No. 53 One of my members is a former member of the Nazarene Church. Sometimes he and I have lively discussions about sanctification. I guess the same conversations could also occur with Methodists. So here�s my question: Are sanctification and perfectionism the same thing? Isn�t it possible and good for one to strive after perfection in good works and at the same time see sanctification in baptismal terms as a daily dying to sin and being raised to new life? >>DR. LEOPALDO SANCHEZ M.: Nick, I appreciate that question very much. It requires some careful attention, too. First of all, we could begin by saying that Scripture thus called Christians to perfection in holiness. There is no way around that. For example, Paul tells the Corinthians: Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of Spirit making holiness perfect in the fear of God. So it is proper for Christians to strive after perfection in holiness and good works. Indeed, it is proper to try our best at serving the neighbor. However, striving after perfect sanctification and actual perfectionism are two very different things. Perfectionism is the illusion that we can attain complete, full, perfect sanctification in this life. But how is this utopian dream different from striving after perfect sanctification? The difference lies in the Christian's realistic view of himself or herself. Perfectionism you see does not take seriously the reality of sin in the Christian's life. And on the other hand Christians who strive after perfection often know their sins all too well. They desire and try to serve their neighbors. But also know that their service often takes place under the cover of great weakness. And even recognize their failures to make holiness perfect in their lives. One of the best antidotes against perfectionism is to see sanctification as a daily baptism. We may call this the baptismal model of sanctification. Here life in the Spirit is a life of daily repentance. Luther puts it this way, "Baptism signifies that the old creature in us with all these sins and evil desires is to be drowned and die through daily contrition and repentance. And on the other hand, that daily a new person is to come forth and rise up to live before God in righteousness and purity forever." This is from the Small Catechism. Now, under this baptismal model of sanctification, striving for good works always ends up in a return to baptism. In other words, we are led to be contrite for our failure to be perfect and also receive God's forgiveness to walk once again in newness of life and strive once again to serve our neighbor. Our guilt is taken away daily through the forgiveness of sins. And the same Gospel leads us to continue daily to strive to serve our neighbor. Pieper, a Lutheran theologian, sums up the baptismal model quite well and how it applies to the sanctified life which could be spoken of as a striving after perfection and holiness. Here is what Pieper says: Nothing makes Christians so conscious of their daily deficiencies as the earnest driving for perfection. And when they acknowledge and confess their daily shortcomings before God, they flee for refuge to divine grace, knowing that the grace of God takes no account of the law on human works, of our daily success or failure in sanctification and good works. And since they are no more under the law but under grace, they daily begin anew their struggle to attain perfect sanctification deploring their many failures. But at the same time being assured of their ultimate victory striving after perfect sanctification. The Christian thus leads the life of daily repentance.