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NO ONES PERFECT pt.1

People often say:  ”There is no such thing as a perfect church!” And:  ”Hey, if you ever find the perfect church, don’t join it, because the minute you join, it won’t be perfect anymore…”

Are these things true?

Have you encountered cliches like these before?  Have you heard the poems? Poetry crafted to resonate with our mood, and identify with our sense of an inability to be better, to be perfect.  A sense that has become “innate,” deeply permeating our mind-set. Poetry meant to alleviate that frustration we all feel when we encounter failure after failure in our personal lives, when we no longer know what to do about the reality that life can be hard and walking in a straight and narrow path tremendously difficult to manage.

It often seems we pray, we walk in faith, we fall, we fail, we get up and then, the cycle starts all over; most often with the same results.  Sometimes we manage to make great strides, go far distances, experience success for longer periods, then, BAM!  It happens every time, the inevitability always seems to be that things tend to boil over and blow up in our faces.  No matter how hard we try.

What do we do next?

Of course we seek encouragement.  What do we usually find?  That familiar voice that offers us this timeless and seemingly solid little tid-bit of advice:  “No Ones Perfect.” It appears plausible.  And, when you consider that misery loves company, (another cliche) it even makes sense!  After all, it always helps to know that we are not alone, so we conclude “there is no such thing as a perfect person.” We conclude “there is no such thing as a perfect church!”   We even stop trying anymore, to become perfect  …

The Word of God Has A Higher Opinion On The Matter

I want to share the truth about what perfection means.  That’s right, Holy Inspiration uttered by men full of the Holy Spirit, The Living God! Divine text, which came forth out from the very heart of our God.  Just consider the following:

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. Psalms 37:37

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body  James 3:2

If we are convinced there is no use in even attempting to attain unto perfection, we can’t even begin to make any effort to be perfect.  This is why it’s important to know what God’s Word says about it. Also, it’s imperative to distinguish between, God’s intent for us to walk in perfection; as relates to His admonition to “Be Perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect” Matthew 5:38 which, is ENTIRELY do-able, and, the “false utopian concept” of a perfection which caters to the easy life, the horrid anemic existence in which we never face-then-conquer life’s challenges.  It’s a false picture the idea many people hold onto of perfection hoping and striving  in self-gratifying living.   I am attempting here to describe the “Me-Generation” and the “I want it Now Age.”

We live in the days of fast food, instant gratification and self indulgence.  Lost are the finer points of character and integrity. These days we can often sail right on by on our way to the wide and easy roads —  If we cop the right attitude, an attitude  fueled by the imagery and training abundantly dispensed through prime-time TV and the voice of mainstream media, rather than making our way along that straight and narrow path, building a solid character sustained by a pure diet of God’s Holy Word.

The True Essence of Perfection

It takes great effort, and committment, even discipline to curb our tongues and our thought life.  This however is the truest essence of perfection. To watch what we say, how we say it and work at making sure what comes out of our mouth is not offensive, to anyone, especially to God! In addition to watching what we say, and how we say it, we are admonished to also “watch what we do!”  Earnest effort applied in making sure what we do does not become an offense.  This is literally a biblical definition of perfection according to James 3:2. Ephesians chapter four verses eight, & eleven through sixteen gives us the basic purpose for this concept, a revelation of the real keys to perfection:

“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”  Ephesians 4:8

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ;  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”  Ephesians 4:11-16

We can indeed be perfect.  It’s God’s plan to perfect the body of Christ, the Church, His People.  This is our witness and purpose of our existence to show the lost and desperately hungry people of this earth that Jesus has indeed redeemed us and given us a New Life, A Perfect Life.  Jesus wants you to make up your mind right now to have His perfection in operation in your own life today!

Tune in For “No Ones Perfect” pt. 2
The Ministry of The Five Major Offices of the Church