Jesus said to His would-be disciples, “Follow me”. It was an invitation to life. Not an easy life, for he described this life as one of taking up the cross daily, but the real kind of life. As our guide He beckons us to lay down the false self with all its constructs and live in His rhythms. This kind of life can be described as flowing from the heart; it is an inside-out approach to life.
So is there room for the language of should and must in this discipleship journey?
I personally think there is, though it’s not the preferred mode of discourse. The language primarily involves invitation, but if the invitation is shunned then the language changes.
The ideal is a changed heart, a heart that wants to. But what do we do if the want is not there? I’ve always been struck by Teresa of Avila’s prayer, ‘God I don’t love you, I don’t even want to love you but I want to want to love you.’
I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject …