Christian Perfection From the Writings of Francois Fenelon
"CHRISTIAN PERFECTION is not that rigorous, tedious, cramping thing that many imagine. It demands only an entire surrender of everything to God from the depths of the soul, and the moment this takes place, whatever is done for Him becomes easy."
I heard Bill Pierce on his radio program Night Sounds say that this is one of the most difficult sayings to accept.
The way he read it on the air was: "If it is not easy, it is not of God."
Our ego always wants to struggle and strive and take credit for things. It is hard for us to accept, let alone believe, in an effortless way of life. Yet that is precisely what the saved Christian, in the process of being perfected, will discover.
Here is why. First of all, when we learn to meditate properly so that we get very close to our intuition, and when we really and truly desire to do what is right, just, and fair for each moment--we will simply see which way to go or not to go. The way is clear and when you see which way to go, there is no effort involved.
Here is the classic example I have always given. If you are walking down the sidewalk, and all of a sudden you see a big deep hole in the sidewalk in front of you--it does not take an elaborate decision making process to see what to do. Simply walk around the hole. it is clear.
Christ spoke pejoratively about people who are double minded. We are double minded because when there is a choice between doing what is right and what is expedient or selfish, we find it hard to let go of the selfish. Have you heard the old expression: "He who hesitates is lost?" Now you can see one way of interpreting it.
How many times have I heard heroes (people who rush to pull someone from a burning building or stopped at the scene of an accident and saved someone's life) say: I don't feel like a hero; I just did what I saw had to be done. True heroes do not stop to consider their own safety or convenience, they see something to be done and just do it.
The way is always clear for the pure in heart. If a person really and truly wishes to do what is right for each moment, they will see the way.
The second thing is this: just as it is easy and effortless to just walk around a gaping hole in the sidewalk, so it becomes easier and easier to do the right thing. Fear belongs to the double minded. It says in the Bible that perfect love casts out fear.
I have often said that salvation is both instantaneous and drawn out over time. There comes a moment--the most blessed moment of your life--when you soul delicately inclines toward what is right, regardless of the consequences. The Light of God enters and begins to repent the soul, which is now willing to admit it is wrong and be sorry. The person experiences the touch of God and their life begins to change.
But there is much to be seen and much error to be purged of. This is the process of perfection, which takes years or decades. The newly born child of God sees little selfishnesses and errors every day. And as he or she sees and regrets the wrong (the soul also sees that it cannot change itself), somehow the act of seeing and regretting invokes the mercy of God. And lo and behold, one day the person sees that they have changed.
The daily process of perfection is, I think, alluded to by Paul when he says: "I die daily." He means that a little piece of the old selfish ego life is laid down each day. Even as a little piece of the new child of God replaces the old.
I heard Bill Pierce on his radio program Night Sounds say that this is one of the most difficult sayings to accept.
The way he read it on the air was: "If it is not easy, it is not of God."
Our ego always wants to struggle and strive and take credit for things. It is hard for us to accept, let alone believe, in an effortless way of life. Yet that is precisely what the saved Christian, in the process of being perfected, will discover.
Here is why. First of all, when we learn to meditate properly so that we get very close to our intuition, and when we really and truly desire to do what is right, just, and fair for each moment--we will simply see which way to go or not to go. The way is clear and when you see which way to go, there is no effort involved.
Here is the classic example I have always given. If you are walking down the sidewalk, and all of a sudden you see a big deep hole in the sidewalk in front of you--it does not take an elaborate decision making process to see what to do. Simply walk around the hole. it is clear.
Christ spoke pejoratively about people who are double minded. We are double minded because when there is a choice between doing what is right and what is expedient or selfish, we find it hard to let go of the selfish. Have you heard the old expression: "He who hesitates is lost?" Now you can see one way of interpreting it.
How many times have I heard heroes (people who rush to pull someone from a burning building or stopped at the scene of an accident and saved someone's life) say: I don't feel like a hero; I just did what I saw had to be done. True heroes do not stop to consider their own safety or convenience, they see something to be done and just do it.
The way is always clear for the pure in heart. If a person really and truly wishes to do what is right for each moment, they will see the way.
The second thing is this: just as it is easy and effortless to just walk around a gaping hole in the sidewalk, so it becomes easier and easier to do the right thing. Fear belongs to the double minded. It says in the Bible that perfect love casts out fear.
I have often said that salvation is both instantaneous and drawn out over time. There comes a moment--the most blessed moment of your life--when you soul delicately inclines toward what is right, regardless of the consequences. The Light of God enters and begins to repent the soul, which is now willing to admit it is wrong and be sorry. The person experiences the touch of God and their life begins to change.
But there is much to be seen and much error to be purged of. This is the process of perfection, which takes years or decades. The newly born child of God sees little selfishnesses and errors every day. And as he or she sees and regrets the wrong (the soul also sees that it cannot change itself), somehow the act of seeing and regretting invokes the mercy of God. And lo and behold, one day the person sees that they have changed.
The daily process of perfection is, I think, alluded to by Paul when he says: "I die daily." He means that a little piece of the old selfish ego life is laid down each day. Even as a little piece of the new child of God replaces the old.
.
Every day as I go my way
I see little errors and wrong.
It's not the big things that have made me wrong
But little things I do each day.
.
A harsh tone here, a mean look there
or impatience with some delay to bear.
But why did I overlook to be kind
or forget to what is truly important?
.
It was because I was lost in thought
about my own goals and plans.
I forgot to be kind
And I forgot to remember to be kind.
.
It was lack of awareness
And presence of mind.
I forgot to remember to be kind.
.
So it's back to the meditation
Without reservation
So that patience and kindness
will come to mind.
Conscience is your friend, you see.
It is there to remind you
And it is love inside you
That makes you smile for all to see
When you remember to be kind.
