tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904521.post114713894837759057..comments2024-02-17T15:07:57.852-05:00Comments on Christian Thoughts: In Pursuit of PerfectionSonya Triggs-Whartonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09159013806978860645noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904521.post-10369141260358270882008-08-02T13:16:00.000-04:002008-08-02T13:16:00.000-04:00Love The Article! Thank you for sharing...Love The Article! Thank you for sharing...Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05354557942542815801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904521.post-1147305402067701972006-05-10T19:56:00.000-04:002006-05-10T19:56:00.000-04:00Anonymous - I wish I had taken my own advice sever...Anonymous - <BR/>I wish I had taken my own advice several years ago, but we 'perfectionists' eventually learn to take the less difficult road.<BR/><BR/>T.H. - <BR/>I think we all feel that as Christians. Really, no matter how much we do, we always feel like we could be doing more. I believe that is a trick of the enemy to keep us from doing anything at all. But I believe that if we persevere, God will continue to bless our endeavors.<BR/><BR/>Ms. Mimi:<BR/>Thank you for your thoughtful remarks. I'm glad to know that you are coming out of your own struggle with perfectionism and allowing God to be in control. He is the Creator, Our Father and God Almighty - If He can't handle it, then no one can!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904521.post-1147281147458891752006-05-10T13:12:00.000-04:002006-05-10T13:12:00.000-04:00I have a problem with perfectionism about some thi...I have a problem with perfectionism about some things, and it usually winds up making me depressed and dejected, because I never reach the artificial standard I set for myself. I struggled with an eating disorder in the past in an effort to be perfect. It is times like those when I must remind myself that it is only with God that I can do all things-- through Christ-- not my works. bottom line is perfection stems from two seemingly incongruent things: pride, and insecurity. We try to be perfect to seek approval, believing that somehow approval makes us acceptable. But God when he forgives us already accepts us, and the only one we should seek approval from is Him. <BR/><BR/>So I have come to the conclusion that perfectionism is Satan's trap to keep us from trusting in the message of salvation, because it implies that we are saved by works, and our own efforts, not grace. <BR/><BR/>For a long time, until quite recently I felt that it was my responsibility as a Christian to save the world. I was involved with many causes. I felt deeply impacted by the collective human struggle (and still do). But something was missing. All your best efforts can be ruined over night, or worse yet, fail. <BR/><BR/>Now I know it isn't my job to save the world. That's why Jesus died. I should be contributing to spreading the word, being an ambassador for Christ, and letting God use me, but leave the results to God. I guess that is why lately I've been struggling with social justice, politics, and advocacy-- my work. I know that it makes a difference, but after many versions of figuring out how we change the world, I come back to a final, and simple solution: We have a spiritual problem. We can change presidents, change budgets, change social values and mores, change culture, and we SHOULD do all those things to the extent that we are led. But none of those things changes the fundamental problem: human nature. <BR/><BR/>In our recent evangelism training our guest teacher said that evangelism is "Sharing the news of Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God." <BR/><BR/>After we have tried our best, it is our job to be still and rest, remembering that God's strength is made perfect in our weakness.ms mimi the mocha soulchildhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04301316700724316180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904521.post-1147275481956035592006-05-10T11:38:00.000-04:002006-05-10T11:38:00.000-04:00This is a good article. I'm no perfectionist, but...This is a good article. I'm no perfectionist, but I often feel I'm not loving my "brother" enough. I fear that for as much as I desire to be a blessing to others, I'm still far to self-serving.<BR/><BR/>As you said, all we can do is keep trying to grow in Christ and know that God loves us at every stage of development.T.H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05712484910693909257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904521.post-1147202817148275942006-05-09T15:26:00.000-04:002006-05-09T15:26:00.000-04:00If only more people would take heed to your advice...If only more people would take heed to your advice or least share these words so many of the "perfectionists" out there, that the struggle on the road to nowhere would be that less difficult...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com