As a Christian, as well as as a priest, it has been my experience that one of the biggest barriers to people coming to faith, or even exploring relationship with the church, is the fear that they aren't and can't be good enough. People who don't have much familiarity with Christianity often assume that Christians live by some impossibly high moral standard, one that they expect not just of themselves but of everyone else. I've lost count, for example, of the number of times I've gone into the local pub in my dog collar only to be asked if I'm even allowed to be in there and whether I'm allowed to drink alcohol.

Fr Sam Rossiter-Peters explains that Paul was no stranger to sin. Before he came to Christ, he was a violent man persecuting the foundling church. It was he that stood by holding the coats as the crowd lynched St Stephen.

He k ...