Yeah, right. Reality hits and we know there’s no such thing as the perfect church. We all have been victims of gossip, criticism and judgment. We make mistakes. Our churches are often more empty than full. Pastors don’t always smile, are often on the verge of burn-out, and (I’ll be honest) there are plenty of questions we can’t answer.
Yet, here we are. God still has a use for us—even in our imperfection. This amazes me. Why does God settle with working with us while we are so imperfect? Imagine how much more God could do with us if we didn’t have this struggle with sin! How much more valuable we could be! At least we think we would be. (We seem to forget the whole “His strength is made perfect in our weakness” thing!)
I have struggled with this way of thinking for a long time—into this trap of “perfectionism.” We have become snagged in a state of mind that was authored by our adversary. It comes in the form of a teaching, floating around in Christianity for some time now, that says that you are to become perfect, just like God, here on this earth. Unfortunately, this teaching is not Biblical—it is a lie. [Remember the foundation of Satan’s lies to Eve: “you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5).]
Yes, we are called to live differently. God desires to remove us from a life of sin and bring us to godly living. But this is not perfectionism. The most persistent misconception about heaven is the notion that it will be inhabited by people who deserve to be there. Satan has fooled us into thinking that we will be deserving of Heaven by the time we get there. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, the thought of our own goodness might actually keep us out of heaven!
Consider John’s warnings of this attitude in his first letter. These warnings are found in the “ifs” of 1 John 1. The first “if” is in verse 6: “If we claim to have fellowship with him [God] and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking we are alright simply because we know “the Man upstairs.” Yet, if God reveals truth to you and you don’t care to follow it, then you are not truly in a relationship with Him. It makes sense: How can you claim to be close to God if you are walking as far from Him as possible? You cannot truly spend time with God and not be changed.
Fortunately John offers an alternative: walk in the light as God reveals it (verse 7). If we do this instead, we get different results. According to John, following the counsel of God (walking in the light) results in improved relationships with each other (we have fellowship with each other) and improved relationship with Him (cleansed of sins). Thus, if we can be fooled into thinking that we can be a disciple with out any change in our lives, we will be robbed of better relationships with each other and God!
This can often lead to the next lie: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (verse 8). But, wait. Isn’t it our goal to be sinless? What if we reach it? Couldn’t we claim it then? It would appear not. But again, it makes sense: how can imperfect people know when perfection is achieved?
The man who wrote so much about salvation by Grace—Paul—never considered himself having achieved this “no-sin” state of perfection: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1 Timothy 1:15). Of course, in the presence of the holiness of Jesus, the depth of our sin is more realized. One might think that Paul would have been doing pretty good in the area of perfection. But according to what he says in Philippians 3:12–14, he doesn’t claim to have reached perfection, but is pressing on to the finish line (the reward Jesus brings to those who follow Him). If Paul couldn’t claim it—after several missionary trips, having visions, accepted as an Apostle, starting many churches, and writing scripture—who can? The problem is that, in our desire to be free from sin, we want to imagine the day when we live with out sin on our own. Yet that day will never come.
But this is what makes the alternative in 1 John 1:9 even better: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Confession is owning up to something. It is the opposite of verse 8. Instead of claiming to be sinless, John says we should admit that we are sinners—own up to it. When we do, we can be forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness. What a wonderful God! Yet, can you see how perfectionism can trap us? If I think I can become pure in action and thought, I wouldn’t need someone to keep forgiving me. My ability to achieve perfection on earth removes my need for a Savior!
Which leads to the third lie: “If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us” (verse 10). Wow. Whereas verse 8 was claiming to have sin under control, verse 10 imagines that we have no sins to confess—basically, we have never sinned. When we believe this way, we are actually calling God a liar! (“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”—Romans 3:23.) This is the attitude that says, “I’ve never really been that bad.” Yet, if this is the case, why continue to be a Christian? If you’re that great, why do you need Christ?
This is why Paul said, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). God’s grace is not meant to make us arrogant. Giving us victories in our lives is not to make us trust more in ourselves! Our enemy would love for us to forget the source of our victories. By focusing on our own perfection, we can actually lose sight of God.
The lessons of the Bible have never been about humans achieving perfection. They have always been about learning to trust and follow God. Even the patriarchs of the Old Testament, known for their faith, were not perfected. Hebrews 11:39, 40 says that they had not received the promise yet, “that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” Because perfection wasn’t their goal—living in God was. As Paul says in Philippians 1:6, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” God’s doing the work, and if He’s the One working, He’ll know when we’re finished.
This does not mean that we should purposely go on sinning. John makes this clear: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1).
Yes, we are sinners. The good news is that when we do slip and fall we have Someone to help us up—Jesus! You see, perfection is not supposed to be our goal, holding on to Jesus is! This one goal should consume us! Because of this, I want to be less focused on my current level of “perfection” and more focused on my hope in Jesus Christ! He will finish the work—we just need to stay in His hands so we can make it to the finish line.