The Myth of "perfection".

bustedplacard1

I’ve been realizing this week that there may be one underlying “myth” behind many of our beliefs about (and struggles with),prayer, the bible, Christianity, etc.   It’s the myth of “perfection”.

 We don’t pray because we haven’t found the “perfect” way to pray that “gets answered every time”.   We don’t read the Bible because we haven’t found the “perfect translation”…we’ve  found a few examples in it that don’t seem to be “perfect” (or at least not what we would like it to say).   We give up on church because we haven’t found the “perfect” one. We’re looking for the perfect “E-harmony” mate that we could “get along with”.  The perfect job.  Perfect children…as a culture we’re constantly looking for “perfection”  …everybody is promising it…and no one delivers.

Sorry…hate to break it to everyone…”perfection” is a myth this side of Jesus Christ and heaven.  No perfect jobs.  No perfect spouses.  No perfect leader.  No perfect churches, pastors, (especially at actionchurch) and no perfect “understanding” of God and the scriptures.   In fact, as I see it, the whole purpose of being a follower of Jesus is to experience peace and joy in highly “imperfect” circumstances…surrounded by “imperfect” people.   Forgiveness, mercy, compassion, and love are the “oils” that allow us to live and work together with less “friction”.  Faith allows us to move forward even with our “imperfect” understanding of God’s plan. 

…or at least that’s my “imperfect” understanding of life here on planet Earth.

33“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

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