In a church culture that embraces words like comfort, convenience, and casual there is the contrast with Jesus' words from Mark 8:34. There is nothing comfortable or convenient about denying self, taking up the cross, and following Jesus. Deitrick Bonhoeffer once wrote, "When Christ calls a person, He bids them to come and die." What was casual about the disciples following Jesus to martyrdom? Nor is that comfortable or convenient.
Christianity keeps getting watered down more and more. Grace keeps getting magnified as justification for compromised behavior. You would be surprised at the number of recent conversations I've had with preachers who like to smoke cigars and drink alcohol. They are unashamed in boasting about this fact. Christians compromise with long held convictions among Christians. They use grace as a license to sin because they promote their freedom in Christ. These same people talk little of holiness, repentance, revival, solemn assemblies, fasting, or importunate prayer.
Following Jesus is serious business for serious sober minded believers. I am not saying there is not joy. It is different joy than the mirth of those flirting with sin and often crossing the boundaries between cultural accepted norms and the cross centered life. Paul might have wrote with a joyful heart while in prison, but that joy was rooted in Christ not sin. I believe following Jesus requires all in commitment. It involves service. It might lead to sacrifice. It will involve surrender. In a time when more Christians are interested in what the least commitment levels are, I believe Jesus is calling us out of casual Christianity to full devoted discipleship.
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