Many people approach Christianity with the idea that it is meant to be difficult. They picture endless lists of rules to follow, sacrifices to make, and standards that can never be reached. Faith, in this view, becomes a heavy burden, a constant reminder of what we are not.
But when we look at the words of Jesus, we see something very different. He said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” That statement stands in stark contrast to the way many people experience religion today. Instead of feeling light, it often feels crushing. Instead of freedom, it feels like slavery. So why the difference?
The answer lies in the difference between religion and relationship. Religion often focuses on outward performance—checking the right boxes, saying the right words, keeping up appearances. Relationship with God, however, is built on love and grace. It is not about earning His approval but resting in the fact that His love has already been given.
When faith is powered by our own effort, it will always feel hard. But when it is fueled by the Spirit, it becomes life-giving. Following Christ does not mean we will never face challenges, but it does mean that those challenges are carried with His strength rather than our own. The “easy yoke” Jesus promised is not about a life without trials, but about a life where His presence makes the trials bearable.
This is the truth Richard Bolen brings to light in his book. In Christianity is Easy Compared to the Alternative he shows how much of modern Christianity has drifted into performance-based living, and how desperately we need to return to the heart of the Gospel. His message is simple but powerful: Christianity was never meant to be hard, because it was never meant to be lived without God’s Spirit guiding and empowering us.
If you have ever felt that faith was too demanding, or that you could never be “good enough,” take heart. You were not designed to carry that weight. You were designed to walk in step with Christ, where His love lightens every burden.
Richard Bolen’s book, Christianity is Easy Compared to the Alternative will help you rediscover the joy of faith that is not heavy, but freeing. It is time to trade exhaustion for peace, and performance for grace.