In truth, Christianity has no parallel with any belief system or religion. Christianity is not a religion, but a way of life. If we confess to being Christians, it means we admit to believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. And as the letter of John says, we are obliged to live as He lived. Christianity is the struggle to live out the life that the Lord Jesus lived 2,000 years ago in our lives today, which is the hardest part. We cannot truly be called Christians if we do not live out the life that Jesus lived 2,000 years ago in ourselves.
This is what makes the life of a Christian appear “unusual” in the eyes of the world. “Unusual” here does not mean strange, for outwardly we look the same. But our way of thinking, the direction of our lives, and our focus are different. The more we understand the Gospel, the more we realize how many mistakes exist in our lives. The mistakes referred to are not violations of common morality. Of course, we must not break moral law. Morally, we must live rightly: be honest, do not kill, remain faithful to our spouse, do not commit adultery, and honor our parents. If even this general moral standard is not fulfilled, that is a “dead card.” We should not speak of Christianity; such a person is not even worthy of being called religious.
So, the mistakes we become aware of are not violations of general morality, but rather ways of thinking and lifestyles that are not yet aligned with God’s will. And how difficult it is to change, because these have become so ingrained in our lives. Therefore, we must be obsessed, not with living as ordinary people do, but with living the life of Jesus within us.
Generally, people live “ordinary” lives: going to school, studying, working, doing business, marrying, raising children, finding child in-laws, enjoying grandchildren, and so on, as if this is the very essence of life to be lived and enjoyed to the fullest. Religion even legitimizes this ordinariness, adding promises of God’s blessings. Ordinary life is then adorned: wealth increases, pleasures expand, travels broaden, and branded goods are collected. There is nothing wrong with owning branded goods. But if they become the source of our joy and the measure of our worth, then we are not children of God. Such a life is locked into ordinariness. The hidden enemy of Christian life is precisely living in this kind of normalcy.
It is no wonder that many preachers begin lifting the life of the nation of Israel as if it could serve as the standard for Christians. The way God provided for Israel physically is often regarded as the model for how He provides for Christians. The miracle of the Red Sea, the fall of Jericho’s walls, and manna from heaven—all are lined up with the miracles of Jesus, leading to the conclusion that Christians should enjoy the same physical blessings. But Christianity is not like that. Even if God performs miracles, that is not the goal. A miracle is a semeion—a sign pointing us toward where God wants to lead us: into the very life of Jesus Himself.
Ironically, much of today’s church—particularly charismatic churches—teaches as if Christians are like Israel entering Canaan, circling neighboring lands to claim them. The Prayer of Jabez, which actually does not apply to Christians, is used as a prayer model. Yet what should be taught is the Lord’s Prayer—the prayer directly taught by Jesus Himself. The wealth of nations promised to Israel is forced onto Christians as if it were for them. All this is a distortion that traps Christians, leaving them stagnant, stuck in the mindset of normal worldly living.