Be Perfect

Andrew Murray's "Be Perfect" emerged from his pastoral concern that Christians were settling for spiritual mediocrity rather than pursuing the holiness commanded by Christ. Writing in 1893 during the height of the Keswick holiness movement, Murray addressed believers who struggled with the seeming impossibility of Jesus's words in Matthew 5:48: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." The work represents Murray's attempt to bridge Reformed theology with the practical pursuit of Christian perfection.

Murray argues that Christian perfection is not an impossible ideal but an attainable reality through complete surrender to Christ and dependence on the Holy Spirit. He distinguishes between sinless perfection, which he rejects, and perfect consecration, which he champions as the normal Christian life. The book systematically addresses common objections to the pursuit of perfection, arguing that what appears impossible to human effort becomes possible through divine grace. Murray emphasizes that perfection consists not in the absence of all fault but in wholehearted devotion to God, complete obedience within one's present understanding, and perfect love as the ruling principle of life. He traces perfection through various biblical characters and argues that God's commands always come with the power to fulfill them.

The work became influential within evangelical circles seeking to balance doctrinal orthodoxy with experiential spirituality, particularly among those influenced by the holiness and deeper life movements. Murray's careful theological distinctions and pastoral tone made perfectionist ideals accessible to mainstream Protestant audiences without abandoning core Reformed commitments. Who should read this: Christians seeking to understand historical perspectives on sanctification and holiness, particularly those interested in late nineteenth-century evangelical spirituality. This work is not for readers uncomfortable with perfectionist language or those seeking contemporary approaches to spiritual formation.