April

April 1, 2008
Kevin Wood
  

Admitting Our Weakness

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”  James 5:16

The above passage in James eliminates the very possibility of perfectionism and pretense.    In fact, perfectionism and pretense are two of the most insidious sins in any church.  These two sins create an atmosphere within the church body which precludes the need for God and the need for one another.

Perfectionism is the sin of self-sufficiency.  It assumes that if the individual makes enough of an effort he/she can overcome their need for God and their tendency toward sin.  Perfectionism absolutely obscures the Christian’s first need, which is to depend on God’s grace alone for salvation. 

Pretense is the sin of self-aggrandizement.  It is assumes that the individual Christian must hide his or her true self to be accepted by others in the fellowship.  Pretense absolutely kills the Christians second need, which is to give and receive love.

Perfectionism and pretense are the enemies of healthy Christians and churches.  Both of these sins (which are really what they are) keep us from depending on God and depending on one another.  Furthermore, these very human failings keep a church mired in untruth and poor health.  That is why James calls on us to confess our sins and our faults to one another that we might be healed.  It is impossible for healing to take place if we are not honest with God and with one another.  Scripture gives a better model.  In scripture we are reminded to admit our sinfulness and our needs.  We are told that the ways of effort and labor are fruitless and that the only way to proceed is by trusting in God’s grace and mercy alone. 

James gives us the practical upshot of depending on God and being accountable to one another.  The outcome of such a lifestyle will not be perfectionism and pretense.  Rather, the result will be brokenness and transparency.  Brokenness reminds us of our need for God.  While, transparency demonstrates to others our dependence on God and our willingness to be honest before others.  What these two qualities accomplish is to remind us that we are a fellowship of need.   We need God and we need one another.

Kevin Wood

Pastor