It’s easier to put forth a mission statement to “Make Christ-like Disciples in the nations” than it is to make a Christ-like disciple in one’s hometown.

It’s easier to blame the plethora of factors that have contributed to the decline in the church than it is to except responsibility for one’s own lack of effort or involvement in disciple making. 

It’s easier to say, “All of Scripture is God-breathed” than it is to follow one verse such as, “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself” (Leviticus 19:34).

It’s easier to think “Love your enemies” only applies to a superficial, ambiguous “enemy” in the great big world and not to one’s rival at work or school or church.

It’s easier to show a poster on social media stating that a denomination, like Jesus, stands with the outcast, than it is to engage the messy, complicated, long-hours-of-conversation with a trouble person struggling with identity, belonging, faith and life.

It’s easier to read “Love your neighbor” than it is to know the names of those people who live in one’s neighborhood. 

It’s easier to eat at Ruth’s Chris Steak House than it is to feed the hungry.

It’s easier to drink Fiji Natural Artesian Water ($3+ per bottle) than it is to build a well in Africa for those without access to clean drinking water.

It’s easier to live behind double locked doors, than to invite the stranger in.

It’s easier to buy another item for an overstuffed closet than it is to clothe the naked.

It’s easier to talk about being tough on crime, than it is to visit a prisoner.

It’s easier to place the elderly and infirmed into a facility and quickly ignore them, then it is to visit and care for them. 

It’s easier to rationalize Jesus warning in Matthew 25 than to heed His words: For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’(Matthew 25:42-43). 

It’s easy to choose the wide, crowded road than the narrow, lonely path.

It’s easier. Not better. Not faithful. Just easier.  

(FYI…it doesn’t end well for “easy.” See Matthew 7:13-14)