Many Christian missionaries tell us that God expects us to be perfect . They quote Psalm 15:1 as proof of this belief.

(Psalm 15:1) says, using a Christian English translation of the Old Testament;

"Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is BLAMELESS and does what is righteous, he who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander in his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellow man, who despises a vile man, but honor those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, and lends his money without usury and does not accept bribes..."

Christian Missionaries say :

"...God DOES require perfection....Have you kept all of this small list that David claims is required? The word BLAMELESS, is defined as being without fault "

In other words,Christian missionaries see this as meaning we have to be perfect. However, a look at the Hebrew shows that this is not the case.

The word translated here as "blameless" is tamim (tav-mem-yud-mem sofit). It is found in many other verses, and looking at it in context elsewhere can help to elucidate its meaning.

From the Torah :

Genesis 6:9"These are the generations of Noah; Noah was a just man and perfect [tamim] in his generations, and Noah walked with God." Since Noach was human, he was not perfect, but yet he was "tamim". If Noah can be "TAMIM", so can I, and so can any of his decendents (everyone).

From the Torah ( Prophets ) :

(2nd Samuel 22:26.) "With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful, and with the upright( tamim ) man You will show Yourself upright [tatamim]"

Appearently, in addition to Noach and David (see Psalm 18 below), there are other tamim people.

From the Writings :

Psalm 18:

1. "To the chief Musician of David, the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD saved him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul;"

The stage is set, the Psalm is about David, a man who was not perfect, and yet, it says in this Psalm 18 : verese 22- 24) :

"For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His judgments were before me, and I did not put away His statutes from me. I was also upright [tamim] before him, and I kept myself from my iniquity.. Therefore has the LORD recompenses me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His eyesight."

David was capable of being tamim, so are you, and so am I. (See also 2 Samuel 22:24 for the same statement about being tamim as verse 24 of this Psalm)

(Job 12:4.) "I have become a laughing stock to my friend; I, who called upon God, and he answered me. A just, blameless [tamim] man is a laughing stock."

Job, a non-Jew, is "tamim" so can I be, so can you be. Whether you are a Jew or a Muslim or a Christian ( If they stop worshiping flesh )

Micah 6:8 says :

"It has been told you, O' man, what is good, and what the LORD does require of you, only to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God".

We see in the Holy Qur'an:

"And seek assistance through patience and prayer, and most surely it is a hard thing except for the humble ones" {Translation of Ayat 2:45}

God is forgiving and merciful, He forgives us when we fall short of the mark. God expects us to strive to do good, but knows that we are but human and imperfect .

"Then I acknowledged my sin to You; I did not cover up my guilt... and You forgave the guilt of my sin."Psalm 32:5

"if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."2Ch 7:14

"on account of sins. When our transgressions prevail over us, thou dost forgive them."Ps 65:3

"Thou didst forgive the iniquity of thy people; thou didst pardon all their sin. "Ps 85:2

'The LORD is slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression,..'Nu 14:18

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."Isa 55:7

"And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me."Jer 33:8

We see again in the Holy Quran:

"Surely We have given to you a clear victory that Allah may forgive thee thy faults of the past and those to follow; fulfil His favour to thee; and guide thee on the Straight Way" {Translation of Ayats 48:1-2}

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