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God Doesn’t Begin With Perfect

Posted Jan 28 2011 by Jonathan Brink in , , with 7 Comments

Self criticism is so destructive.  I have so many friends (including myself) who are their own worst critics.  We hold up an impossibly sharp standard that cuts anyone who crosses its path.  Nothing less than perfection will do.

So Pink just released her new video for her single exploring this emotion.  The better and more explicit version is here.  Pink, who is the female Eminem in my opinion, likes to grapple with honest reflections of self-doubt, persecution and suffering.  Her honesty with her own failures is fuels her musical career.

And one of the things I noticed about this video is that it’s easy to deal with imperfection by granting a perfect status.  Pink sings, “Don’t you ever, ever feel like you’re less than, less than perfect.  Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel like you’re nothing.  You are perfect to me.”

But what I’ve come to realize is that God didn’t begin with perfect.  Perfect status is not what we’re after.  We’re wrestling with what it means to be human but instinctively realize that change happens. Perfect would create a state that disallows change.  Which is why I think God began with good, even very good, instead of perfect.

Wholeness is coming to terms with our own brokenness and recognizing that it doesn’t define us.  It never could because our actions or circumstances were never the basis of God’s love for us.  God was.  God’s original declaration of love, which is that we are “very good” was independent of evidence to support it.  It just was.  Nothing can change it.  But we can believe a lie that we aren’t good.

So revel in that unchangeable love.  And if you don’t believe it, then let the lie go.  You’ll be glad you did.

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About the Author

Jonathan BrinkI am an business development and communications consultant. I am also the senior editor and publisher for Civitas Press. I recently published, Discovering The God Imagination: Reconstructing A Whole, New Christianity. (Civitas, 2011)View all posts by Jonathan Brink →

  • David

    Jesus makes us perfect !

    • Annie

      Moreover, Jesus tells us to be perfect in Matthew 5:48. I think the key is in rethinking what perfect is and how we get there. I do think the Christian life entails progress in virtue because I think it entails healing. I think that’s similar but not quite the same as coming to terms with brokenness. For me, coming to terms with brokenness is a starting point. Obedience is next. Accepting that I fail continually comes after that. But then what needs to happen is patient continuance in doing good.

      • David

        Hi Annie, I agree with you. But good works don’t make us good. God already made us good ! Not saying you shouldn’t do good works….because faith without works is dead..we know that. I guess what I’m saying is it’s the Gospel working in and through us by the Holy Spirit that enables us to do and to be and thank God for His Love, Grace and Mercy shown us in Jesus. It really isn’t about us as some may think. It’s about God and his love toward us. nnWe will always experience our brokeness and it’s how we view that brokenness that keeps us going or not. Can we know God loves us in our brokenness….Absolutely. Thats what is Love is all about. But perfect, I’m not sure…only though Jesus can we be perfect.nnI know no perfect people. I only know broken people who reach out to a Holy God who Loves them or better said would be a Loving God who reaches out to broken people.nnThere is no such thing as a perfect person. That would mean we would be like God n

  • Lynch Gerard

    I let my brokenness define who I was for most of my life and realized, reading your blog this morning, that it still is part of that definition. Phrasing it as simply as you did, “that it doesn’t define you,” brought light to bear. I was surprised I had that blind spot.nI have come to see that acceptance of character defects and shortcomings goes much further toward change than being critical and “working on them.” Much of that “work” is just an unctious rubdown for an achy ego. Or as Henry said, “just rearranging my prejudices.” I cannot think my way out of them. I cannot change myself and that is not part of my job description as a child of God. Love is our perfection and love is only of God. Surrender is my work, to allow myself to be a “living sacrifice.”

  • http://twitter.com/jeremyers1 Jeremy Myers

    Wow. I have three daughters and I am scared every day of what society and TV and magazines and music is throwing at them. This song is exactly what my wife and I want to tell our daughters every single day.

  • Lynch Gerard

    This project sounds wondeful. What is the recommended length and how are wwe to submit?

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