Article May 8, 1976 Issue

No standing still or backsliding

Progress-The Evidence of Perfectibility

JACK EDWARD FOSS

Was Christ Jesus making an impossible demand on the multitudes to whom he preached when he said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect"? Matt. 5:48;

These words of the Master are from what has come to be called the Sermon on the Mount, and a study of their context in the fifth chapter of Matthew shows that Jesus was pointing to the need of rising above the imperfections of a limited, human sense of love to the expression of the boundless, all-loving nature of God.

He especially emphasized the impartiality of divine Love and compared the blessings constantly emanating from the Father to the sunshine and rain, which nourish everyone, not just a select few. Jesus spoke of mankind's need to learn perfect love, which is without discrimination. As long as our loving thoughts and feelings flow freely to friends but are withheld from so-called enemies, we have need of perfecting ourselves in love.

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