a sinner” for which “God have mercy” is the only way out (Luke 18:13). For most, this is a dreadful thought. But for the proud heart, there are two ways out. One is to live up to a standard. The other is to lower the expectations. This is precisely the course we have taken recently through a variety of methods. First, as argued in the last chapter, the holiness of God has been diminished. The Bible says we were created in God’s image and not in his place. This means, among other