Heavenly Minded Means No Earthly Good?

"You are so heavenly minded you are no earthly good."

This started in the liberal part of the Christian Church and took the form of social activism. We are indeed, as children of our Heavenly Father, concerned about the plight of our neighbors. We are to seek and help him in his well being out of service to him in the name of Jesus. If she needs aid in raising her children, and we can help, we prayerfully give it in the name of Jesus. But Jesus is not particularly needed to do this. Many people give aid that are not believers in Jesus. Thank God we have people that help out in time of need.

This phrase has since been adopted by the more conservative element of the Christian Church. The social activism takes the form of working toward becoming a success at all that we do. The guarantee is that if we do all the right things, work hard at our employment we will be a raging success. This as well can be done without Jesus as savior.  A new reformation more about what we do than what we believe? A new reformation not about justification by faith? Bah!

Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

(1 John 3:1-3 ESV)

What is offensive to those who believe in Jesus is to hide this promise. The Apostle John gives us one of the differences we have as believers in Jesus.  Being heavenly minded is also being earthly good. The purify John speaks of is all throughout the epistle. Loving one another. Giving aid to those in need. And confessing and receiving forgiveness of sin. This is what life is like now for the children of God.

But there is more. Some day Jesus is returning in power and great glory. Although he is with us now, as he promised, we do not see him with our eyes. When he comes to judge the living and the dead we will finally behold him and be like him. No more sickness, sin or death. We had the name of God Father Son and Holy Spirit placed upon us at our baptism. A certainty that cannot be taken away regardless of success or failure in earths endeavors.

Trust this good news and live in the peace it gives. Amen. †