The earliest Christians were known as those who belonged to the Way (Acts 9:2). Christianity is more than doctrine (though it is doctrine!) it is more than a worldview (though it offers a worldview!). In other words, Christianity is more than a way of thinking it is a way of living.
One of the reasons John Bunyan's classic, The Pilgrim's Progress, has been so successful is because Bunyan described the Christian life as a journey, a "Way." One day while Christian (the main character of The Pilgrim's Progress) was on the Way, he came across a man named Ignorant. Ignorant wanted to go to heaven, but he had no desire to follow the Way. He thought he could get there according to his way: "I know my Lord's will, and have been a good liver, I pay every man his own; I pray, fast, pay tithes, and give alms, and have left my country for whither I am going." Like so many of us, Ignorant hung his hat of satisfaction on pegs of self-righteousness. That is not the Way.
So Christian exhorted Ignorant to enter through the wicket gate--the narrow gate. Christian wanted Ignorant to understand that the entrance to heaven is found only by going through the gate, Christ. Ignorant would have none of it:
Gentlemen, ye be utter strangers to me: I know you not: be content to follow the religion of your country, and I will follow the religion of mine. I hope all will be well. And, as for the gate that you talk of, all the world knows that that is a great way off of our country. I cannot think that any man in all our parts doth so much as know the way to it; nor need they matter whether they do or no, since we have, as you see, a fine, pleasant, green lane, that comes down from our country, the next way into the way.
Of course, the danger that faced Ignorant is our danger. We all want the "fine, pleasant, green lane" upon which we can walk to heaven. On this lane we face no hostility because we never share our faith. On this lane we never lose our possessions because we never give them away. On this lane we never face temptation because we always give in to sin. On this lane we never know a righteousness that is from God because we are always seeking after our own righteousness. This is a lane that seems pleasing to the eye but it leads to hell.
The Way of Christ, on the other hand, is a difficult road. There are trials on the left and on the right. There is discouragement that is deep and strong. And yet, the lane that has been paved by Christ is for our good and even for our joy. I'd rather walk on a lane littered with nails and follow Christ than walk on a lane lined with flowers and follow only myself.