How I Became Perfect
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:28 KJV). A few months ago I went in for a check-up with my doctor. As a neurologist he ran some tests to analyze my nerve functions. Then he cheerfully went through his list of what was wrong with me. Great. I rolled my eyes and he quickly replied with great reassurance, “It’s not you, it’s your brain. You’re perfect .” It’s not you, it’s your brain. You’re perfect? I don’t know how comforted I felt by his remarks, but it certainly made me rethink my definition of perfect. I believe in a literal God. I believe He is our literal father, we are His literal children, and He gives us literal commandments. “Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:13-15). I don’t think it’s a metaphor, but it’s not always so black and white. I’ve been stuck on Matthew 5:28 once or twice before: “Be ye therefore perfect,”...