Here's a thought, "Don’t try to do better; just become the you that's you."

But isn’t the Christian life supposed to be about becoming a better Christian?
Reading the Bible more.
Praying more.
Not swearing.
No drinking.
Don't smoke.
Be nice.
Be good.
Be better.

Kind of like that classic Adam Ant song, "Goody Two Shoes?" Don't drink, don't smoke - What do you do? Sudden inuendo follows, must be something inside.

I don’t know about you, but that's not particularly inspiring to me.

It lack's that certain 'freedom' appeal.

Is life really supposed to be about doing the right things? Have we slipped so far as to think a God following lifestyle is all about being percieved as a better Christian?

I'm pretty sure God wants us to know that He never intended for our lives to be this dutiful pursuit of morality - paying pennance for all the world to see.

He designed us to live from our hearts and to follow after the desires He placed there. This ‘do everything the right way’ gospel seems to more accurately reflect the way of the Pharisees – the religious folk of the day - whom Jesus enraged with his message of grace, love and forgiveness.

Anyone who trys to appear like all is good and right, so that everyone around them feels they are a righteous dude is quite contrary to the point. The message Jesus spoke about was having a heart inwardly right before God.

Look what it says here: You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You burnish the surface of your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides are maggoty with your greed and gluttony. Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something. You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You're like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it's all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you're saints, but beneath the skin you're total frauds. – Matthew 23:25-28 from The Message translation

The Pharisees were all about duty – do this, but don’t do that.

Jesus’ message was all about desire, freedom, and hope.

Which sounds more appealing to you?

The real message of Christianity is the ability for man to enjoy an intimate relationship with his creator. It's about heart to heart.

What happened to that message?

It’s so simple. We know in our heads it's true, and yet we continue to live by the ‘be better’ gospel.

Salvation is not and never will be by anything we do. Nothing we can do will ever change God's thought, opinion, or acceptance of us.

He loves us just the way he made us.

So - it's much less about doing the right things. It's about being that person He made you to be. If you can master that, then you'll always be the best you... you'll ever be.