"For my yoke is hard and my burden is heavy."

I hope you can recognize the problem with the quote above. The problem is not that it is an inaccurate quote of the Bible; the problem is that it is a doctrine that many churches ascribe to these days. The Gospel that is preached doesn't feel easy or light, it feels hard and heavy. Some of the finest Christian institutions claim that to fully understand what Jesus meant you have to read commentaries and do other people's Bible studies. If you ask for my opinion, I would tell you it's a scheme for money. Jesus's words give us a much different view of his message. From his own mouth, he called it easy and light (see Matthew 11:30). So then why do we get caught up in the web of duties required for being a Christian? The culture of the church and churchgoers creates this false and dangerous message.

John, are you saying commentaries are bad?

Let me be clear: commentaries are a fantastic tool to use when studying Scripture. The issue is the environment of fear that people create by the use of large, spiritual words like transfiguration, predestination, evangelistic approach, propitiation and many others. When Christians include these very difficult to understand topics and force people to decide on where they stand on an issue, they alienate the outside world. Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners," (Mark 2:17). When I got an MRI on my knee and the doctor had to tell me the results, he didn't give me the large medical terms for everything that was happening, which was a lot. He said I had some tears, some inflammation, and a bone bruise. He did this so that I, the sick, could easily understand what's happening in my ailed body. So if Jesus compares himself to a doctor who comes for the sick, why would he make his message difficult and in need of deep theological explanation? Jesus's message is simple and universal because everyone on every spiritual level needs to understand it. Jesus's teachings aren't meant for a few intellectuals who can understand it, write it down, and sell it to us less-thans. My goodness, look at the church before the Enlightenment.

Okay, but what about Bible studies? You said I shouldn't do other people's.

That is not what I said. I said that some people will tell you to purchase fancy Bible study books that walk you through a certain study, which is true. What I'm saying is that you have to be confident when approaching your study and relationship with God. Hebrews says for believers to "approach God's throne of grace with confidence," (Hebrews 4:16). If you're too scared to begin your own Bible study and read your own way, then maybe you're too scared to have a real relationship with God. I have done many great pre-planned Bible studies. My two personal favorites are The Purple Book by Rice Brooks and Steve Murrell and My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Both of these Bible studies require deep engagement with the Scripture and guide you along in your study. I think Bible studies are a great tool to use when studying Scripture. But Jesus is a friend and God is our Father. I don't believe that you would read a biography about your father written by one of his friends in order to get an idea of what he's like. You would read his autobiography. Give God the same courtesy. He is waiting to engage you personally. The important thing to remember is that reliance on other people's ideas will always leave you with other people's faiths.

I don't understand the importance of Jesus's yoke being easy and his burden light. Why make that distinction?

There is a trend moving across America's Christian foundations that people need to be led by the hand through their faith. On top of that, the belief is that the ones doing the leading are somehow better and stronger Christians who will get a greater reward in heaven (this is the Wealth and Prosperity Gospel that does more harm than any athiest arguer could ever do to Christianity). The fact stands that Jesus's audience is everyone regardless of mental capabilities. I deeply respect the faith of people like John Piper, David Platt, David Nasser, and the likes. Countless men and women continue to lead more and more people to Christ's redeeming love. I have read many of their books and done many of their studies and enjoyed them all. But these leaders cannot be the root by which we are attached to God's tree. Christians have to engage directly with God's word and create their own relationship with him in order to then turn around lead others to his love.

Note that I used the word "tool" a lot. These are tools that one can use to strengthen their relationship with God. They cannot be the foundations of our relationship with God.

Remember:

"For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Jesus