The great heresy in American popular religion is the notion that “religion is a private affair,” a secret contract between the believer and God. This individualistic heresy makes Jesus into a close, personal friend who listens, comforts, sustains, confirms, agrees, and almost never offends, prods, criticizes, or judges.
Jesus is a friend, the friend whom most of us need—the friend who challenges us; pushes us; calls us into life, into the needs of others, and out of ourselves.