Purpose Over Perfection

Send us Fan Mail“What if Jesus never told us to be flawless, but to become fully ourselves?”In this honest, funny, and deeply human message, Dr. Essence Deming-Rivers unpacks the difference between perfection and purpose. Starting with her own reluctance to step into the calling in front of her, she reflects on Matthew 5, the pressure to “get it right,” and the ways religion can turn love into rules, performance, and policing.But what if “be perfect” was never about never making mistakes?Dr. Essence reframes perfection through the word teleios: becoming whole, fully developed, and aligned with your intended purpose. Through the life of Jesus, she reminds us that purpose is not discovered by performing flawlessly, but by stepping away, listening deeply, being tested, finding community, missing the mark, adjusting, and trying again.This is a message for anyone who has been afraid to move forward because they might mess it up. The point is not perfection. The point is becoming. Support the showHarvest is a fully affirming, inclusive (including the LGBTQ+ community) progressive Christian church located in Sarasota, Florida.Follow us on Social Media:Instagram - Instagram.com/harvestsarasotaFacebook - Facebook.com/harvestsarasotaTikTok CLICK HEREDONATE to support our podcast HERERecorded live at Harvest Church in Sarasota by Michael Thomas Regina and Stephen Lehman of Boardtown Creative