There is a gap between our idea of perfection, and what we call perfection in other people, or even in ourselves. Consider, for instance, whether or not you would like to work for a person who as perfect. I don’t mean that he or she would be the perfect boss, because that is not quite the same thing as being a perfect person. If you are in any way like me, you might find yourself vaguely uncomfortable with the idea.
At first, I couldn’t understand why this might be. It is a high Christian ideal that we all strive to attain perfection. Why then should I not want to find it in another person? The answer, I think, is probably not a very generous one. Because I think the answer is this: what we call ‘perfect’ in other people, is usually a very tongue-in-cheek description of someone who thinks they're perfect.
Apart from that, the world does not give us a very flattering image of people who are morally perfect. Most movies and book portray such people as very flat, only concerned with doing what is right. It is so much more interesting to idolize people who are handsome, reckless and daring rather than perfect… or is it? The thing to remember is that people who are always concerned about doing what is right aren’t perfect either. It is a diversion tactic. And as we should all know by know, we ought not let the world define anything for us as it always gives an answer that is incorrect.
We must be extremely cautious with this label as even what we might think we rightly define as perfection in any one area in a human being inevitably means there is a glaring flaw somewhere else. And this, by definition, cannot be perfection.
The person who appears to have the highest ideals is often hiding the dirtiest secret. The one who literally and figuratively knows everything is severely lacking in interpersonal skills. The person who is big-hearted and lovable is often times so impractical as to cause inadvertent pain to other people.
To be perfect would be to be completely flawless in any area. Every facet must be polished and flawless, every word spoken must be full of compassion and truth at the same time. And this, as we well know, is quite impossible for a human being.
But I fear that our knowledge of this impossibility in ourselves has led to a slightly jaded view at least on the part of outsiders if not within the church as well, of our perfectly flawless God, complete and without fault.
All this to say that I think I understand just what it was that drew the apostles to Jesus Christ. I’d like to think I would have been drawn to him as well, to the perfection that was God in man, to the heart and the mind that spoke truth and compassion and saw through lies without hesitation.
At first, I couldn’t understand why this might be. It is a high Christian ideal that we all strive to attain perfection. Why then should I not want to find it in another person? The answer, I think, is probably not a very generous one. Because I think the answer is this: what we call ‘perfect’ in other people, is usually a very tongue-in-cheek description of someone who thinks they're perfect.
Apart from that, the world does not give us a very flattering image of people who are morally perfect. Most movies and book portray such people as very flat, only concerned with doing what is right. It is so much more interesting to idolize people who are handsome, reckless and daring rather than perfect… or is it? The thing to remember is that people who are always concerned about doing what is right aren’t perfect either. It is a diversion tactic. And as we should all know by know, we ought not let the world define anything for us as it always gives an answer that is incorrect.
We must be extremely cautious with this label as even what we might think we rightly define as perfection in any one area in a human being inevitably means there is a glaring flaw somewhere else. And this, by definition, cannot be perfection.
The person who appears to have the highest ideals is often hiding the dirtiest secret. The one who literally and figuratively knows everything is severely lacking in interpersonal skills. The person who is big-hearted and lovable is often times so impractical as to cause inadvertent pain to other people.
To be perfect would be to be completely flawless in any area. Every facet must be polished and flawless, every word spoken must be full of compassion and truth at the same time. And this, as we well know, is quite impossible for a human being.
But I fear that our knowledge of this impossibility in ourselves has led to a slightly jaded view at least on the part of outsiders if not within the church as well, of our perfectly flawless God, complete and without fault.
"Since therefore God is the first effective cause of things, the perfections of all things must pre-exist in God in a more eminent way. Dionysius implies the same line of argument by saying of God (Div. Nom. v): 'It is not that He is this and not that, but that He is all, as the cause of all.’”
- Aquinas, Saint Thomas. Summa Theologica, Part I (Prima Pars) From the Complete American Edition (Kindle Locations 685-687).
All this to say that I think I understand just what it was that drew the apostles to Jesus Christ. I’d like to think I would have been drawn to him as well, to the perfection that was God in man, to the heart and the mind that spoke truth and compassion and saw through lies without hesitation.
“You must therefore be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:48
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