Is the answer too obvious ...to a question that asks if we are to strive to have a closer relationship with God, to grow, and mature??

There's always that statement directed at those who others feel are legalistic, or self-righteous.  And that could be true, or it could be false ...depending upon the motivation and character of both the person it is being said about, and the person saying it.

I believe that a person cannot lose their salvation.

I believe we each have our strong moments, and our weak moments ...and sometimes it's our strength we are struggling with, not relying on the truth about God.

Yet, most of us understand forgiveness.

So,  if we don't look to others to live by our standards ...and we just try to improve our lives, then that is not legalistic to me.

And in view of all of what we've said, it appears we have taken bits and pieces to put together our own comfort zone.  In doing so, it appears we have drifted away from what God would want us to realize in our lives ...and become way too much like the world around us.

I know the saying, "Don't be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good."

But, I don't think we should focus so much on ministering to people's feelings that we truly glorify God less and less.

Glorifying God is to correctly speak of God for who He is ...and what He has said to us, and what He wants us to stand for.