Instead, one should look for those who are mature and still allowing perfection to happen.
The commonly used verse "be perfect as your Father is perfect" means be mature.
Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
It means to allow completion. Allow for the culmination of the expected end which is to become fully grown. To fully mature and exercise virtue.
It does not mean one is instantly perfect on the spot. It is a continual forward progress until we become like our Father.
We are becoming.
Jesus prayed in John 17
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me
In John 15:4 Jesus said to the Apostle, you cannot bear fruit unless you abide in Him.
If we see a lack of fruit or character it reveals a lack of abiding.
The Apostle Paul said "follow me AS I follow Christ"
One challenge is discerrning between a preacher, teacher, a called one and a FOLLOWER.
Christ had this to say in regards to those who taught but lived contrary to their teachings.
Matthew 23
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
Easy English Version
Jesus talks about dangerous teachers
Matthew 23
1 After that, Jesus spoke to the crowd and to his *disciples.
2 ‘The teachers of the *Law and the *Pharisees have authority to explain the *Law of Moses.
3 You must obey everything that they teach you. But you must not do the same things that they do. They teach you what the *Law of Moses is. But then they themselves do not obey these rules.
The Lord did not have a problem with what the teachers and Pharisees taught.
His issue was their heart condition, motive and that they themselves did not obey what they taught.
What they teach is correct, but the character in which they live is not.
If you obey what they say (because it is still the Word "Law") it will benefit you.
We will get lost when we begin to analyze, scrutinize and then criticize every action a person in ministry makes.
The question needs to be asked. Are they teaching right?
Are they living in right?
Do they live what they preach?
Can it be seen with evident fruit that they are not just teaching Christ, but that they are LIVING CHRISTLIKE?
Then pick up not just their teachings, but their example of character as well.
We must not allow pride a place to set up its Throne on our hearts to the point we cannot find, follow and serve someone somewhere.
In His Love,
Jesse Griffin
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