The goodness, truth, and love of the Christian life
Part 4
I am struggling towards an understanding whereby it is not laughable to describe ourselves as perfect, or even reaching for perfection. However, we must acknowledge the reality of human nature with all it’s potential for glory and for shame. Nor are we trying to overwrite our humanity with a façade of holiness which is so often revealed to be hypocrisy, and always ends in failure, or, at least, something substandard. Yet I don’t want to abandon the goal of perfection, not even to settle for a life of goodness. The promises in the gospel seem so complete that there is an offer of a new kind of life that is in tune with the life of Christ – even though it is punctuated with the need for regular confession of failure – but within the assurance of forgiveness. Perhaps it is though we see a flawless display from a dancer, a gymnast or an athlete. Then they turn to us and say, “Now I want you to go out there and do the same performance – just as I have taught you.” As the fear shows in our faces, he responds, “Yes, you will make several mistakes, but what you do will be good enough”. Those who step out onto the stage in faith discover that it is the stepping out onto the stage that is counted as perfection, and though we did indeed make some mistakes we were indeed good enough. And so, we enter into a new way of life, following the way of Christ, a way that is full of grace, even as we remain the people we know ourselves to be.
Spiritual Devotion 