Perfection Is Not an Option

Yesterday I reflected on the letter of 1 John (1:8-9) we read, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” In other words, be careful not to deny your own need for God’s grace. Because what happens when we deny our need?

One: If you think you have to be perfect, there is a temptation to role play: to act like everything is going fine even when it’s not. If you have to act like everything is perfect, then the first things to go out the window are honesty and vulnerability. These are the very things that make human relationships possible. 

Second, It is very difficult to have grace and compassion for others if we don’t recognize our own need for God’s grace and compassion. There is a real temptation to judge others. There is a real temptation to decide who’s in, and who’s out, who’s acceptable, and who’s unacceptable, and who is worthy of God’s grace. Who is unworthy?

Yesterday, I quoted Eugene Peterson’s book, The Way of Jesus. Peterson goes on to write, “Perfectionism: a (terrible) deviation from the way… of Jesus. It is unlikely that it will plunge us headlong into damnation, but it certainly makes us most undesirable company with others on the… way… (Any) attempt to impose perfection on either oneself or another, whether parent on child, pastor on congregation, CEO on a company, teacher on student, husband on wife, wife on husband is decidedly not the way of Jesus.” 

Finally, he writes this: “…perfection is not an option but a seduction…”

Sometimes we get this idea of the “perfect church” in our minds: just the right mix of ages; perfect music; perfect pastor; everyone gets along. When I was preparing to take my first call, I was looking for the perfect church, and my friend Rusty said, “Hey Joe if you find it, you better not go there because sure as you show up – you’ll ruin it for all those other perfect people!” He was right!

There’s no such thing as a perfect church, just as there’s no such thing as a perfect family. This is the case simply because there’s no such thing as a perfect person.

May you and I, as we strive to follow Jesus, as we strive to get it right, as we strive to do the right things and say the right things, may we never lose sight of his grace. There is grace enough for you and for me. May we share that grace with a world desperately in need. 

Let us pray: Wash over us again with your grace, O God. Help us to accept and love ourselves and others as you love us; through Jesus our savior. Amen.