Following the teachings of Jesus is really simple. He said so Himself. "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light". When people complicate it, they likely do a disservice to themselves, and others. Believers are often content to 'believe' something rather than 'do' something. The real core is in the application. They too often define themselves by 'telling' others what they are 'against', rather than by 'showing' others what they are 'for'. There are certainly many bad seasons in The Church's history. And it's influence, collectively, in the world today is pretty weak, especially when you consider that over 2 BILLION people profess to be Christians. But just because it 'has' been that way in the past, and because it 'is' that wy presently...doesn't mean that it has to stay that way. Many things that people resist about The Church, and Christians themselves...are things that The Church, and Christians, ought to get rid of...*if* loving God, and demonstrating their love for God by how they treat others, is *really* at the center of their professed faith.
