The goal of Christian life

Father Stephen Bankemper explained that the goal of the Christian life is transformation rather than simply becoming a good person. Writing for the Diocese of Covington, Bankemper noted that while individual lessons such as forgiveness and addressing the sins of others are important, focusing solely on them can lead to a checklist mentality for reaching heaven.

Bankemper stated that true holiness requires understanding that God's ways and thoughts are higher than human ones, citing the book of Isaiah. He used the writings of Paul in the first letter to the Corinthians to describe this process as a change from the image of the earthly man to the image of the heavenly man.