The applicable nature of Christian Perfection; Optimism and Reformism
While I understand that Christian Perfection has a significant, if not almost entire focus on Holiness towards God, I typically believe (because the Bible has so lead me) that in order to love God, I need to love People; they go hand in hand.
In my current ministry setting, I work as a college chaplain. Each week I have 10-15 conversation with students about life and spirituality, and typically it comes back to some deeper nature of what it truly means to “live” life. We discuss the idea that truly living isn’t just being content or even loving God fully, it’s also working to reform this world; to take care of this world, to express love and caring, even to loose the chains of injustice.
Often, my beliefs of Christian Perfection surface here. Mainly it’s because I believe, as Charles Finney said ““The great business of the church is to reform the world – to put away every kind of sin … . The very profession of Christianity implies … an oath to do all that can be done for the universal reformation of the world. The Christian Church was designed to make aggressive movements in every direction – to lift up her voice and put forth her energies in high and low places – to reform individuals, communities, and governments, and never rest until… every form of iniquity shall be driven from the earth”
These are strong words. But what do they imply?
Reform. Optimism. And that it’s is actually possible to be and feel whole; to love and feel loved wholly.
I guess to some, Christian Perfection may seem inapplicable to their current lives; I would disagree. I think this is what it’s all about - loving God and loving others as best we possibly can.
If we embrace Christian Perfection how can we settle for injustice in the world?
If we embrace Christian Perfection how can we corrupt our environment?
Does Christian Perfection, in loving God wholly, also imply that we are loving people wholly? That we are a dynamic force of love in this world?
I believe that embracing Christian Perfection doesn’t just mean you are fully committing yourself to God, but also to God’s people, and that you won’t rest until they have been taken care of.
