Comments on: Sanctification Versus Perfectionism/Elitism

By: Ben Toh

Fri, 14 Aug 2015 20:40:18 +0000

Thanks, Brian. I actually do like my “unpopular” articles … perhaps because I wrote it. Oops, there goes my “incurvates in si” rearing its ugly head again.

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By: BrianK

Fri, 14 Aug 2015 18:17:46 +0000

Just tagging this excellent article of Ben’s that did not get much discussion. This is really a big part of what is going on at ubf.

UBFism is a pathological system that promised to cure us of the invurvatus-in-se symptom that we all experience as human beings. Many such utopian systems have been created. They all promise a cure for this basic human problem.

But they all fail to cure us. After several years, those hope-of-a-new-generation Bible students grow up and realize that UBFism cannot cure their basic problem of self-centeredness. So the mask comes off, the mirror we all stared into cracks and we come to realize that Jesus was there all along.

It is only love that can begin to sanctify us, and love is at the heart of the gospel.

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By: Ben Toh

Mon, 09 Jun 2014 13:47:38 +0000

Beka, Perhaps out of fear, this is often not articulated in ubf Bible studies and messages. Instead of proclaiming indicatives (the gospel), imperatives (commands) are pounded.

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By: bekamartin

Mon, 09 Jun 2014 00:07:37 +0000

I am fully comfortable with my imperfections and weaknesses and selfishness and sins, because I know Jesus is strong enough, perfect enough, sinless, selfless, and so on. He gave me a new life, not a perfect life.

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By: Ben Toh

Tue, 20 May 2014 19:50:57 +0000

Forests, This “sanctification by our actions” is problematic to the gospel, because it means that sanctification is ultimately up to you, according to your works and performance.

This invariably gives the leader/shepherd/missionary/Bible teacher the “upper hand” because they decide whether or not your works or performance meets their expectation of you, and the “standard” they expect you to reach.

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By: forestsfailyou

Tue, 20 May 2014 19:07:09 +0000

Mark Yang had bible study with me in February on this chapter. He did not claim to be a perfectionist but did that Paul was saying we are justified though Christ and sanctified by our actions. This is easily seen as a cute way of justifying the rampant implied legalism that was the subject of Paul’s letters to the Galatians.

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By: Ben Toh

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:43:33 +0000

Hi MJ, Yeah, it’s so easy to live with an over-realized eschatology! Instead, we Christians should live daily with the conviction of “Already, But Not Yet.”

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By: Ben Toh

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:38:32 +0000

Hi Oscar, Paul’s gospel humility is genuine and real for he truly regarded himself as the worst (1 Tim 1:15), he regarded others as better (Phil 2:3), and he regarded himself with sober judgment (Rom 12:3). So he never had to be too sensitive about himself or others, since his center was not himself, but Jesus (Phil 3:7-11).

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By: mj

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:14:58 +0000

thanks for this dr. B. My idea of perfectionists/elitists has changed. It’s not someone who is perfect, but someone who cannot bear the suggestion of imperfection. When something doesn’t go their way they tick, (i do this all the time).
Thank God, our goal is not human perfection or else we’d never be free from the fear someone would discover the true “me”. My goal is not to become a spiritually good looking trophy to be placed in God’s showcase. It’s as Jesus prayed, to be one with God as he is, this doesn’t happen by my in efforts, and it won’t happen anytime on this earth, this keeps us away from spiritual complacency which kills growth.
About physically older and truly mature believers, they’ve said that coming closer to God actually shows them how far they are because of the huge gap caused by sin. So coming closer to God should produce a deeper sense of unworthiness and humility, the opposite effect of perfectionism/elitism.
Let’s be on guard against an over-realized eschatology:)

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By: Oscar

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:15:57 +0000

I totally agree that having an attitude of “I’m not there yet” is good. Not just good, great! Especially with spiritual elitism. I walked into my new church with this attitude that I was more biblically knowledgable, but boy was I surprised by the theological conversations I’ve had with the people in my group! That really put me in my place, thank God.

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