TL;DR
"Perfection" in theology isn't about being flawless. It's about being fully committed to your spiritual journey right now (like a healthy but unripe green apple đ), even though you're still a work in progress on your way to full maturity (the ripe apple đ). The focus is on your inner growth and wholehearted attitude, not just external actions.
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Letâs be honest, the word âperfectâ can be intimidating. When we hear it, our minds often jump to an impossible standard of flawlessnessâa life without mistakes, regrets, or bad days. In a world that constantly shows us curated, picture-perfect lives on social media, the command to "be perfect" can feel less like an invitation and more like a crushing weight.
But what if we've been looking at this idea all wrong? What if, in a spiritual context, "perfect" means something far more accessible, dynamic, and grace-filled than we ever imagined?
Today, let's explore the concept of spiritual perfection not as a rigid, final destination, but as a journey of "progress to perfection." We'll unpack this idea, using some simple analogies to transform it from an intimidating command into a practical and encouraging goal for our everyday lives.
More Than Just Doing Good: Setting an Inner Goal
First, let's draw a line in the sand between two key ideas: external accomplishment and internal development.
- External accomplishment is what we doâthe activities, the service, the busy work for a cause we believe in.
- Internal development is who we becomeâthe shaping of our character, our attitudes, and our inner selves.
It's easy to get so caught up in the "doing" that we neglect the "becoming." We can be incredibly active and zealous on the outside, but if our inner character isn't growing along with our actions, we create a tension. People might look at what we do, then look at who we are, and sense an inconsistency. True authenticity happens when there's harmony between the person we are becoming on the inside and the life we are living on the outside. This journey toward "perfection" is, first and foremost, about that internal development.
Redefining 'Perfect': The Two Meanings of the Word
The key to understanding this concept is realizing the word "perfect" can be used in two different ways. To make this easy, let's think about an apple growing on a tree.
1. The "Perfect" Little Green Apple (Present Wholeness)
Imagine an apple early in its growth. It's just a small, hard, green ball. Is it a mature, ripe, ready-to-eat apple? No. In that sense, it isn't "perfect."
But in another sense, it can be absolutely perfect for its stage. If there are no flaws, no diseases, and no wormsâif it's a completely healthy and sound little apple, fully surrendered to the process of growingâthen it's perfect. This is what the Apostle Paul seems to mean in Philippians when he says, "Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude."
This first kind of perfection isn't about being finished; itâs about being wholehearted and blameless right where you are. Itâs a perfection of attitude and commitment. It means every part of your life is open and yielded to God. Youâre not holding anything back. You're like that little green apple: undeveloped, yes, but totally sound and healthy in your commitment to growth.
2. The "Perfect" Ripe Red Apple (Future Maturity)
This is the meaning we're more familiar with. It's the fully grown, mature, complete, and ripe apple. This represents our ultimate goalâthe complete maturity we are all progressing toward. Itâs the end of the journey. This is the perfection Paul was talking about when he said, "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on."
He acknowledges he hasn't arrived at the final destination, but he is fully committed to the journey. Seeing these two meanings dissolves the pressure. We aren't expected to be the ripe apple today. We're invited to be the healthy, sound, growing green apple.
How Do We Grow? A Few Practical Steps
So, if our goal is to be a "perfect" green apple on a journey toward ripeness, how do we actually do that? The transcript offers a few practical insights.
Forget Whatâs Behind, Reach for What's Ahead
Paulâs secret was focus. He said he did "one thing," forgetting what was behind himâboth the failures and the successesâto press on toward the goal. It's tempting to be defined by our past, but growth requires us to look forward. God gives us the grace to let go of yesterday's stumbles and yesterday's trophies to embrace the journey ahead.
The Funnel Effect: Work Out What God Works In
Think of your life like a funnel. For God to pour his work into you (the top of the funnel), you have to let it flow out of you (the bottom of the funnel). Paul phrases it this way: "âŚwork out your salvationâŚfor it is God who works in you."
This isn't about earning your salvation; it's about partnership. God works in us to shape our will and our actions. Our part is to "work it out"âto live it, to apply it, to let our actions reflect the inner change. When we stop "working it out," the funnel gets clogged, and Godâs work in us is paused. Growth happens when we actively participate in the process He has started within us.
A Final Thought
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Unpacking this idea of "perfection" changes everything. It's not a standard meant to make us feel inadequate. It's an invitation to a dynamic, moment-by-moment relationship with God. From the Old Testament, Godâs call to Abraham was simple: "Walk before me and be blameless (or, perfect)." It was a call to a yielded heart, trusting that God Almighty would handle the destination.
The journey isn't about achieving a flawless record, but about maintaining a flawless attitude of commitment, openness, and obedience.
So, hereâs a question to leave with you: Instead of asking, "Am I perfect yet?", what if we asked, "Is my heart fully open to growth today?" How does that single shift in perspective change the way you view your journey?
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