Perfection and the Church – Last Generation Theology Revisited

The Great Controversy motif introduces to Christian theology the need for God to be “vindicated” before the sin problem can be eradicated from the universe. I am of the opinion that the perfection that leads to the vindication of God at the “end of the world” is not the perfection of individuals but the perfection of a people in relationships.

Perfection of a people implies solidarity of purpose and mission, yet allows for minor failings of individuals and harmonises with the unique Adventist understanding that the “present truth” of the 3 Angels Message must reach the entire world before the end will come. No group, except it be in perfect unity (as the Father, Son and Spirit are) and be in Christ, could ever accomplish such a goal. In remembering that Bible Eschatology deals with grand schemes and spiritual warfare on a universe-wide scale and identifies the church or spritual Israel (woman, Zion, 144000, great multitude) as a single collective group, it makes far more sense to take this view than to say that Jesus “will wait for the maturing of Christian character in a significant number of people (read individuals) as the chief condition determining… the time of the Second Coming.”[1] Words in brackets mine.

Whilst an individual may seem to be perfect in his or her actions, he/she may not be in his/her attitudes. A global group that lacks Christ-likeness in attitudes (including a passion for the lost soul, a heart that is drawn to the needy and destitute) will most likely self-destruct, imploding in infighting and constantly engrossed in self-directed adulation of its own piety or theological superiority.

I hope this does not downplay the importance of individual sanctification. Our holiness (you may call it perfection) is the central goal of salvation. This understanding of Perfection does not remove the need for you or me to “afflict our souls” (Lev 23:32) and prepare to stand before Lord in his glory (unveiled holiness) (Jude 24) [the anti-typical Day of Atonement], but it removes the concept that Jesus’ return is contingent on your or my individual holiness. If Christ’s return was dependent on my perfection, either I am not saved and Christ will return while I am not perfect or I am saved and the rest of the world must wait until I am sinless.

Surely our invidual perfection is only a component of our movement fulfilling its mission as God’s end-time prophetic “remnant.”

[1] http://lastgenerationtheology.org/lgt/ori/ori-lgt14.php