The evils of perfectionism John Owen once said that The incomprehensible, infinite, and most perfect holiness or purity of God is the cause why He hates and detests all sin. Yet we not only find individuals, but whole churches who teach that a person can reach this absolute perfection, and this hatred for sin. But it is worse than this! They teach that the poor sinner can do it in his own strength or with just a little help for Christ. I have had church leaders from these denominations tell me that if you can keep from sinning for just one second, you have just proved that you can reach a state of sinless perfection. If you belong to one of these churches, can you not see how wrong this is? Have you not found yourself helpless in your own strengths, over and over again? Even when by shear force of will you have “white knuckled” over some bad habit, didnt you find that you then fell just as badly in another area? You have neither the strength nor the inner grace to triumph over your besetting sins. Why? Because you are trying to do Gods work with the Devils hands. You were born into sin. Your sinful condition goes to the bone. Worse, it goes to the soul. If you persist in your efforts, do not expect the Lord to fill your life with his blessings, unless it be the blessings of affliction. For the Lord will continue to give you afflictions until you stop and let God be God, in your life. You must realize that will never be able to to try hard enough to attain perfection. Why? Because it is all grace from God, first to last...lest any man should boast. You think that if you had a long hand you could reach the grace of God. No, but if you have a withered hand, that grace can reach you. - C.H. Spurgeon
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 20:48:38 +0000
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