They go from "..please sir..might I have some more soup please..." to "WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS" in a single moment. Like Tiny Tim on steroids. "The GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL...please, sir, have mercy on me a poor sinner..."
That's because they don't see THEMSELVES as being the church. To them *the church* is that institution in Rome that issues decrees and dictates that they are obligated to follow, no questions asked or allowed.
They perceive themselves to be just that poor, wretched sinner continually begging for God's mercy, not even seeing God holding out His hand with the gift of salvation being offered to them if they'd just take it and it would be theirs for eternity.
The gates of hell will not be able to prevail against those who are IN CHRIST, because no matter what the worst Satan can do, even to the point of taking a life, doesn't give Satan tie victory. At that point, the believer is out of Satan's reach FOREVER.