“We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of god.”
I don’t know any Christian who denies that. If one denies their fallen nature, they aren’t Christian.
But, you posted, “I see all Christians as equal.”
I ask, equal to what? Each other? Not according to Paul, and not according to Hebrews.
He said to mark them and emulate.
Brethren, join in imitating me, and mark those who so live as you have an example in us. Phil. 3 17
I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 1 Cor 4 16
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying but with toil and labor we worked night and day that we might not burden any of you. It was not because we have not that right, but to give you in our conduct an example to imitate. 2 Thes 3 7-9
I’m not seeing the relevence of the scriptures within the context of what we are talking about.
I believe that someone who has been a devout Christian for many years exhibits a more “pure” lifestyle than someone who is a new believer, but I believe that, on a scale of 1 to perfection, the former is a 2 and the latter a 1. That is statistically no difference. They are equal in the eyes of God and I am not a respecter of persons.
However, I do believe in emulating the behavior of those who seem to be more in harmony with the word of God, but what I’m really saying is that I believe in being in harmony with the word of God.
Meanwhile, I go to a southern baptist church and they consider ANY alcohol consumption to be a sin, though plenty of them smoke, and I have a full bar at home. I am an imitator of Paul in that I am not a drunkard, though I drink alcohol. And my savior’s first miracle was to, at the request of his mother, get more wine for a wedding where they were drinking so much the ran out.
That is lost on the “long time Christians” in my church who refuse to even discuss such subject. They just hold up their big marked up King James bible and say, “I believe what the word of God says.”
And all these people are demonstrating to me is that, like me, they are flawed. As are we all. We are all equal, though some do live more pure lives than others. But I don’t need to emulate them nor would I want to emulate some of them for the simple reason that they have different personality types than me. We are not all identical.
And one of the most rewarding things a person can do is gie to others who have not earned it. It is especially fun when it is not even your money. That does not make you “holy” or giving. In fact, it is kinda selfish.