How Does An Understanding Of What We Lack Help Us Become Perfect
three essentials that are necessary to inspire one to live a Christlike lifeâor, speaking more accurately in the language of the scriptures, to live more perfectly as the Master lived. The first essential I would name in order to qualify is: There must be awakened in the individual who would be taught or who would live perfectly an awareness of his needs.
The rich young ruler did not need to be taught repentance from murder nor from murderous thoughts. He did not have to be schooled in how to repent from adultery, nor from stealing, lying, defrauding, or failing to honor his mother. All these he said he had observed from his youth but his question was, âWhat lack I yet?â
The Master, with His keen discernment and the power of a Great Teacher, diagnosed the young manâs case perfectly: His need and his lack were to overcome his love for worldly things, his tendency to trust in riches. And then Jesus prescribed the effective remedy: âIf thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.â
In the Apostle Paulâs dramatic conversion, when he was physically blinded by the light while on his way to Damascus ⦠, he heard a voice that said to him: âSaul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?â And from the depths of this humbled Saulâs soul there came the question that is always asked by the one who senses that he needs something: âLord, what wilt thou have me to do?â â¦
Portrait Of A Maladaptive Perfectionist
The maladaptive perfectionist has a ruthless inner critic. This voice is normally formed in childhood. It tells the sufferer that she is never good enough. It whispers that he will never amount to anything. This voice may develop due to overbearing parents or overreaching authority figures. It can also be present due to a childs God-given personality.
The inner critics negative messages hold the sufferer captive with fear. The perfectionist may swing between two extremes: working in excess or procrastinating and avoiding altogether. This bondage is rooted in anger, which can lead to bouts of depression and anxiety.
Perfectionistic acts can take many different forms. The perfectionist may keep an immaculate home, have a perfect attendance record, exercise for hours every day, dress to the nines, or have a yard that looks like a golf course. Some perfectionists are particular about one area and indifferent to others.
Many maladaptive perfectionists project their desires for perfection onto others. Whether with their spouses, children, coworkers, or committee members, the perfectionists desires for flawless work can create significant problems. Others may resist the perfectionists criticism and attempts to control. This can leave the perfectionist in a state of isolation, which may lead to mental and emotional problems.
Lets Learn About Perfection In The Bible
6. Matthew 5:48 So be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
7. 1 Peter 1:15-16 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, You must be holy because I am holy.
8. 1 John 2:29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
9. Ephesians 5:1 Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children.
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I Am Not Perfect Aka The Excuse Christians Use To Purposely Sin
This is a special collaboration article, as I was inspired by the multitude of Christians I have met in the past year that say I am not perfect as an excuse to sin. This is not an article to point the finger or condemn anyone. I want fellow Christians to be inspired to live how God has called us to live. We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. I am certainly not perfect and will not pretend to be. However, we are to live in this world but not be of this world .
The Secret To Being Perfect
So, what is the secret to being perfect? First, we need to understand that the biblical definition of perfection is something completely different from the worldview of perfection.
The Hebrew word for perfect is shalem, and it is defined as finished, whole, and complete. The Greek word is teleios, meaning having reached its end, finished, complete, perfect, fully grown, mature.
Looking at these definitions, we see no mention of free from mistakes, sinless, or without fault. What I understand it to mean is a complete reliance on Christ and obedience to his will.
This pursuit of excellence and virtue is something far different from pursuing perfection as defined in the English language and according to the values of our society. The Miriam Websters dictionary defines the word perfect asbeing entirely without fault or defect, flawless, satisfying all requirements, complete.
The Bible teaches us that these qualities are found only in Jesus. How did Jesus stay sinless in a world that demands perfection, but where evil prevails?
I and my Father are one. John 10:30
Jesus is one with his Father, perfectly sinless and blameless. Like Jesus, we are not to strive to be perfect through our own strength or ability. Instead, we are to be one with Jesus, grafted to him.
I am the vine you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him, produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. John 15:5
For these weary ears, this truth is quite refreshing.
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Perfection: The Absolute Standard
Mike Mazzalongo Video Audio Slides Notes
This title, by the way, comes from the book “God’s Way to a More Perfect You: Living by the Fruit of the Spirit” by Leroy Lawson. The point that Lawson makes at the beginning of his book is that the difference between the Christian and the non-Christian is what each strives to attain in regards to perfection.
For example, since atheists and humanists claim that there is no such thing as “perfection,” they have few options when it comes to self-improvement or self-fulfillment. Two of the more popular approaches they use to this end could be summarized in the following way:
- “Be the best that you can be.” Maximize your potential using your best skills. You can never be perfect maybe you will not even be the best but if you are the best that you can be, you have reached the only goal available to you in this regard.
- “I’m ok, you’re ok.” I am good enough the way I am, you are good enough the way you are. There is no striving to be the best or better no competition with others or self. The goal is accepting yourself as you are and accepting others in the same way.
In the Jewish and Muslim religions, perfection is more a corporate than a personal experience. Their perfection is tied to the success of their theocratic aspirations. The geopolitical and religious destinies of these people are intertwined so that the achieving of political goals is believed to be a fulfillment of their religious goals as well.
Christianity and Perfection
Bible Verses About Striving For Perfection
Bible verses related to Striving For Perfection from the King James Version by Relevance
Matthew 5:48 – Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.Colossians 3:23-24 – And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men 2 Peter 1:5-8 – And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge 1 John 2:1-29 – My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.Titus 2:14 – Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Topics and verses are auto-generated from user searches. If a verse or topic does not belong, please contact us. Some scripture references/categories courtesy of Open Bible .info under CC BY 3.0
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Bible Verses To Help You Overcome Perfectionism
Have others told you that you have perfectionistic tendencies? Perfectionism can be helpful if it is healthy and balanced. However, maladaptive perfectionism can cause significant problems for both the sufferer and the people with whom they interact. At Seattle Christian Counseling, we can help you overcome the dark side of perfectionism and embrace a healthier perspective.
