Piping in here a moment,..... I think we have to tread very careful about what we “see” as someone walking the walk or not. I know Christians who you would not determine they are the “standard” sort of Christian....you should have seen them BEFORE they became a Christian.
We forget to give the Lord “time” to work His work in people .....we walk through life with Him..and sometimes run...other times waddle.
I've heard speakers and teachers who appeared to walk the walk but they're counterfeits and impostors....but they “Look” like the real deal.
I agree with your comments. Please notice I posted a self examination is what Paul calls for as well as Peter. We who love Jesus Christ and know Him, are drawn each day to His Well to drink in and purify ourselves with His Word. In effect if we are doing our daily Bible devotions and studies the way we should, we have a daily examination of our lives. An elderly man told me when I was a lad: “The Bible keeps you away from sin and sin keeps you away from the Bible.” I agree and should have taken his advice earlier in my youth.
John MacArthur calls reading, studying and meditating (not the new age hokey version of meditation) on the Word daily as getting a thorough washing of our mind, heart and soul. All of which we must love God with all our strength.
So I agree with your statements...I was alluding to self examination. The toughest examination there is because we want to think we are walking upright all the time or sometimes we are very hard on ourselves. Daily examination with His Word brings us back on ‘heading.’