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“Be Perfect!” — It’s Not What You Think!

“Be Perfect!” — It’s Not What You Think!

Last updated on: August 5, 2014 at 10:50 am by Susan Cottrell

“Be Perfect!” — It’s Not What You Think! 2014-08-05T10:50:17-05:00 Susan Cottrell

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“You are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Uh, what!? Have you heard that? Had it thrown in your face? What in the world does it mean?? Who can be perfect? And is that a reasonable goal?

No, it’s not. And it’s not what you think the verse means.

“Perfect” in the original language means “whole, complete, fully matured, ripe, lacking nothing.”

When you love your enemies (settle down about those you dislike or disapprove of, give them room to be), then you are acting as God does, you are fully matured and whole as God is. And that suits you because God is your creator! People who rest and stop trying to manipulate everyone into who they think they should be are acting as God does. That’s what Jesus is saying.

Perfect does NOT mean “without error.” Is it any wonder so many Christians are high-strung and exhausted? Is it any wonder that to try to keep up you feel as if you’re spinning your wheels? The more we try to be without error, the more we miss the entire point.

Being whole, being complete means to live as you were created to live. In the fullness of God’s love, grace and freedom for you. Just being. As you are. Full, complete, whole… perfect.

Can you breathe and rest in that? Whew… Do not strive for perfection — it’s a losing battle. Instead, be at peace.

Pink’s wonderful song, Perfect, expresses this beautifully. Click here to listen to it (the clean version) and read the lyrics. (They are also below.)

Let it wash over you. Let it be God’s voice to you, inviting you into wholeness.

Wholeness fits you. Love suits you. Rest nurtures you.

It’s a beautiful gift.

“Perfect” by Pink

Made a wrong turn, once or twice

Dug my way out, blood and fire

Bad decisions, that’s alright

Welcome to my silly life

Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood

Miss, no way it’s all good

It didn’t slow me down

Mistaken, always second-guessing

Underestimated

Look, I’m still around…

Pretty, pretty please

Don’t you ever, ever feel, like you’re less than

less than perfect

Pretty, pretty please

If you ever, ever feel, like you’re nothing

You are perfect to me

You’re so mean when you talk about yourself

You are wrong

Change the voices in your head

Make them like you instead

So complicated

Look how big you’ll make it

Filled with so much hatred

Such a tired game

It’s enough

I’ve done all I can think of

Chased down all my demons

See you do the same

Pretty, pretty please

Don’t you ever, ever feel like you’re less than

less than perfect

Pretty, pretty please

If you ever, ever feel like you’re nothing

You are perfect to me

The whole world stares while I swallow the fear

The only thing I should be drinking is an ice cold beer

So cool in lying and we tried tried tried

But we try too hard, it’s a waste of my time

Done looking for the critics, cuz they’re everywhere

They don’t like my jeans, they don’t get my hair

Strange ourselves and we do it all the time

Why do we do that?

Why do I do that?

Pretty, pretty please

Don’t you ever, ever feel like you’re less than

less than perfect

Pretty, pretty please

If you ever, ever feel like you’re nothing

You are perfect to me

homosexuality and the bible

Mom I'm Gay

Pink

Susan Cottrell

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