Perfection: An Impossible Standard?

Being the perfectionist that I am, I have always struggled with this verse from Matthew 5:48, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (NIV). 

Definition of Perfection

In order to understand and apply this concept, we have usually said that though we cannot be perfect in actuality, we still need to strive for perfection because God looks at our effort and that is all that matters. However, this borders a little on legalism, trying to earn our salvation through our own effort (Rom. 3:20). Moreover, as a self-proclaimed "perfectionaholic," I can testify to the trap this type of legalism offers.

Unfortunately, our Americanized understanding of the word "perfect" has imposed an impossible standard upon this verse. We view the concept of being perfect as without any imperfections or problems, cracks, errors, mistakes, etc. Yet this modern connotation strips the depth, growth, and maturity denotations from the original Greek word teleios, which means "complete, perfect, whole," in addition to "full-grown," and "mature" (The Greek New Testament, p. 180).

Additionally, notice that the verses preceding this one in Matthew talk about loving our enemies, which is by itself an incredibly hard task.

John Wesley on Perfection

John Wesley, the originator of the concept of "Christian Perfection" had a different type of perfection in mind. According to Lawrence W. Wood (1988), "For Wesley, holiness is a process of becoming in reality what already is ours in Christ through the new birth. Holiness is the dialectic moment in which Christ's pure love becomes an inner reality for the believer. This dialectic moment is a becoming, a process" (p. 96). Elsewhere Wood, continuing to comment on Wesley's theology, says, "Sanctification [the process of being holy/perfect] is love for God and others" (p. 115).

Loving Perfection

Therefore, what Jesus is telling us in this passage of Matthew is to strive for wholeness, completeness, and maturity as he is whole, complete, and our "perfect" example of maturity. To be perfect, and to be like God in completeness and perfection, we are to love in a way that stretches us at the core of our being, which is the act of loving those who do not deserve it. To be perfect, is to be whole and to be whole is to love like God loves. Without this type of wholeness or growth in wholeness, we cannot love effectively,  not to mention even attempt to love our enemies. Out of our growth in God and growth toward maturity, we become able to love and thus more like.

References:

Aland, B., Aland, K., Karavidopoulos, J., Martini, C.M., & Metzger, B.M. (Eds). (2001). The Greek New Testament. Fourth Revised Edition ed. Germany: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, United Bible Societies.

W

Wood, L.W. (1988). The Wesleyan View. In Alexander, D. L., (ed.), Christian Spirituality: Five Views of Sanctification. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.