Can we stop throwing around the word, “perfect”? I’ve heard this word misused in so many different situations lately.
“Everyone in there has Botox and injections. I’m the only one not perfect in the group.”
They don’t talk to me or include me in church because I’m not perfect like they are.”
My child is the closest thing to perfect, so you need to check your sources before blaming her.”
There are three definitions of “perfect” that I found. The first one is the most worldly definition. “Having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.”
The second two definitions sound familiar. One says, “absolute; complete.” The other says, “Made completely free from faults or defects.” God is perfect. (Matthew 5:48) His ways are perfect. (Psalm 18:30) The ways of this world are not in any way perfect. (1 John 2:15-17)
Look at the last profile picture of yourself. How many pictures did you go through to pick that particular one? You must have thought that you looked pretty great, but I doubt you would have labeled yourself in that picture as “perfect.” When we define people as perfect, we often talk about their physical appearance. In today’s world, so many people believe that their identity is found in what they look like. We see people with beautiful ombre hair, plump lips, a wrinkle free face, and bronzed skin and label them as “perfect.” Don’t you think if they were perfect, they wouldn’t spend so much money on surgeries to fix their physical appearance?
Another worldly perception of perfect people is the people that have those inspirational personalities. You know, those people with the “it factor” that holds people in the palm of their hands with just their presence. I had several giants in my life that I had mentally labeled as “perfect,” myself. These were men and women who often were hired to speak at church youth conferences, ladies’ days, and massive gospel meetings. They seemed so put together and had life figured out. As I started speaking at events, too, I didn’t think I was worthy to be on the same program. However, I got to really know these giants. What I discovered was that they were made of flesh, just like me. They had temptations, just like me. And Satan targeted them in weaknesses, just like me. These giants became my good friends as we shared confessions, tests, and trials that God brought us through.
As a high school teacher, I hear a lot of parent excuses justifying actions their children have done. I’ve been guilty of it from time to time too, so I’m, in no way pointing fingers. We get in the habit of seeing our kids the same day we did on their first birthday. But, as they get exposed to the world, they are being exposed to the evil in it. It’s inevitable. We are told to not “provoke your children to anger, but raise them with discipline and instruction about the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:1) Your kid is not perfect. How do I know that? Your kid is your offspring; and you are not perfect. There is value in consequences. If you deprive your child of consequences just to save them from pain, you’re actually inflicting more pain than you could imagine on them. My friend, Brad, gave me the best advice when I was pregnant with Ellie. “Everyone in life gets the same amount of spankings. It’s either from their parents, or the police officers.”
We don’t do anyone any favors by calling them perfect. It puts them on a pedestal with the most intense pressure. Not to mention, it sets unrealistic expectations for yourself. Elijah’s faith was perfect, in my book. He was that biblical hero that had the faith of a giant. He trusted God when no one else would. He called upon the Lord to send fire to the altar in front of hundreds of his enemies. This was a kind of faith I didn’t think that was reachable. The more I studied Elijah, you know what I realized? He was flesh, like me, too. He struggled with depression, anxiety, low self esteem, and loneliness. He wasn’t perfect.
Calling it like it is, there was only One who came that was ever “perfect” and His name was Jesus. (Hebrews 1:3). Very rarely do we ever use the term “perfect” to describe ourselves. Yet, the One who possesses perfection took all of our imperfections to be nailed on the cross so that we could have the opportunity to be made perfect. Hebrews 10:14 says, “For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” When I look at myself and see someone unworthy to be trusted, a gossip, a pot stirrer, a pessimist, lazy, and a self-pleaser, God sees me as, “Precious and honored in my sight.” (Isaiah 43:4)
Does God demand us to be perfect? “So be perfect just as your Father in Heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) Yeah, He does. But, He doesn’t expect you to be perfect because you can be; He expects you to be perfect because Jesus has been, is, and always will be perfect. My dad used to tell me when he’d drop me off at events, “Be on your best behavior. You’re representing the Crumrine family.” In all that we do, we must strive for the same perfection as Jesus Christ possessed. We are representing the Christian family.
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