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I had the opportunity to teach three lessons in November.
This General Education elective is entitled "Perfectionism and Health" and I am responsible for "Perfectionism in Religion", "Perfectionism in Marriage" and "Perfectionism in Teachers". They took me hours of reflection. How can life be perfect? Many people have exhausted their lives for the pursuit of a perfect life goal and some have even become battered. Some go for plastic surgery to build a perfect look. Some seek for perfection in work and cannot tolerate minor mistakes by themselves or others. Some yearn for perfect relationships and end up in torture and hurt. Perfectionism thus becomes a thorn in life.
Does Christianity also call us to strive for perfection? “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48); “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified…” (I Thess. 4:3) Is not God also asking us not to sin, to be a holy, flawless person? Christian faith indeed motivates us to become better persons. The loving God, our Father in heaven, has expectations and instructions to His children on the earth. However behind these is His endless love to mankind.
A loving father on earth guides his children step by step to reach the goal, hoping that they can achieve. Our heavenly Father understands our weaknesses. The burden He laid on us is what we can afford. “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:30)
No one can be perfect. Paul the Apostle told us the truth: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Rom. 12:3) The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him. It is only then we would not be over-demanding, cynical and self-blaspheming, while often criticizing others. On the other hand, we would not abuse the grace and mercy of God and refuse to grow. This is the secret of a having a healthy state of mind.
Servant pastor
Rev. Benedict Shum
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