Christianity is not a program for moral improvement.
When I visit with friends who are not Christians, I find that they often think of Christianity as a system for moral improvement. It should make you a better person. At least Christians should behave better than others, right? If it doesn't, then Christians are just hypocrites. That is -- if Christianity is about teaching people to act better.
So if the Christian religion isn't about making people better, what is it? Let's let the Bible itself tell us. The Holy Spirit gave John the Apostle these words to describe the purpose of his Gospel book and, by extension, of the whole Bible."Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:30–31 ESV).
The editors of the English Standard Version even add the paragraph title, "The Purpose of This Book." John admits that his telling of the story of Jesus' life, death and resurrection is not a detailed biography of everything Jesus ever did or said. The Christian faith IS about LIFE in Jesus name, new life now, renewed life every day, eternal life now and forever.
This is the Good News about Jesus. He gives eternal life. Its a gift, already paid for by His life, death, and resurrection. The new life and whatever moral improvement develops from it is all a gift because of what Jesus has already accomplished.
"He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised" (2 Cor 5:15 ESV).
