When it comes to serving and participating in the body of Christ, I believe the bar needs to be set high. It is not something to be taken lightly. Following Jesus is not an easy venture; it never has been.

Consider these words from Jesus:

Luke 9:57-62 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
(58) Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
(59) He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
(60) Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
(61) Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”
(62) Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 10:37-39 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (38) Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (39) Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

Luke 14:25-27 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: (26) “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. (27) And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

Matthew 16:24-26 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (25) For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. (26) What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”

Jesus set the bar extremely high, and if I try to lower it to make people happy, then I am not representing his will for us. So, I continue to push people to make Jesus the center of their lives and nothing less.