In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis describes Christianity as something not so much taught as caught, like a good infection:
There are lots of things which your conscience might not call definitely wrong (especially things in your mind) but which you will see at once you cannot go on doing if you are seriously trying to be like Christ. For you are no longer thinking simply about right and wrong; you are trying to catch the good infection from a Person.
He then uses an even more striking analogy, which describes the disciples life as a work of art:
It is more like painting a portrait than like obeying a set of rules. And the odd thing is that while in one way it is much harder than keeping rules, in another way it is far easier.
This challenges the prevailing notion of Christianity, to put it mildly. Creating art requires spontaneity, sensitivity, effort and risk. If its done by rote, it isnt art! Further, the goal is always to create something individual and unique. Could that really be Gods intention for us?
Such a notion stands in marked contrast to the rigid approach to faith many of us adopt. Within each of us is a little rule-keeper who delights in codifying every aspect of life. When we adhere to the standards this little tyrant has erected, we feel good about ourselves. He then allows us to judge others, which also makes us feel good.
Imagine this little person approaching a real work of art, like Leonardo's Mona Lisa. He finds its beauty troubling. But he's more troubled by its very uniqueness. There's that annoying smile, so enigmatic, so imprecise. Suddenly, he whips out a Magic Marker. Voila! He's corrected this impudent eruption of creativity once and for all. There, over the uncertain arc of Mona Lisa's mouth is — a straight line.
We do something like this when we try to impose rules on every aspect of life.