Hard-boiled Sinners

Martin Luther was concerned about a friend of his who felt like he had to get his life put together before he could come to church. Luther's response in 1544 screams loud and clear even today:
"My faithful request and admonition is that you join our company and associate with us who are real, great and hard-boiled sinners. You must by no means make Christ to seem paltry and trifling to us as though He could be our helper only when we want to be rid from imaginary, nominal and childish sins. No, no! That would not be good for us. He must rather be a savior and redeemer from real, great, grievous, and damnable transgressions and iniquities…"