SEPTEMBER 3, 2015
The Tyranny of
the Perfect
If
we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. — 1 John 1:8
Read:
1 John
1:5–2:2
Dr. Brian Goldman obsessively tried to be
perfect in treating his patients. But on a nationally broadcast show he
admitted to mistakes he had made. He revealed that he had treated a woman in
the emergency room and then made the decision to discharge her. Later that day
a nurse asked him, “Do you remember that patient you sent home? Well, she’s
back.” The patient had been readmitted to the hospital and then died. This
devastated him. He tried even harder to be perfect, only to learn the obvious:
Perfection is impossible.
As Christians, we may harbor unrealistic
expectations of perfection for ourselves. But even if we can somehow manage the
appearance of a flawless life, our thoughts and motives are never completely
pure.
John the disciple wrote, “If we claim to be
without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). The
remedy is not to hide our sins and to strive harder, but to step into the light
of God’s truth and confess them. “If we walk in the light,” said John, “as he
is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus,
his Son, purifies us from all sin” (v. 7).
In medicine, Dr. Goldman proposes the idea of
a “redefined physician” who—in a culture where we are hesitant to admit our
errors—no longer toils under the tyranny of perfection. Such a physician openly
shares mistakes and supports colleagues who do the same, with a goal of
reducing mistakes.
What if Christians were known not for hiding their
sins but for loving and supporting each other with the truth and grace of our
God? What if we practiced a risky yet healthy honesty with each other and with
the watching world?
Father, it’s so difficult for us to share our faults with
each other, but You call us to wholeness as Your people. Empower us by Your
Spirit to live courageously in love and honesty.
Honesty with God about our sin brings forgiveness.
INSIGHT:
Verse 9 of today’s passage is one of the most
well-known verses in the New Testament. It speaks of the faithfulness of God to
forgive our sins when we confess them. But it is interesting to note that
verses 6-10 begin with the condition “if.” The word if ties results to our
actions. John is saying that our condition—walking in darkness or walking in
light (vv. 6-7) and being deceived or being forgiven (vv. 8-9)—depends on the
choices we make. Although in our standing with God we are eternally forgiven
through Christ’s sacrifice, we will miss out on fellowship with God when we
neglect confession of sin. J.R. Hudberg
Source: Our Daily Bread 2015