for Sunday, 26 February 2017 "Catchy slogan, bad theology" by Gregory Crofford
You've seen the t-shirts, ball caps, and bumper stickers:
"I'm not perfect, just forgiven."
It's a catchy slogan. The problem is, it's bad theology.
To be fair, who wouldn't want to celebrate forgiveness? God's pardon of our sins, after all, is at the heart of the Gospel (Romans 5:1, 1 John 1:9). This is known as justification. Because of Christ's sacrifice on our behalf, God has accepted us. When we welcome Christ into our lives, turning away from our sin, we are adopted; we become part of God's family (John 1:12; Romans 8:15; Acts 3:19).
Where the "I'm not perfect, just forgiven" mantra goes off the rails is in the first phrase: "I'm not perfect." The problem is, Jesus himself called us to be perfect in love:
Wesley always asked about his preachers: "Are you going on to perfection?" He longed for them to grow, for their love to become complete. Justification (forgiveness) is not the end, just the beginning! Sanctification (the ongoing process of cleansing) begins when God forgives us. The one who has experienced the lavish grace of Christ naturally wants to go deeper with God, what Peter calls growing in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 3:18). Like a healthy baby doesn't stay a baby for long but progresses through life's stages - toddler, child, teen, adult - so a new follower of Jesus grows up in his or her faith.
But let's go back to the "I'm not perfect, just forgiven" mantra. As currently promoted, it stunts the growth of Christians. A follower of Jesus who is growing up in their faith will naturally be filled more-and-more with God's love (Ephesians 3:14-21). If being "forgiven but not perfect" becomes an excuse for not loving, for mistreating a fellow believer or one who has no profession of Christian faith, then the saying may become a weapon in the hands of the devil.
It might not be a catchy slogan, but a more accurate ball-cap would read:
"Are you forgiven, too? Let's grow together."
My love is not yet complete. Is yours? If not, then let's toss aside slogans that stamp a misguided seal of approval on sin. Let's spur each other on and refuse to excuse each other's failings as if no other outcome is possible. There is victory in Jesus!
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Gregory Crofford
"I'm not perfect, just forgiven."
It's a catchy slogan. The problem is, it's bad theology.
To be fair, who wouldn't want to celebrate forgiveness? God's pardon of our sins, after all, is at the heart of the Gospel (Romans 5:1, 1 John 1:9). This is known as justification. Because of Christ's sacrifice on our behalf, God has accepted us. When we welcome Christ into our lives, turning away from our sin, we are adopted; we become part of God's family (John 1:12; Romans 8:15; Acts 3:19).
Where the "I'm not perfect, just forgiven" mantra goes off the rails is in the first phrase: "I'm not perfect." The problem is, Jesus himself called us to be perfect in love:
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect(Matthew 5:43-48, NIV).
Too often, people quote only v. 48, not taking into account the preceding verses. Jesus is not calling us to an absolute perfection. Such a state of affairs does not exist this side of the Second Coming. John Wesley (1703-91) correctly taught that we will always live with a thousand "infirmities," which include forgetfulness, misunderstandings, good intentions gone wrong, and the like. But this does not exempt us from perfection in love. The Common English Bible catches this nuance well: "Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete" (v. 48).Wesley always asked about his preachers: "Are you going on to perfection?" He longed for them to grow, for their love to become complete. Justification (forgiveness) is not the end, just the beginning! Sanctification (the ongoing process of cleansing) begins when God forgives us. The one who has experienced the lavish grace of Christ naturally wants to go deeper with God, what Peter calls growing in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 3:18). Like a healthy baby doesn't stay a baby for long but progresses through life's stages - toddler, child, teen, adult - so a new follower of Jesus grows up in his or her faith.
But let's go back to the "I'm not perfect, just forgiven" mantra. As currently promoted, it stunts the growth of Christians. A follower of Jesus who is growing up in their faith will naturally be filled more-and-more with God's love (Ephesians 3:14-21). If being "forgiven but not perfect" becomes an excuse for not loving, for mistreating a fellow believer or one who has no profession of Christian faith, then the saying may become a weapon in the hands of the devil.
It might not be a catchy slogan, but a more accurate ball-cap would read:
"Are you forgiven, too? Let's grow together."
My love is not yet complete. Is yours? If not, then let's toss aside slogans that stamp a misguided seal of approval on sin. Let's spur each other on and refuse to excuse each other's failings as if no other outcome is possible. There is victory in Jesus!
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Gregory Crofford
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Categories: discipleship, reflections
URL: http://wp.me/p1xcy8-1wf
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