Jesus wanted us to emulate his example of living, Jesus invited us into following is example of surrendering to the Spirit of God. Jesus serves as an icon of how one can be in the world by using his example to inspire one’s life. Worshiping Jesus only becomes problematic when we reduce his example to a set of beliefs or someone to hold up as an unattainable goal. This is how you strip the gospel of its power. The power in Jesus as example, teacher, and icon is when we actually try to live the way he lived. It’s a trap to get stuck in, the trap of right belief. The power is in how his example inspires us to live now. The invitation is to live like Jesus, that’s the power of the Christian life. The trap that is religion is when we get stuck in belief as a means unto itself.–