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4 If anyone thinks they have reasons to be confident in their spiritual accomplishments, I have more:

5 Baptized as a child and baptized in the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues; raised in a devoted Christian family, an evangelical among evangelicals; regarding purity, I strictly adhered to purity culture from my youth.

6 As for passion, I worshiped fervently—lifting my hands, singing and dancing with all my heart without reservation in both private prayer closets and public services. As for prayer, spending daily hours in intercession and communion with God. Regarding knowledge, I regularly read through the full of the Bible and intensely studied apologetics for years upon years. I manifested spiritual gifts—prophesying, healing, and discerning spirits.

7 In evangelism, I actively shared the gospel, converting people at parties and at work. I participated in mission trips, street evangelism, and community outreach programs. Demonstrating faith in action, I trusted God in all circumstances and shared testimonies of His work in my life.

8 I was deeply involved in church life—attending every service, joining small groups, serving in various ministries, and submitting to the guidance of pastors and elders. Practicing generosity, I faithfully tithed and gave to charitable causes. As for righteousness based on religious orthopraxy, I was blameless.

9 But whatever were gains to me, I now consider them loss for the sake of Christ.

10 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of truly knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake, I have let go of all these things and regard them as insignificant, in order to gain Christ

11 And be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from following religious rules, but that which comes through faith—the righteousness that comes from genuine understanding and love.

12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

For in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female; for we are all one in Him. [Galatians 3:28]

Therefore, I seek to imitate Christ in His boundless love—embracing all people without distinction of gender, class, or status. [Ephesians 5:1-2], [John 13:34-35]

Committed to nonviolent resistance to evil, I strive to overcome hatred with love, injustice with righteousness, and conflict with peace, following the example He set. [Matthew 5:39, 44], [Romans 12:21], [1 Peter 2:21-23]

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. [1 Corinthians 13:1]

Without love, all my achievements are nothing. So now, these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. [1 Corinthians 13:2-3, 13]

Thus, my true communion with Christ is found in imitating His selfless love for all people and His unwavering commitment to justice through nonviolence. [Ephesians 5:1-2], [Micah 6:8], [Matthew 5:9]