This post covers sections 13 through 16 of John Wesley’s Plain Account of Christian Perfection. John Wesley highlights in section 13 one of the pitfalls for those who pursue Christian perfection. “Not that they have already attained all that they shall attain, either are already in this sense perfect. But they daily ‘go on from strength to strength; beholding’ now, ‘as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, they are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord.’”
Deeply embedded in the doctrine of Christian perfection is humility, the absence of pride. One of the biggest pitfalls we face is claiming to have attained Christian perfection. Such a claim leads to pride and relaxing off our pursuit of the imitation of Christ.
Philippians 3:12-16, “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”
No matter where we are on the spectrum of Christian perfection, our attitude of humility should also be that there is more progress to attain and more ground to be conquered. I have found over my lifetime that those closest to Christian perfection are more sensitive to and aware of their sin and how much ground there is yet to conquer. Our attitude and outlook should always be that there is work yet to be done no matter how much progress we may have attained.
In section 13, John Wesley also discusses doubt. Doubt is an issue that is especially plaguing our culture today. It is more vocally expressed that people are agnostic, and there have been public incidents in which visible figures have turned away from God over doubt. Doubt may be caused by multiple factors, so we cannot stereotype those who turn away or become agnostic.
However, common causes of doubt include false teaching and false beliefs, an insincere conversion, indecisiveness toward sin (a/k/a double-mindedness), failing to build healthy boundaries against sin, persecution and suffering, and periods of silence from God. Wesley wrote, “In this peace they remain for days, or weeks, or months, and commonly suppose they shall not know war any more; till some of their old enemies, their bosom sins, or the sin which did most easily beset them, (perhaps anger or desire) assault them again, and thrust sore at them, that they may fall. Then arises fear, that they shall not endure to the end; and often doubt, whether God has not forgotten them, or whether they did not deceive themselves in thinking their sins were forgiven. Under these clouds, especially if they reason with the devil, they go mourning all the day long. But it is seldom long before their Lord answers for himself, sending them the Holy Ghost to comfort them, to bear witness continually with their spirits that they are the children of God.”
I know others, and I have had this experience as well, who have gone through times when it seems little spiritual progress is being made, and God is silent or absent. During these times, it may be difficult to reconcile the goodness of God with difficulties in life. Perhaps one of the severest threats to belief in God is suffering. Where is God during times of suffering or in the face of human suffering? We would do well to remember that the Bible is full of examples when His people suffered greatly.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not spared from being thrown into the fiery furnace. Joseph was cast into a pit and imprisoned in Egypt. Paul experienced shipwreck and prison directly as a result of God’s call. There are many examples of Christians who have lost their lives and suffered immensely for the kingdom of heaven.
We would do well to remember that during these times of difficulty God is with us, and it is only because of His strength that we can endure the difficulty and come through it with greater strength.
Perhaps another source of doubt is with the concept and scope of perfection itself. Perfection would seem to imply the absence of difficulty and suffering. Indeed, we often say, “In a perfect world…,” when speaking of desirable outcomes in the midst of trials. In section 15, Wesley further clarifies the scope of perfection. “We willingly allow, and continually declare, there is no such perfection in this life, as implies either a dispensation from doing good, and attending all the ordinances of God, or a freedom from ignorance, mistake, temptation, and a thousand infirmities necessarily connected with flesh and blood.”
Instead, Wesley writes, “But whom then do you mean by ‘one that is perfect?’ We mean one in whom is the mind which was in Christ, and who so walketh as Christ also walked; a man that hath clean hands and a pure heart,’ or that is cleansed from all filthiness of flesh and spirit…”
Because our souls are wrapped in human flesh which is subject to this fallen world, we will always be engaged in a battle against sin. Thus, there will always be progress to attain. Still further, we must consider what it means to have the “mind of Christ”.
Luke 18:10-14, “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
No matter where we are on the spectrum of Christian perfection, let this always be our prayer, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!”
Of all the possible pitfalls we face as we seek to imitate Christ more and more each day, pride remains our fiercest foe.
Prayer: “Lord, help me to always be able to see my sin and be quick to confess it. Help me to be sensitive to my own wrongdoing and to be discerning in what I allow into my mind, my heart, and my life. Help me to never stop seeking to have a perfect love for You. Help me to always remember that there is still more ground to conquer. When despair seems to set in, please be near me and help me remember that I live each day through Your strength. Amen.”
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