Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

This scripture has been on my mind lately, primarily due to its very challenging call. Does God really call us to be perfect? Are we really capable of reaching a state of existence without blemish? Certainly, there are some who think this possibility exists; they are the same ones who are always right in an argument and never feel the need to apologize for their mistakes (mainly because they don’t think they have made any mistakes). This verse, if taken in that context, actually reinforces the old stereotype of the self-righteous Christian, who thinks they are better than everyone else! But the truth is, this verse has very little to do with our concept of perfection.

In English, our term for perfection essentially means being without fault or blemish, which, again, is an impossible task for a human being to achieve. Paul writes in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” So how can we achieve the Father’s perfection if we also all fall short of His glory? This seems like a catch-22, a misquotation, dare I say….a contradiction.

Again, this is a contradiction only if we read these scriptures through the lens of modern English, which was not their original composition.

These words were originally written in Greek, and the Greek word for perfection differs from our modern definition. The Greek word perfect is teleios (τέλειος), which translates to, “brought to completion, becoming a full-grown, adult, of full age, mature.” So what is truly being said here is that we must reach a state of maturity in our faith that is in likeness to our heavenly Father. The goal is not perfection in the sense of faultlessness; it is a state of spiritual maturity in which you can see all people as beloved children of God.

This verse directly addresses the concept of loving both neighbor and enemy, that the love of God is gifted to all persons. We are to be mature in our own offering of God’s love to all those around us; this is the effort we should be making. Not a perfection in regards to sinlessness, but a maturity in our faith that we feel compelled to share the love of Christ Jesus with all those we meet, regardless of whether they are friend or foe.

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Pastor Mike McVey

First United Methodist Church, Fairfield TX

ASC Chaplain – United States Coast Guard

Chaplain – Texas Game Warden Service

Email: pastormike@fumcfairfield.org

Cell: 919-935-2513