Christianity is a lifestyle - a way of being in the world that is simple, non-violent, shared, and loving. However, we made it into an established "religion" (and all that goes with that) and avoided the lifestyle change itself. One could be warlike, greedy, racist, selfish, and vain in most of Christian history, and still believe that Jesus is one's "personal Lord and Savior" . . . The world has no time for such silliness anymore. The suffering on Earth is too great.
Richard Rohrevery time God forgives us, God is saying that God's own rules do not matter as much as the relationship that God wants to create with us.
Richard RohrWe all remain who we are. But on the way to healing or liberation we have to do what the Romans called agere contra: we have to act against the grain of our natural compulsions. This requires clear decisions. Because it does not happen by itself, it is in a way "unnatural" or "supernatural" . . . (we) simply have to cut loose now and then, and in the process . . . make mistakes.
Richard RohrAll great spirituality teaches about letting go of what you donโt need and who you are not. Then, when you can get little enough and naked enough and poor enough, youโll find that the little place where you really are is ironically more than enough and is all that you need. At that place, you will have nothing to prove to anybody and nothing to protect. That place is called freedom. Itโs the freedom of the children of God. Such people can connect with everybody. They donโt feel the need to eliminate anybody . . .
Richard Rohr