I would say the vast majority on the forum have already tried working their way to election and have failed miserably. Most have been down the road of going church multiple times a week. Have tithed religiously, served as teachers, deacons, elders, music, volunteers, etc. etc. Depending on the denomination they have kept religious days and holidays. Refrained from whatever vice the leader of the church declares forbidden and a whole host of rules and regulations. They worked and strived very hard and then one day by the grace of God they realized that no matter how hard they worked they are nothing but dung. God showed them that works will not mend their wicked and sinful hearts.
This is in no doubt true. And as a moderator, you have a unique position to know. But we all know there is VAST difference between works of the flesh, the works of the carnal religious mind, CONTRASTED to the works of Jesus that He does through us. The difference is between wood hay and stubble, and gold silver and precious stones. All carnal works are dung. But what works we do in LOVE in JESUS, are FAR from dung.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Even people who are burned out and tired, can be completely restored to do works through Jesus in them, and the fire will prove those works to be gold silver and precious stones.
We can agree to disagree, and I will not contest for this point of view anymore in this thread, but I do think the greatest reward of gold silver and precious stones is the first resurrection, to be with Christ. And the desire of which I was speaking is not the carnal religious hate of the crusader or the carnal aspirations of the church leader, which you brought up. It is the Pearl of Great Price, for which we are instructed to sell all that we have to obtain; is to have a clean and pure undefiled conscience, and a LOVE for Jesus beyond anything else.