plu·per·fect (pl-pûrfkt)
adj. More than perfect
Become what God has already made you
Pluperfect describes the healthiest context in which the Christian can pursue their formation in Christ. It recognizes that God has already provided and planned a life for His children. Romans 8:28-30 identifiesthe transformation process that originally was set outside of time and space. God sees everything contemporaneous, therefore, he sees us as already complete, perfect, lacking in nothing. Think of it as a vertically stacked reality, much like Ephesians 2:10 describes that God created good works for us to do before the world began. Augustine said, “There was, therefore, no time before you made anything, since time itself is something you made.” [1] The ancient idea that God saw everyday of our lives before we were made fits this reality.[2]God then sees us in our final condition as made in and conformed to Christ’s image. It is in this context then that the pressure is off, because God has promised to complete his work in us.[3]It is in this context of acceptance and confidence that an apprentice of Jesus can sustain uncomplicated obedience to Christ for a lifetime. It frees one from legalism and the need to compete with their darker nature and its legalistic expectations. The mystery and romance in our relationship to God is that we are already what we are to become. But our reality in time and space is the process called discipleship or spiritual formation.
Pluperfect sets outside of time and space, then we proceed to our reality which is to engage the world of time and space. What Jesus meant when he said, “ For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” [4]was a different kind of perfection, one accomplished outside of the best human competency. It is a quality of life that begins internally and reveals itself socially through the human body to the world. For that reason, its reach and power far exceeds the mere limits of even the best human competency. This does not mean however, that reason, discipline, effort, and skill are any less apart of formation in Christ, in fact they are essential.
The life of discipleship is one that requires effort, it also includes discipline, suffering and service. Many burn out, or get discouraged and drop out because they can’t sustain the effort on the basis that they aren’t up to speed, they should have been further along by now. While some of that may be true, the pluperfect idea is the one that can keep them going. Because transformation in Christ is
1. A life long process
2. Its goal is the image of Christ
3. It is radical and internal
4. It includes the development of the spiritual heart
5. It finds it purpose in uncomplicated obedience
6. It requires sustained effort
7. There will be suffering
8. Tools and structure are required
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[1] Augustine’sConfessions page 267
[3] Philippians1:6
[4] Matthew 5:20RSV
