Monday's thoughts

"At Least, Be Perfect"
This sermon will direct our attention to some of the ideas from Plato. It will also bring together one of the classic Wesleyan ideas that we are called, by God, to "move toward perfection".

Plato had this thought that our lives are driven by ideal images of how things are supposed to be. We look at our lives and we are astonished by the beautiful sights and sounds. Somewhere implanted in our minds is the concept of beauty. We know what perfect beauty is and when we witness something approaching it we are inspired by what we see.

Likewise, we understand what it means to view justice. We know justice when we see it and we are driven to replicate it every chance we have and in every thing we do.

Plato imagined an ideal society. He called it The Republic. It was the perfect form of government where people's roles changed and responsibilities were shared. Everyone worked for the good of the whole.

How does Platonic idealism communicate to the Christian faith? At the Last Supper Jesus did two important things which are reflective of the realism and idealism of his understanding of life. He pointed out that one of them would betray him. He understood human fallacy. He understand the fallibility of each person and he knew the betrayal was in his future from one he had trusted.

Also, he told his friends to take the bread and the cup and to "remember me". He lifted up the example of what a perfect human being is. He pointed to himself and wanted his friends to remember him. They were to remember the example he set and to remember how he lived his life. He was the supreme example of human perfection. He was both human and perfect. He knew love and beauty and justice and mercy. He also knew anger and avarice and hatred and malice. He was the adequate combination of goodness and greatness and that example forms a kind of objective for all his followers to follow. If we are to move on to perfection and if we are to be influenced by the sense of "the good" we don't have to look very far to see it as we follow it.

Toward what do you think we should be moving? Is the idea of moving to perfection something you think is healthy? Does it lift up an ideal that is impossible and that further frustrates us in our effort to live the best we can?

Do you have thoughts on this? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thought click on the box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles