The Lie of Comfortable Christianity: Why Your Faith Was Never Meant to Be Easy

In a culture that equates “blessed” with comfortable living, it’s easy to assume that a life of faith should come without hardship. But what if that very mindset is what’s weakening our faith?

In a recent episode of the March or Die podcast, Jeremy Stalnecker and Sean Kennard took aim at a subtle but dangerous distortion in the Western Church: the myth of Comfortable Christianity. This idea, often unspoken but widely assumed, suggests that following Jesus should make life easier, not harder. And yet, the Bible and the lives of Christ’s earliest followers tell a very different story.

The Cost of Following Christ

“Jesus didn’t die to make us comfortable. He died to make us free.”
This statement from Sean Kennard hits at the heart of the issue. Comfort has become the idol of modern faith, but Scripture calls us to conviction. Luke 9:23 reminds us that discipleship involves daily self-denial and cross-bearing. The early church understood that they were born in persecution, not prosperity.

We in the West have the luxury of religious freedom, but that very freedom has dulled our spiritual edge. As Jeremy explains, “When there’s no cost in the pursuit, we start to look at Christianity in terms of what it can do for us.” The result is a version of Christianity that chases blessing but avoids obedience.

When Faith Meets Friction

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why life seems hard even when you’re doing all the “right” things like going to church, reading your Bible, trying to live right, then this episode offers a crucial perspective: difficulty doesn’t mean you’re failing. It often means you’re right where God wants you.

Scripture doesn’t shy away from this. 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” The Christian life was never promised to be easy, it was promised to be victorious.

And that victory doesn’t always look like success in worldly terms. It looks like peace in suffering, joy in trials, and hope in the face of loss. “If your entire hope is wrapped up in money, attention, possessions, or position,” Jeremy warns, “then what a miserable life.”

Faith That Marches On

The antidote to weak, comfortable Christianity is a faith that is prepared for the storm—not surprised by it. “Comfortable Christianity creates weak men,” Sean says. “And a comfortable lifestyle is an unprepared lifestyle.”

At Mighty Oaks, we often talk about the mindset of a warrior, being prepared, being trained, and being willing to endure hardship with purpose. This applies not just on the battlefield but in the spiritual realm as well. A strong faith doesn’t crumble under pressure. It marches forward, anchored in eternal hope.

As Sean shared, “My life as a Christian hasn’t been easy. But it’s been blessed, not because of comfort, but because of closeness with Christ.”

Final Thoughts: Redefining Blessing

Being blessed isn’t about material comfort, it’s about relationship with God. That’s the kind of blessing no hardship can take away.

So if you’re walking through a hard season, don’t assume you’re doing something wrong. You might just be doing something right. And you’re not alone.

Watch the full episode of March or Die: The Myth of Comfortable Christianity
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