I have learned the hard way that perfectionism is a dangerous personality trait. As imperfect people in an imperfect world, any aspirations we may have towards achieving perfection are bound to be frustrated; as the Psalmist says, "I have seen the limit of all perfection" (Psalm 119:96). When that happens, we perfectionists are prone to obsession, building an ersatz edifice of control around a particular aspect of our lives in which we deem that perfection may, just may, be attainable, if only we exert enough of our willpower. Those pursuits become our gods, our idols, our objects of worship; and like all false gods, they always fail us, leaving a trail of collateral damage in their wake.
With all of that said, I believe that my desire for perfection is implanted by God. After all, God Himself demands perfection. The Law requires that we be holy - i.e. perfect - in order to withstand His holy presence (e.g. Leviticus 20:26), and only a perfect lamb is acceptable for the sacrifice that compensates for our imperfections (e.g. Exodus 12:5). Although Jesus - the Lamb of God and the only perfect man - acted as the once-and-for-all sacrifice (Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29; Hebrews 10), He Himself bids us to "be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48; see also 1 Peter 1:14-19).
How to resolve this paradox? How, in other words, to be perfect? I believe that there are two ways by which we can seek perfection. The first way, the way of the world, is to strive to be "like God" (Genesis 3:4), to build monuments to our own our selfish ambitions based on foundations of fallenness (Genesis 11:1-8). Like the Tower of Babel, such endeavours are fated to failure, death, and destruction (James 3:14-16).
The second way, the Way that is Christ, is to cease striving and simply obey (Matthew 26:39-44; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42) - to submit to His good and perfect will (Romans 12:2). This Way requires us to abandon our quest for self-perfection, which is anyway a satanic deception, and to instead acknowledge that every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17), whose power is perfected in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). With Christ as the perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2; see also 5:9; 7:11,28; 10), we "become" His righteousness (1 Corinthians 5:21) - we become not "like God", a mere counterfeit of holiness, but rather "perfectly one with God" (John 17:23).
The point of all this is that perfectionism is part of God's perfect creation, but, like the rest of that creation, can nevertheless be corrupted. He has placed eternity in our hearts, and only the perfect will endure for eternity, so it is a good sign that we desire perfection (1 Corinthians 13:10). It is also a good sign that we find this desire frustrating, since it can never be fully satisfied in this world (Ecclesiastes 3:11); it is only when the perfect comes that we shall we fully satisfied.
With all of that said, I believe that my desire for perfection is implanted by God. After all, God Himself demands perfection. The Law requires that we be holy - i.e. perfect - in order to withstand His holy presence (e.g. Leviticus 20:26), and only a perfect lamb is acceptable for the sacrifice that compensates for our imperfections (e.g. Exodus 12:5). Although Jesus - the Lamb of God and the only perfect man - acted as the once-and-for-all sacrifice (Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29; Hebrews 10), He Himself bids us to "be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48; see also 1 Peter 1:14-19).
How to resolve this paradox? How, in other words, to be perfect? I believe that there are two ways by which we can seek perfection. The first way, the way of the world, is to strive to be "like God" (Genesis 3:4), to build monuments to our own our selfish ambitions based on foundations of fallenness (Genesis 11:1-8). Like the Tower of Babel, such endeavours are fated to failure, death, and destruction (James 3:14-16).
The second way, the Way that is Christ, is to cease striving and simply obey (Matthew 26:39-44; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42) - to submit to His good and perfect will (Romans 12:2). This Way requires us to abandon our quest for self-perfection, which is anyway a satanic deception, and to instead acknowledge that every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17), whose power is perfected in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). With Christ as the perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2; see also 5:9; 7:11,28; 10), we "become" His righteousness (1 Corinthians 5:21) - we become not "like God", a mere counterfeit of holiness, but rather "perfectly one with God" (John 17:23).
The point of all this is that perfectionism is part of God's perfect creation, but, like the rest of that creation, can nevertheless be corrupted. He has placed eternity in our hearts, and only the perfect will endure for eternity, so it is a good sign that we desire perfection (1 Corinthians 13:10). It is also a good sign that we find this desire frustrating, since it can never be fully satisfied in this world (Ecclesiastes 3:11); it is only when the perfect comes that we shall we fully satisfied.
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