Too Heavenly Minded?
Perhaps you've encountered this phrase at some point in your life...."They are so heavenly minded they're no earthly good." Usually it's because some Christian (or more likely someone posing as a Christian) has ventured into the land of the weird and absurd. The bible does say that Christians are "peculiar people" (Titus 2:14)...but this doesn't mean weird...just different. Far too often, I find that many Christians are "so earthly minded, they are no heavenly good." (Romans 8:6)
Yet another church term that is cliche' but far too accurate is "they have one foot in the church and one foot in the world." We cringe when we see people leading double lives. Many have foolishly bought into the lie that they can live for the world six days and serve God on Sundays (in a future blog I hope to dive into the dichotomy of the sacred and the secular that seems to permeate our lives...but for now I'll just whet your appetite). So enough of the negative- we've all seen too many people who are middle-of-the-road, riding the fence, lukewarm (tired of the cliche's yet?)......moving on....
Whereas many have one foot in the church and one in the world- Paul on the other hand...had one foot in heaven and the other on the earth. Notice his words to the Philippians:
Philippians 1:23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you (NKJV)
Paul's thoughts were occupied with the activities of heaven. His only reasoning for staying on earth was to help the churches and strengthen the believers (and of course preach the gospel to unbelievers). I dare say that most of Christendom today does not share Paul's enthusiasm for heaven. If asked if they would prefer to be with Christ and enjoy the glories of heaven or spend another day on the earth...most would choose the latter. Probably a great deal of that can be attributed to a lack of good sound teaching on Heaven and the Resurrection of believers. But despite the lack of teaching, I would say the biggest reason is that people are so distracted by the world and its system that they cannot fathom leaving. Much like Lot's wife- though promised an escape from Sodom- preferred the former things. Demas is yet another example of one who left Paul for the allure of the world.
The New Testament writers frequently warn of the dangers of worldliness (I John 2:15-17)- James even went so far as to say that those who love the world are enemies of God (James 4:4). Please don't misunderstand what I'm saying. I do realize and believe (and try to obey) that Jesus said we must "occupy" until He comes (Luke 19:13). Today's entry is not a plea for ease or laziness. On the contrary, we must work while we still can because the night is coming when no man can work (John 9:4). But in our walk and working here...let's not get too comfortable. After all, Peter says we are just strangers and pilgrims here (I Peter 2:11) and the writer of Hebrews says that here we have no continuing city (Hebrews 13:14) but we seek one to come!
Can you say like Paul that you are torn? Or are you comfortable in this present world?
3 comments:
I think people who are truly Christians but not quite ready to leave this world are more afraid of the unkown than going to heaven. The nature of people is to stay in a bad situation that they are familiar with instead of going to something that they don't know even if it is better. I've witnessed this more times than I care to remember.
It also reminds me of Jesus' words in Luke chapter 5
39 And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’”
Excellent post! I've often noted that when I travel to poor churches in depressed areas the people sing about Heaven much more than they do in more affluent churches. It seems the better off people are in this life the less they long for Heaven.
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