--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Believe it or not, Christianity is not…" description: "\"Believe it or not, Christianity is not about good people getting better. If anything, it is good news for bad people coping with their failure to be go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b59/tullian-tchividjian-1105_about_believe-it-or-not-christianity-is-not-ab_3114217.png" --- # Believe it or not, Christianity is not about good people… ![“Believe it or not, Christianity is not about good people getting better. If anything, it is good news for bad people coping with their failure to be good.” quote by Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b59/tullian-tchividjian-1105_about_believe-it-or-not-christianity-is-not-ab_3114217.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b59/tullian-tchividjian-1105_about_believe-it-or-not-christianity-is-not-ab_3114217.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b59/tullian-tchividjian-1105_about_believe-it-or-not-christianity-is-not-ab_3114217.png) > “Believe it or not, Christianity is not about good people getting better. If anything, it is good news for bad people coping with their failure to be good.” [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grace offers salvation to everyone, especially those who fail morally, emphasizing divine mercy over human merit. **In simple terms:** Grace helps even the flawed. Key Takeaway Embrace grace, not self‑judgment. Themes grace redemption humility Mood contemplative reverent Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - church counseling - personal crisis - ethical dilemmas - community support Key Concepts theology forgiveness human frailty Questions to Reflect On - How do you experience grace? - Can grace coexist with personal responsibility? A Different Perspective Grace may be misunderstood as license for bad behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-people/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Coping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coping/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Getting better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-better/) [Good news](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-news/) [Good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Christianity is not about good people getting better. If anything, it is good news for bad people coping with their failure to be good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/christianity-is-not-about-good-people-getting-better-if-anything-it/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Christianity is not about good people getting better. It is good news for bad people coping with their failure to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/christianity-is-not-about-good-people-getting-better-it-is-good-news/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [“Contrary to popular belief, Christianity is not about good people getting better. If anything, it is about bad people coping with their failure to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/contrary-to-popular-belief-christianity-is-not-about-good-people/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [To believe Christianity stands in opposition to slavery is at best to think anachronistically and at worst to not understand Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/to-believe-christianity-stands-in-opposition-to-slavery-is-at-best-to/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“I believe that Christianity in the United States has been dragging its feet, and I don't think there's any other force in America that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clayton-powell-jr-2/i-believe-that-christianity-in-the-united-states-has-been-dragging/) Adam Clayton Powell Jr > [If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God then you are a religious Christian. Myself and many more like me do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-behring-breivik/if-you-have-a-personal-relationship-with-jesus-christ-and-god-then/) Anders Behring Breivik > [“Everyone has the right to believe whatever he or she wants. Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Pagans, atheitsts, and every other religion. People can follow whichever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-monroe/everyone-has-the-right-to-believe-whatever-he-or-she-wants-christians/) [Michael Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-monroe/) > [I verily believe Christianity necessary to the support of civil society. One of the beautiful boasts of our municipal jurisprudence is that Christianity is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-story/i-verily-believe-christianity-necessary-to-the-support-of-civil/) [Joseph Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-story/) > [I have a great mind to believe in Christianity for the mere pleasure of fancying I may be damned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/i-have-a-great-mind-to-believe-in-christianity-for-the-mere-pleasure/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [“That is one of the reasons I believe Christianity. It is a religion you could not have guessed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/that-is-one-of-the-reasons-i-believe-christianity-it-is-a-religion/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [I believe in Christianity because the Scriptures said: "The things that have been done in the dark will be known on the house tops."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/i-believe-in-christianity-because-the-scriptures-said-the-things-that/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [I was born Jewish and so I remain, even if that's unacceptable for many. For me, the vocation of Israel is bringing light to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-born-jewish-and-so-i-remain-even-if-that-s-unacceptable-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe in Christianity, but I think Jesus was a wonderful teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-can-t-believe-in-christianity-but-i-think-jesus-was-a-wonderful/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [To be honest, I didn't want to believe that Christianity could radically transform someone's character and values. It was much easier to raise doubts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/to-be-honest-i-didn-t-want-to-believe-that-christianity-could/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [I believe in Christianity as I believe the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-in-christianity-as-i-believe-the-sun-has-risen-not-only/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Tullian Tchividjian > [Grace is upside-down, to-do-list wrecking, scandalous and way-too free. It's one-way love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/grace-is-upside-down-to-do-list-wrecking-scandalous-and-way-too-free/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [“There is but one good,” C. S. Lewis writes in The Great Divorce; “that is God. Everything else is good when it looks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/there-is-but-one-good-c-s-lewis-writes-in-the-great-divorce-that-is/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Once God saves us He doesn't move us beyond the gospel, but He moves us more deeply into the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/once-god-saves-us-he-doesn-t-move-us-beyond-the-gospel-but-he-moves/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [“An institution theoretically devoted to providing comfort to those in need (the church) is in trouble because it has embraced the same pressure cooker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/an-institution-theoretically-devoted-to-providing-comfort-to-those-in/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [A preacher who doesn't believe he's that bad will attract people who don't think they're that bad. And that's bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/a-preacher-who-doesn-t-believe-he-s-that-bad-will-attract-people-who/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Our assurance is anchored in the love and grace of God expressed in the glorious exchange: our sin for His righteousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/our-assurance-is-anchored-in-the-love-and-grace-of-god-expressed-in/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [I think for far too long the Church has concluded that Christians don't need the gospel, it's simple what non-Christian people need in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/i-think-for-far-too-long-the-church-has-concluded-that-christians-don/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [While our sin reaches far, God's grace reaches farther. God came after us not to strip away our freedom but to strip away our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/while-our-sin-reaches-far-god-s-grace-reaches-farther-god-came-after/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Jesus has done everything for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/jesus-has-done-everything-for-you/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [If you have suffered the loss of a family member to chronic disease, if you suffer debilitating seasons of depression, if you have lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/if-you-have-suffered-the-loss-of-a-family-member-to-chronic-disease/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Sanctification consists of the daily realization that in Christ we have died, and in Christ we have been raised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/sanctification-consists-of-the-daily-realization-that-in-christ-we/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [The ironic thing about legalism is that it not only doesn't make people work harder, it makes them give up. Moralism doesn't produce morality;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-ironic-thing-about-legalism-is-that-it-not-only-doesn-t-make/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [The good news of suffering is that it brings us to the end of ourselves - a purpose it has certainly served in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-good-news-of-suffering-is-that-it-brings-us-to-the-end-of/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [The Gospel is not ultimately a defense from pain, it is the message of God's rescue through pain. In fact, it allows us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-gospel-is-not-ultimately-a-defense-from-pain-it-is-the-message-of/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [God is inviting you today to appropriately grieve your pains and losses and to acknowledge the world is seriously broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/god-is-inviting-you-today-to-appropriately-grieve-your-pains-and/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) [Explore all 292 Tullian Tchividjian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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