>>Many don’t want a salvation they can’t work for and prove themselves worthy of.<<
Indeed. On the other hand it may be a function of some don’t want to give up the darkness for light. So believing they can redeem themselves by works they think any good works or penance will overwhelm the bad. I encountered such in conversations with Iraqi Muslims.
Your reference to Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness is VERY thought provoking. In that some establish God’s plan of salvation seems too “easy” and there must be “more.” Such thoughts establish a mindset that we know better than God.
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
These are all people who appealed to their good works to save them.
But God's standard is absolute perfection, not good outweighing the bad. That's man's thinking.
Matthew 5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
James 2:10-11 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Seems that Catholics neglect to post these verses.
Be perfect. The one who fails in one part of the Law becomes guilty of it all.
And we know that the wages of sin is death. That's why our works don't contribute to attaining or keeping our salvation. They are tainted with sin, even the best of them, and cannot erase the debt we already owe. That is only done by forgiveness.