January 21, 2026: What do you think is the hardest part of being a Christian?
I have two responses to the question of what the hardest thing is about being a Christian: a theological response and a more practical response.
From a theological standpoint, the hardest part about being a Christian is clearly living up to the example that Christ set, and the example he wants us to set for others. The tenets of Christianity are well known and oft repeated, but there are precious few people who can actually live up to turning the other cheek, extending mercy and radical forgiveness, and loving one's enemies. Most of us struggle with even the simple edicts of the religion, like setting aside ourselves and following Jesus with all our hearts.
The core theology of Christianity is incredibly countercultural, and nearly impossible to achieve even under ideal circumstances, to say nothing of the broken, sinful world we actually live in. It's quite literally impossible to live a sinless life like Jesus did, but the pursuit of and striving for that unattainable objective is the central thesis of the religion. So to the question of what the hardest part of the Christian religion is, it's ... *gestures at all of it*
From a practical standpoint, I think the hardest part about being a Christian in today's context - at least from my perspective as a nondenominational Christian in the Western world - is seeing others misrepresent Christianity to others, and seeing the damage it causes. Christianity has been co-opted by special interests who would use it as a justification (or excuse) for their own ends, and I include a lot of church organizations themselves in that accusation. Evangelical Christianity has become a political project for some, and a means of achieving wealth and status for others. And I've seen firsthand the kind of damage that has been done to people, especially the marginalized and downtrodden - you know, the type of people that Jesus was kind of famous for actually helping - in His name.
Whenever I see Christians identifying with the conservative right of the political spectrum, or the anti-LGBTQ+ movement, or even taking advantage of their tax exempt status for the purposes of financially benefiting their clergy, it makes me sad because I just know that it's reinforcing the worst stereotypes about Christians being insular hypocrites who want to behave badly while telling everyone else how to live their lives. And it worries me because it furthers the narrative that Christians are just like everyone else: seeking influence and wealth, and defining their success by how much power they can wield against their perceived enemies.
Christianity has always functioned most effectively when it's the underdog. When it's the response to a terrible status quo and offers a different, better way to live. Once Christianity becomes the default, once it becomes the status quo, it starts exerting power like the status quo and trying to protect that power. When you look at it like that, maybe I'm wrong about the practical response to this question. From a practical standpoint, maybe the hardest thing about being a Christian is continuing to live out the tenets of your Christian faith once you've attained the influence and power that you've been seeking.
