Have you ever heard the statement about certain Christians
that they are "so heavenly minded, that they are no earthly good"?
The idea is that the theology of some seems so focused on the future glory of
heaven, that they tend only to emphasize the ethereal or spiritual. Thus, these
believers are vastly detached or impractical about everyday Christian living
and/or the needs of others around them.
However, many in response to this culture of "doing
church" over-react (for a host of complex historic and cultural reasons) with
a similarly poor approach to theology, believing only what is done practically
and literally in this life matters. Helping the needy and marginalized and
leading them to the American Dream = heaven. The End.
As our texts on Sunday (see below link) will emphasize,
neither of these extremes is remotely scriptural. Our "heavenly
mindedness" is what fuels our loving, earthy, and faithful living. We love
others now as we will love them for all eternity. We are to be living examples,
and a taste of heaven for those who are exposed to our transformed character
and actions. We embrace the temporary nature of all of our material blessings
and our wealth. When we die, we leave as poor and vulnerable as we entered.
But to live this new life, our old ways and perspectives (fueled
and informed by the disobedient of this world) have to be put to death. Thanks
be to God, our old lives and their rulers and authorities have been defeated,
and in our baptism, we are given the power to be Christ to the world around us.
However, we must claim and rely on this change in our character through the
power of the Holy Spirit. It takes effort and determination to live in such a
heavenly way.
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