All religions, including secularism and humanism, have one thing in common - rules!  Religion implicitly says, 'obey the rules, or at least try hard, and you will be acceptable' (Colossians 2:20-23).  Yet, as human beings, we are incapable of following all the rules all the time ... we cannot even keep our own good resolutions.  That is why a relationship with God through Jesus Christ is so different.  We are not accepted on the basis of what we do, but on what Christ has done for us (Ephesians 2:8-9).  We can never do enough good things to outweigh our sins, but Jesus Christ (through His death) has taken away our shameful record of bad behaviour.

So, the Kingdom of God is not about observing particular dietary habits or any other rules, but about learning to live a new life, loved by Father God, redeemed by the precious blood of Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit - full of joy and peace.  As we do so, many people will appreciate the positive change in the way we behave - released from the gloom of dull duty into a dynamic relationship with God (Matthew 5:16).  

Followers of Jesus are expected to be full of the Holy Spirit.  That is 'normal living' in the Kingdom of God.  Yet so often we are worried and obsessed by trying to be perfect (Luke 11:42-43).  Instead of enjoying our relationship with God, we become peculiarly self-centred and religiously obsessive.  Where has our joy and freedom gone?  It has disappeared because we are trying to please God by our own efforts rather than relying on His grace.

The Christian who is content to live by rules of life rather than in dynamic relationship with the Lord, is missing the purpose of being in Christ’s kingdom – relating with Him daily, being willing to be instructed from the Word, and energised in truth and action by the Holy Spirit.  If that is a temptation for you, then recognise how Satan is wishing to rob you of your joy and increase your anxiety.  Repent, and ask the Lord to fill you again with Himself.  Then learn to work with Him so that He takes the weight of the responsibility and receives the glory (Matthew 11:28-30).