are heavy when discussing the expectations of conformity to their new religious communities.

This is nothing new, of course. We often see human reasoning about spirituality elevated above the true spirituality clearly explained in the Scriptures. It happens in many cultures, probably every culture. Certainly we see it in America as well.

Christian leaders and others attempt to create a super spirituality that has the appearance of wisdom. And yet they don’t see that they are making themselves and their systems out to be better than God’s own design.

Colossians 2:20–23 ESV “If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”

Strange Options

The expectations for ministry and life were oppressive, as was the almost daily scrutiny of their life by others. People pile up guilt and shame upon themselves and upon one another, leaving no real room for relief. It seems to some that their only options are to switch churches every few years when it gets to be too much, or to drop Christianity entirely as a failed experiment.

This makes for a hard life. This is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness of freedom, nor in its power for growing holiness and deepening joy.

Romans 8:1–4,15 ESV “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. . . . For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!””

We explained many Scriptures more accurately. We explored some of the specific extra-biblical requirements imposed upon believers, their origin and appeal, and how they fit within their own cultural context. We learned a lot together from one another.

We sympathized with the oppression. We encouraged people toward perseverance under it with prayer and a deeper joy in Christ. We helped chart a path forward not only for the individuals, but for long term spiritual health of specific churches and the wider Christian community there.

The most important conversations were those in which we talked about the Holy Spirit giving wisdom to fulfill Christ’s principles and commands, and how that might look different in each situation and with each person.

We all should long for Christians to experience the abundant life in Christ that Jesus bought for us and promises us by the power of the Holy Spirit!

John 10:10 ESV “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” 

Galatians 2:16–3:3 ESV “. . . we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. . . . O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”

May we all live life to its fullest to the glory of God and assist our brothers and sisters in Christ who live under legalism and fear.