Now, for something completely different...

Salvation is hard.

At least, that seems to be the message we're putting out as the Church. "To be saved, you need to pray this prayer...you need to agree with this statement to be a part of us...you have to view this sacrament this way." Really that's not what we say explicitly, but look at how we allow people to join our church. They often must be "re-baptised" if the baptism they had doesn't match our view of it. There is a formulaic prayer we must go through- and we worry that if we leave out part of it, then it won't work. I know of a seminary that won't give you a diploma unless you sign something to state you are a dispensationalist- which is not explicitly a Biblical concept.

It all adds up to salvation being really difficult to achieve in the eyes of much of the modern church. And why? I believe it is because we have attempted to condense discipleship into salvation, to save time. Salvation is about recognizing Jesus as Savior, discipleship is about recognizing Jesus as Lord, so they are tied together. But Biblically speaking- salvation is a simple matter, a request from a dying theif on a cross for Jesus to remember him is met with salvation. Discipleship requires blood, sweat and tears as we grow, mature and, yes, evolve in Christ.

Salvation is easy- it is Lordship that will kill you.