How did Jesus’ mission of lifting the yoke of the poor become such a burden that people are now fleeing the church?

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30.

How did Jesus’ invitation for us to come unto him and find rest, lead to the works and training oriented environment that we see in churches today? In many churches, people are so busy working or taking courses that they don’t have time to pray. They don’t have time for private Bible Study. They don’t have time to commune with The Lord. The result is some of the nasty attitudes that church people have become known for. If you ask most millenials who don’t go to church, why, they will tell you that church people are hateful and judgemental people! That may partly be due to their never finding the rest that Jesus spoke of.

Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. Luke 11:46.

Here, Jesus is not speaking of attorneys, but those religious leaders whose job it was to interpret the church regulations to the people. They had created their own laws apart from God, and were imposing them upon the people to fulfill their own ungodly agenda. This created a burden upon the people, and they began to cry out to God for relief. Today, the piling on that Jesus hated so vehemently has resumed in many cases. On Sunday morning people line the pews with notebooks ready to take down the next three to seven requirements that will be imposed upon them by their local religious leadership.

Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. Luke 12:42-46.

Here Jesus is speaking of Pastors, who God has appointed over the household of God. The meat Jesus refers to is the Word of God. Jesus says that Pastors who are faithful in their pastoral duties will be rewarded upon His return. But those Pastors that mistreat their congregations, and live gluttonous lifestyles, will be killed and cast into Hell. Note that Jesus does not say that they will be killed upon his eventual return, rather, He implies that He will return at an unexpected time for the specific purpose of executing judgement upon that abusive Pastor.