--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Christianity is not about good people…" description: "\"Christianity is not about good people getting better. If anything, it is good news for bad people coping with their failure to be good. The heart of th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/tullian-tchividjian-1105_advice_christianity-is-not-about-good-people-ge_710295.png" --- # Christianity is not about good people getting better. If… ![“Christianity is not about good people getting better. If anything, it is good news for bad people coping with their failure to be good. The heart of the Christian faith is Good News, not good advice, good technique, or good behavior. Too many people have walked away from the church, not because…” quote by Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/tullian-tchividjian-1105_advice_christianity-is-not-about-good-people-ge_710295.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/tullian-tchividjian-1105_advice_christianity-is-not-about-good-people-ge_710295.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/tullian-tchividjian-1105_advice_christianity-is-not-about-good-people-ge_710295.png) > “Christianity is not about good people getting better. If anything, it is good news for bad people coping with their failure to be good. The heart of the Christian faith is Good News, not good advice, good technique, or good behavior. Too many people have walked away from the church, not because they’re walking away from Jesus, but because the church has walked away from Jesus.” [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. The core of Christianity is the message of salvation, not moral improvement; churches often alienate people by abandoning that message. **In simple terms:** Christianity focuses on salvation, not moral perfection. Key Takeaway Prioritize the gospel message over moralism. Themes faith church salvation morality disillusionment Mood critical hopeful Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - church leadership - personal faith crises - outreach - counseling Key Concepts theology ecclesiology spiritual authenticity Questions to Reflect On - Why do churches drift from their foundational message? - How can believers keep focus on the Good News? A Different Perspective Churches may neglect the core message, causing loss of believers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Bad people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-people/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-faith/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Coping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coping/) [Getting better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-better/) [Good advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-advice/) [Good behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-behavior/) [Good heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-heart/) [Good news](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-news/) [Good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique/) [Walking away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking-away/) ## Related quotes > [The heart of the Christian faith is Good News, not good advice, good technique, or good behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-heart-of-the-christian-faith-is-good-news-not-good-advice-good/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [The Christian faith is a singing faith, and a good way to express it and share it with others is in community singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-barrows/the-christian-faith-is-a-singing-faith-and-a-good-way-to-express-it/) [Cliff Barrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-barrows/) > [Believe it or not, Christianity is not about good people getting better. If anything, it is good news for bad people coping with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/believe-it-or-not-christianity-is-not-about-good-people-getting/) [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/) > [“As I understand it, into the heart of every Christian, Christ comes, and Christ goes. When, by his Grace, the landscape of the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/as-i-understand-it-into-the-heart-of-every-christian-christ-comes-and/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [The heart of a Christian, like the moon, commonly suffers an eclipse when it is at the full, and that by the interposition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/the-heart-of-a-christian-like-the-moon-commonly-suffers-an-eclipse/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [At the heart of the Christian message is God Himself waiting for His redeemed children to push in to conscious awareness of His Presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/at-the-heart-of-the-christian-message-is-god-himself-waiting-for-his/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“It all boils down to a principle at the heart of Christian character: we have to care more about pleasing God than we care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-harris/it-all-boils-down-to-a-principle-at-the-heart-of-christian-character/) [Alex Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-harris/) > [If the Christian does not know when God is speaking, he is in trouble at the heart of his Christian life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-blackaby/if-the-christian-does-not-know-when-god-is-speaking-he-is-in-trouble/) [Henry Blackaby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-blackaby/) > [Who knows the heart of the Christian? How does he reason? What are his measures and balances? Which is his season For laughter, forbearance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/who-knows-the-heart-of-the-christian-how-does-he-reason-what-are-his/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“…The heart of the matter, the heart of the Christian message, is constituted by a fearful question and a merciful answer: What must I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-webster/the-heart-of-the-matter-the-heart-of-the-christian-message-is/) [John Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-webster/) > [Suffering is actually at the heart of the Christian story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/suffering-is-actually-at-the-heart-of-the-christian-story/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“The heart of a Christian, who believes and feels, cannot pass the hardships and deprivations of the poor without helping them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-guanella/the-heart-of-a-christian-who-believes-and-feels-cannot-pass-the/) Louis Guanella > [“t the heart of Christian ethics is the conviction that our firm basis for knowing the true, the good, and the right is divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/t-the-heart-of-christian-ethics-is-the-conviction-that-our-firm-basis/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) ## 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 Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) Mak\_786 > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Christianity is not about good people getting better. If anything, it is good news for bad people coping with their failure to be good. The heart of the Christian faith is Good News, not good advice, good technique, or good behavior. 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