An End In Itself

 More from Tullian Tchvidjian, Glorious Ruin: How Suffering Sets You Free:

"Contrary to popular belief,Christianity is not about good people getting better. If anything, it is about bad people coping with their failure to be good....The gospel is a proclamation that always addresses sinners and sufferers directly (i.e., you and me)" (Page 78)

"Think about it: How often have you heard the gospel equated with a positive change in a believer's life? 'I used to __________, but then I met Jesus and now I'm __________.' It may be unintentional, but we make a serious mistake when we reduce the good news to its results, such as patience, sobriety, and compassion, in the lives of those who have heard it. These are beautiful developments, and they should be celebrated. But they should not be confused with the gospel itself. The gospel is not a means to an end, it is an end in itself." (page 79)