Whose Performance Matters Most?

If you ask many Americans today, “What is Christianity about?” they might answer, “getting right with God.” By this, they often mean moral correction—thinking, saying, and doing the right things. For many, Christianity is primarily about morality and behavior.

While Christianity certainly involves morality, the idea that our moral transformation is the heart of the faith is a misunderstanding. Yes, Christians believe Jesus Christ is King and calls his people to obedience, but the essence of Christianity is not our moral performance. It’s about what God has done for us, not what we do for Him.

Many Christians unknowingly testify more about their behavior than God's grace. They emphasize how they were sinful, turned to Jesus, and now live better lives, subtly focusing on their actions rather than Christ's work. This shifts the spotlight from God’s grace to human effort, reducing the power of the gospel.

Two major errors arise from this view. First, it denies Christ’s sufficiency. If Christianity is just a second chance to do better, then Jesus didn’t fully accomplish salvation—He only made it possible. Second, it lowers God's holiness by making us think we can meet His standards through our own efforts.

This performance-driven mindset leads to pride when we think we’re doing well and despair when we fail. We either believe we’re morally superior to others, or we doubt our salvation altogether. In response, we might try harder, do penance, pretend to be better, or give up entirely. Many eventually “pass out,” worn down by the pressure to perform.

But Christianity is not just another works-based religion. It’s about what Christ has done, not what we must do. Our moral transformation and behavior flow from His grace, not as a means to earn His love. Christianity is about God doing for us what we could never do for ourselves—and that changes everything.