Becoming a Christian Perfectionist

As a young boy, he could improvise for hours at the piano. He wowed Europe’s royalty by playing complex music pieces blindfolded. He composed his first symphony at age 8. And by 35, he had written a total of 626 musical works.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s seemingly superhuman achievements are often attributed to either unusual talent or a mental disorder. He has been labeled everything from a child prodigy to an idiot savant. Many listeners think the composer was simply born a musical genius and effortlessly churned out masterworks.

Yet most music historians feel this is patently false. Piero Melograni’s biography on Mozart states: “Some people believe that music flowed from him almost spontaneously, thanks to his genius. In reality, from earliest childhood he practiced for thousands of hours every year, and if later he could compose page after extraordinary page with incomparable speed, it was thanks to hard-won experience, an ability to think through the music before writing it down, and an exceptional memory.”

Even well into a rehearsal, Mozart was still revising his own work. When putting together an opera, if certain notes did not work for a singer’s voice, he changed the score on the spot. The same would occur with instrumental pieces—if he did not like something during practice, it was revised.

In the end, the music heard today is the product of thousands of hours of training, coupled with periods of intense, focused hard work.

Mozart’s example defines how a desire for perfection is often seen as something incredibly rare, with many believing it could only ever be a byproduct of pure talent or a medical condition. In fact, perfectionists are usually viewed as overly picky, hyper-critical, rigid, stubborn, etc. And the phrase, “You’re such a perfectionist!” rarely has a positive connotation.

Yet the Bible records that Christians are required to be the ultimate perfectionists. Notice what Jesus said in Matthew 5:48: “Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

This is no easy task! But we must take this command to heart.

What Did Christ Mean—Perfect?

The word “perfect” used in this verse is defined by Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible as “complete” in “labor, growth, mental and moral character,” and “completeness.”

This means perfection in every aspect of our lives.

Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament expands the meaning of the same word: “Brought to its end, finished; lacking nothing necessary to completeness; perfect.” It can also mean to be “full grown, adult, of full age, mature.”

God has always required the exact same thing from His servants. For Abraham to receive God’s blessings, he had to be “perfect” (Gen. 17:1). Job was known as a man who “was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil” (Job 1:1). And ancient Israel was instructed to “be perfect with the Lord your God” (Deut. 18:13).

God also requires us to have perfect hearts. Notice what King David told his son: “And you, Solomon my son, know you the God of your father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind” (I Chron. 28:9). A similar phrase can be found in II Chronicles: “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him” (16:9).

In these two verses, the word “perfect” means “complete, safe, perfect, whole, full, at peace” and “finished,” according to the Outline of Biblical Usage.

Clearly, the word perfect—Old Testament and New Testament—really means perfect!

“Be” or “Become”?

None of the above-mentioned terms imply instantaneous perfection. Rather, they all include processes.

This is similar to any other aspect of life. For example, if you intend to bake a cherry pie, the moment you begin, it is not suddenly complete or finished. You have to first find a suitable recipe, go to a grocery store to purchase ingredients, preheat an oven, make a crust, mix and pour in the filling, bake the pie for a required time and then allow it to cool. Only after it is ready to eat could it be considered complete, finished and brought to its end.

Put another way, we did not spring out of our mothers’ wombs “full grown, adult, of full age, mature.” It took many years before we reached adulthood.

The phrase, “Be you therefore perfect” could then also be stated, “Become you therefore perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

Becoming like the Father is a process, and the only way for you to reach the goal of being “complete,” “finished,” “brought to its end,” “full grown, adult, of full age,” and “mature” is through continuous work and consistent growth.

From Creation

God’s desire for every human to achieve perfection is the very reason we were created. While recreating the Earth, He said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness” (Gen. 1:26).

Notice that all other animals were made “after [their] kind” (vs. 24). Cows were made after the cow “kind,” dogs after the dog “kind,” whales after the whale “kind,” and so on. Each species of animal all looked the same and instinctively acted the same.

Being made in the “image” and “likeness” of the Father and Christ means mankind was created after the God “kind.”

Obviously, humans are not part of the animal kind. We do not carry the likeness of any “beast of the earth” (vs. 24).

Rather than being able to survive through animalistic instinct, human infants must be trained how to do everything. Similarly, to take on the full spiritual character of God, we must also be guided and taught by Him how to do so.

