You don’t have to be weird to follow Jesus. You don’t have to stop liking your friends to follow him – just the opposite!
Sometime ago I was part of a foursome for golf that included two preachers, a church leader, and a guy who wasn’t a Christ follower. The thought of four hours with all of us didn’t appeal to him. His best friend, a Christ follower—and his boss—insisted, so he agreed. I’m happy to report that on the ninth hole he said, “I’m so glad you guys are normal.” I think he meant this: “I’m glad you didn’t get in my face or club me with a King James driver. Thanks for laughing at my jokes and telling a few yourself.”
We didn’t lower standards, but neither did we saddle a high horse. Discipleship is sometimes defined by being normal.