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Perfectionism is not truth. Perfectionism inhibits the surface of your life to accept the truth. This perfectionism can be applied to your entire life or just a sheltered part of it.
As a Christian, you may have been brought up under the notion, either overtly presented or implied, that in order to be acceptable to God and to others you needed to be perfect or at least as close to perfect as you could possibly get. This is called “conditional love” and is a damaging form of emotional abuse. It can be couched in biblical clothing, but it hides a deception.
Your desire for your life or some aspect of it to be “perfect” may appear to flood your life with meaning and purpose. Don’t buy into this deception; just because something is pronounced as scriptural doesn’t always mean it is. As 2 Corinthians 11:14 cautions, even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. Again, you must look at the nature of God and what you know of his character to interpret this concept of being worthy and being perfect.
In Matthew 5:48, in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says this:
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
I believe many people misunderstand this verse because they overlook one word — therefore. This statement is a conclusion, based on all that Jesus has said up to this point. Jesus has been comparing what people normally do to God’s standard for living, for acting and loving. Quite naturally, the standard people have comes woefully short. The conclusion, therefore, is to go with God’s standard; to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This is God’s standard, however, but it is not the threshold. It is the standard God wants you to live by, but it is not the threshold of his love. God does not wait until you are perfect before he loves you. Romans 5:8 speaks directly to this lie of perfectionism:
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we are still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Or, put in a different way, “But God demonstrates his own love for you in this: Even though you’re not perfect, Christ died for you.” Love is the threshold; love is the motivation, not being perfect.
SOURCE: Chapter 9: “Learning the Power of Acceptance” in Every Woman’s Guide to Managing YourAnger by Gregory L. Jantz, PhD., founder of The Center for Counseling and Health Resources Inc.