Many of the theological questions that I think about on a regular basis are the same questions that I had as a teenager and a new Christian. Some of these I will be grappling with on this blog (pneumatology, Biblical authority, soteriology, and sanctification), while some of those questions don't interest me as much now as they did then. I'm beginning to wonder if these "questions" are actually God leading me over a long period of time to a deeper understanding of grace, growth, and discipleship.
One Sunday morning during my teenage years, I was with my Sunday school teacher in what my church called "The Furnace Room" - every Sunday, two people would volunteer to be in the church basement praying throughout the worship service. I had volunteered for that Sunday along with Cindy. We prayed for a while and then we began talking about where we were seeing God working in our lives. I mentioned to Cindy that things were going well, but I could do better. I said that, in fact, "if I just tried harder, I know I could be perfect." Cindy laughed, which was the appropriate response to the arrogance and ignorance of a teenager. I've often thought about that conversation and it has led me to struggle with the meaning of sanctification - the role of the Spirit and the role of the believer therein.
Of course, we will quickly think of Jesus' words in Matthew 5:48 - "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." At one point, I assumed that Jesus was setting an impossibly high standard so as to ensure that Christians would have no choice but to rely on God's grace. I don't buy that - I'm convinced that if he would have meant that, Jesus would have said that. It would have been easy for him to say: "You can't be perfect, no matter how hard you try. Rely on God's mercy instead." But he didn't say that, he said: "Be perfect." How? In what sense?
Here's where we can do some exegetical engagement. The word "perfect" is a translation of the Greek word τέλειοι (tay-lei-oi, basically). This word, while translated as "perfect" doesn't really mean "perfect" in the way that we use the word. And, no, this isn't just a copout to wriggle out from under the command. When we use the word "perfect", we mean flawless, without blemish or mistake, spotless. If we are taking Jesus to mean what we mean when we use the word "perfect", then how do we square this with Paul's statements in Romans? (especially Romans 3:23 - "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" and most of Romans 7) Also, how do we reconcile Jesus' command with our experience of this life? If Jesus meant "perfect" as we mean "perfect", then my statement to my Sunday school teacher would have been accurate, if arrogant.
"Perfection" in the sense of "flawless, spotless, without mistake or error" is beyond our reach. Good thing that τέλειοι has a different possible interpretation. As is the case with most words translated from another language, there are several options available. The root word (τέλος) can mean "perfect", but also whole, mature, complete. In fact, τέλος has connotations of meeting a goal, fulfilling a purpose, maturing. This fits in quite nicely with the Wesleyan idea of sanctification. Kind of like "Be fulfilling your purpose, as Your heavenly Father is fulfilling His purpose."
I will pursue this line of thinking with more thought and care next week, when I can devote some more time and energy to it.
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