The Nobody Is Perfect Excuse
Sadly many people use the nobody is perfect excuse to live in rebellion. Scripture makes it clear that people who practice sin and rebellion are not truly saved. We must not use grace as an excuse to live like the devil.
21. 1 John 3:6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
22. Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, drove out demons in your name, and performed many miracles in your name, didnt we? Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Get away from me, you who practice evil!
Reminder
23. Matthew 7:16-18 You will know them by their fruit. Grapes arent gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles, are they? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit.
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Perfection Is A Choice
Choosing to strive for perfection is not something that one simply decides to do one day. It is the new way of living given to those who are freed from sin through the blood of Christ. People who live without Christ either take the, “I’m ok, you’re ok” route or follow the “personal best” way of life, but they rarely choose to seek after perfection because they believe that it is either unattainable or nonexistant. However, when a person comes to know Jesus Christ, that person comes into contact with godly perfection in human form. This experience has several effects on believers:
- It confirms the reality of their own imperfection. No matter what they may have thought about themselves before, they now know for certain that they fall terribly short of perfection.
- It also gives them a vision of what actual perfection looks and sounds like in human form, something they could not know before having faith in Christ.
- It provides an accurate measure of progress in the process of improving oneself. For example, if I can see what human perfection is like and compare it to my actual condition, I can then determine the progress I am making in my efforts to improve myself to this end.
- It offers a choice. Seeing perfection and imperfection side by side helps a person make a choice to either reinforce the behavior that leads to perfection or continue with the decisions and actions that lead to eventual destruction.
Jesus Wasn’t Asking For Perfection
However , I dont think that what Jesus was asking from us is perfection. He was asking a lot, but not that. It is interesting that all the translations stick with the word perfect for Matthew 5.48.
As someone pointed out to me recently, this is probably a legacy from the Vulgate which translates the Greek word into Latin as perfectus .
Be rounded, be whole, be complete as God is
The Greek word here is teleios and it can mean perfect but is more usually used to refer to maturity or wholeness. If we have a quick look at where this word is used elsewhere in the New Testament you will see what I mean .
Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom
Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind
and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete
So a possible alternative translation would be Be mature as your Father in heaven is mature. The trouble is thats no better it just doesnt sound right though it is probably closer to what Jesus meant. Be rounded, be whole, be complete as God is. God does not say one thing and think another God does not pretend compassion while really not caring at all. God is sincere, whole, and wholehearted and we should be too. That is how we reveal that we are deeply and richly rooted in Gods commands.
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Bible Verses For Perfectionists
At first glance, perfectionism doesnt seem like such a bad thing. I mean, who doesnt want to do things perfectly? Ace every exam? Always arrive on time? Never let anyone down? Its kind of a fantasy, isnt it? These kinds of goals have driven me throughout my life from one accomplishment to another, always seeking to do a little better, be a little better than I was the day before.
But where does it end? That kind of pressure is EXHAUSTING. Setting such high expectations for yourself and trying to live up to them is an impossible burden to carry in the long term.
And though as Christians we can sometimes convince ourselves that this type of excellence is what God expects from us, we are mistaken. God did not design us to be perfect or to make ourselves perfect. If we were perfector even capable of being perfectthere would have been no need for Jesus to come and save us. It is because of our imperfection that we receive everything God has to offer.
As I wrote about in my previous post, How to Stop Being a Perfectionist, there is a difference between simply having high standards and being a perfectionist. Setting high standards is healthy, and indeed, necessary for success in many areas of life. But perfection is an unattainable standard, an idol that our hearts fixate on, telling us that if only we were a little better, then we would feel worthy. Then we would be happy or satisfied or fulfilled. It just doesnt work that way.
Bible Verses About Striving
Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel
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There Is Power In Imperfection
But perfection is not what we are aiming for, far from it in fact. One of my favourite passages from Paul is 2 Corinthians 4.7 which says that we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.’
The extraordinary power that Paul has been talking about is Gods glory that shines in the world. Ben Witherington observes that the Corinthians were well known for their pottery not just their highly glazed pottery but their pots made of inferior clay that, when fired, cracked and made great light diffusers.
Pauls point in 2 Corinthians is that our cracked imperfect exteriors are nothing to be ashamed of they are vital. A well glazed pot keeps the light in only a pot riven with cracks can shine Gods light in the world. The cracks let the light out.
When I have spoken about this in past people have brought to my attention Kintsugi pottery . Kintsugi pottery is a Japanese practice which mends broken pots with gold or silver so that that resulting pot is more beautiful than the one that broke.
We are called to be who we are with all our cracks and imperfections
The Christian calling is not a calling to perfection. It is a calling to remain uncomfortably with our imperfections so that Gods glory can shine all the more powerfully.
This post first appeared on paulagooder.co.uk.
What Does Jesus Mean When He Says ‘be Perfect’
Ever scratched your head over Jesus’ call to ‘Be perfect’ in Matthew 5.48? You’re not alone. Paula Gooder considers how we can understand this verse with the help of some Japanese pottery.
Some Bible passages hit a nerve more than others. I can always tell which ones are currently pressing peoples buttons because I receive a higher than usual number of What do I do about this? emails, Facebook posts and Twitter posts.
One of those passages is Matthew 5.48, Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. It is one of those verses that makes any normal person throw up their hands in horror and walk off.
Be perfect? Really? Be without flaws on all occasions?
There must be a few people who rise higher in their chairs and comment smugly I already am perfect, but most of us regard the command with dismay. What is more we dont just have to be normally perfect, we have to be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect. Oh great, why dont we all give up now?
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