This process is made possible through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were given access to His Spirit, symbolized by the Tree of Life. God intended the first humans to eat the fruit of that tree so they could receive His Spirit and take on His holy, righteous, perfect character.

Matthew 5:48 is then a thumbnail summary of the Creator’s Master Plan. He wants every person to be perfect as He is—and join Him in ruling the entire universe!

Perfection Process

Realize that on the road to perfection, there will still be mistakes. But you must not allow any slip up to shift your focus from the ultimate goal. Notice Proverbs 24:16: “A just man falls seven times, and rises up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”

A Christian perfectionist can be likened to a child learning to walk. At first, a parent has to support a child or he will fall. After many bumps, scrapes and bruises, the child begins to toddle around. With practice, and as he grows older, he becomes better at walking.

As you become an older Christian, you should be falling less often. Yet, unlike a child learning to walk, you should never stop relying on God’s support. The “steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delights in His way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholds him with His hand” (Psa. 37:23-24). Also, “It is God that girds me with strength, and makes my way perfect” (18:32).

Throughout the perfection process, a Christian must constantly allow God to build His character within him. Of course, this does not mean that you can relax and passively let conversion happen—you must do your part.

This can be done by consistently looking at your life for areas to improve. Ask yourself questions such as the ones below:

Am I perfect at Bible study? God’s Word keeps us actively striving for perfection by helping us to see our flaws. Notice II Timothy 3:16: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Also, “The Word of God…is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

Only through diligent Bible study—which can be viewed as God talking to you—will you be able to continue on the road to perfection.

It may be helpful to regularly review articles such as “The Rules of Effective Bible Study” and “Study to Show Yourself Approved” to see where your Bible study may be lacking.

Am I perfect in prayer? We are commanded, “Pray without ceasing” (I Thes. 5:17). Ask: Do I regularly pray enough for others? Do I remember brethren who request prayers through weekly Sabbath announcements? Do I pray for the ministry and Work? Do I pray that I will be counted worthy to escape and stand before Jesus Christ? (Read Luke 21:36.)

Develop the habit of starting your day with prayer. This was Christ’s pattern (Mark 1:35).

Revisiting the article “The Keys to Dynamic Prayer” will help you see where you can improve in your prayer life.

Am I perfect at fellowship? Do not downplay the importance of spending quality time with brethren. Acts 2:42 states, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

Perfecting this area means talking at length with a variety of people after Sabbath services or during socials and picnics.

In addition, the Bible states that true Christian fellowship will push you further toward perfection: “Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Prov. 27:17).

Am I perfect in conversations? Constantly watching what you say will also keep you on the road to perfection. Notice: “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body” (Jms. 3:2).

Of course, there are many other areas to watch over in your life. So much so, that sometimes the overcoming process can seem impossible.

Remember, you are not alone in this! God ordained the offices of the ministry “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:12-13).

Ministers are there to assist you with overcoming personal problems through helpful counseling, loving exhortation and kind, gentle correction.

Raising the Standard

Read Matthew 5:48 one last time: “Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Now ask, how perfect is the Father?

One way to begin to understand this is by looking at what God has already completed. For example, He did not finish the first draft of the Bible and say to Himself, “That’s good enough.” Instead, “The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times” (Psa. 12:6).

Think of the intricacies of the Bible’s text. Even though God inspired different men to write the words contained in it, no two verses contradict one another. In addition, His Master Plan is laid out methodically across both the Old and New Testaments.

Similarly, look at the complexities of Creation. Think of all the planning that had to go into designing just one unique animal. Notice Psalm 33: “For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (vs. 9). In order to speak and have something be instantly done, the Father and Christ perfected every single detail before beginning the act of creating.

The longer you meditate on the Father’s character, the more daunting the command in Matthew 5 can seem. Yet do not let the absolute perfection of the Bible or Creation be overwhelming. Rather, let each inspire you. Both prove something equally important: God finishes what He starts!

Philippians 1:6 states: “Being confident of this very thing, that He which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Clearly, God will put forth the same effort into building His character in you as He does with everything to which He sets His hand.

Remember, if you are diligent in your Christian life, you will stumble less and less and you will make good overall progress with overcoming and growing spiritually in righteous, godly character.

Never allow yourself to dwell on past mistakes. Instead, look forward, “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,” and “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).

Whenever trials and temptations come your way, do not allow them to knock you off your path toward being “complete,” “finished,” “brought to its end,” “full grown, adult, of full age, mature.”

Instead, live the words found in James 1: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (vs. 2-4).