The omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent being that is God is a long-standing and pervasive figure within Christianity. For many, God is the all-knowing, all-powerful being that guides, protects and provides for us. This brings up the question: Is God perfect in Christianity?
In the majority of Christian denominations throughout history, the belief in a perfect, all-powerful and all-knowing God has been widely accepted. One of the most widely quoted of Biblical verses in support of an all-perfect being is “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48). It is also important to note that with perfect, comes holiness and thus, to be pure and sinless. The perfect nature of God also suggests justice and mercy and throughout the Bible, references of a perfect and holy God prominently feature.
That being said, it is difficult to answer the question: is God perfect in Christianity? for two reasons. Firstly, the Bible is seen by some to be open to interpretation, thus leading to a range of interpretations of biblical texts. Consequently, this allows for multiple perspectives on the perfection of God. On the one hand, some read the Bible and infer that God is perfect in all senses, whilst others submit to the notion that God is flawed and has made imperfection-inducing decisions, especially when it comes to the act of creation.
On the other hand, religions such as Christianity presents the idea of a ‘perfect human’, namely Jesus Christ. This implies that Christ, as the son of a God, has somehow surpassed the godly perfection which has been previously declared as holy, righteous and just. The concept of Christ is fundamentally a controversial one and has led to some arguing again, for and against the fact of a perfect deity.
Despite this, many believe that a perfect and all-knowing God will eventually use his will to resolve all terrestrial issues, opinions and dilemmas. Ultimately, it is left to the believer to decide if God is indeed perfect in Christianity.
God and His Purpose
The perfect, divine essence shared by all deities in almost any religion is somehow necessary to ensure Humans are provided with an absolute idea of morality and values. In Christianity, the purpose of God is to regulate Humans by warning, motivating and rewarding those who dedicate their life to it. A perfect God will provide a balance between the law and justice, without bias or prejudice.
God, it is believed, will have a purpose according to his teachings and scriptures. This purpose is meant to guide people in every aspect of their lives, as described in the Bible: “In Him we live, and move, and have our being;” (Acts 17:28). A perfect God will provide guidance in the form of laws, commandments and rulings. In this sense, it can be argued that God has to be perfect in order to provide an exemplary structure of morality.
Furthermore, for many Christians, the perfection of God lies within His power to heal and intervene. All miracles and supernatural events pertaining to God in the Bible reinforce the message that He is perfect and complete. It is also stated that God is the only being that can forgive sins, thus suggesting He is perfect in the eyes of the faithful.
God’s Imperfections
The idea of a perfect God is contradictory for some because, how can a perfect being create Death, Suffering and Evil? In the common Christian perception, God intended for His creation to exist in perfect harmony, but this was not so. The existence of evil and suffering suggests that God is not perfect, at least in certain aspects. It is argued that the act of creation and the related consequences that followed implies an imperfect God.
Additionally, some ask ‘If God is perfect, then where is the proof?’. That is to say, no proof exists that suggest God is an all perfect being. The Biblical record only provides evidence of a divine being, not of His perfection. Such vague references to a perfect God leave many questions unanswered and thus, casts doubt upon Christianity’s main tenet of a perfect deity.
Given the differences in interpretation, it can be inferred that the state of God’s perfection is ambiguous, and any attempt to estimate the extent of God’s perfection will remain subjective. Ultimately, the answer to whether God is perfect in Christianity is not objectively definite.
Influence on Human Nature
The idea of an all-perfect God can manipulate Human behaviour in different ways. For example, a perfect, divine being will discourage Human’s from taking responsibility and making better decisions. This is known as the ‘God shield’, an invisible forcefield which seems to protect Human behaviour by telling them God will solve all issues.
Another consequence of God’s perfection is that believers find solace in their faith and in God. This helps them to move on in times of stress and seek guidance in the form of prayer. This demonstrates that with the perception of a perfect God, one can find comfort and understanding. Additionally, this may lead to more people turning to religion and becoming believers.
On the flip side, a perfect and all-knowing God can also have a negative influence on Human behaviour. Believers may feel guilt if they fail to meet the absolute standards of perfection set by a perfect deity. This may lead to a decrease in self-esteem and an increase in their anxieties.
Ultimately, whether or not God is perfect in Christianity remains an open question and the answer may never be known.
Existence of Living Ideals
The concept of perfect and divine ideals held by a perfect and all-knowing God are based upon the esteem of practices and beliefs held by the faithful. For many Christianity, the ideal and perfect form of Human is seen through the Biblical figure of Jesus Christ. Such ideals instilled in Human behaviour by God’s supposedly perfect nature aims to guide and create a Human race based on theeness and compromise.
On the other hand, by worshipping a perfect God, Humans could be restricted from exploring their morality and making independent decisions. This may lead to people believing their act of free will is controlled by God, an idea which may reinforce the perfection of a divine figure.
Exceeding that, it can be argued that the belief in a perfect God, is just an abstract, unfounded concept often reinforced by Human nature for control and government. This idea could potentially prevent humans from seeking their own ideas of perfection and divine nature.
Impact on Different Religions
The concept of a perfect and divine being is not just exclusive to Christianity, but it appears in almost all major religions. Whether it be Islam’s Allah, Hinduism’s Shango, Buddhism’s Siddhartha Gautama or Judaism’s Yahweh, all these gods, albeit in different forms, suggest the presence of absolute perfection. Consequently, it can be inferred that the perception of a perfect God is not wholly exclusive to Christianity.
That being said, it is also important to note that a perfect God can be represented differently across different religions. For example, some religions focus on Gods of War, whereas others are based upon Gods of Wisdom. Therefore, it can be argued that what determines perfection for one religion does not necessarily do the same for another.
Moreover, the concept of perfection may be seen as non-applicable in certain polytheistic religions. This is because, with multiple gods of equal power, one would struggle to identify which one is ‘perfect’.
A Case for Omniscience and Omnipotence
The argument in favour of a perfect God is based upon the omniscience and omnipotence that He is believed to possess. Being ‘all-knowing’ means that God will have the perfect understanding of all the nuances of life and will have the ability to resolve all problems no matter how complex they may be.
Similarly, being ‘all-powerful’ suggests that God has the power to influence Human behaviour, cause miracles and subjugate Human will. In this instance, a perfect God is necessary to provide a sense of protection and guidance, thus forming a solid foundation upon which one can build their morals and values.
Ultimately, God’s omniscience and omnipotence are of direct importance to one’s belief in Him. Whether it be for the betterment or for the worsement of humankind, the argument for the perfection of God is based on the lack of Human ability to confront the complexities of life.
Interpretation vs. Personal Opinion
The personal opinion of a perfect God brings us to the idea of interpretation. The way different people interpret the Bible and the teachings of God differ on a major degree. For some, paganism and polytheism influenced Biblical writers and thus, may have blurred the ideas of perfection featured in Christianity. Ultimately, different people interpret Christianity differently.
That being said, the perfect nature of God is ultimately a personal judgement. Every person has an opinion that affects the extent of their belief in the perfect God. That is to say, one must decide if the perceived flaws in Christianity encourages or denies the idea of a perfect God. Consequently, the belief and opinion of a person may or may not reach the same conclusion about perfection and divine nature.
Furthermore, personal opinion would naturally dichotomize religion. Some religious beliefs interpret a perfect deity as all-controlling, whereas others will interpret it to focus on justice and mercy. Therefore, the answer to whether God is perfect in Christianity is ultimately a personal one.
