<<< Another pithy little
saying that comes to mind is "I don't want to be so heavenly minded
that I'm no earthly good." >>>
Hahaha! I, on the other hand, think the statement is bogus ...
unless it is viewed correctly, that is. :) Now, I recognize
what is being criticized by the saying, but I think the wrong thing has
been identified. The direction of the comment suggests that too
much Jesus, or too much of the Spirit, would make a person of no
earthly good (and that has always been the lie of the deceiver) but the
truth of the matter is that too much RELIGION is the cause of this
syndrome. :) The contemporary Christian religion and
mindset has given rise to the perception that those who are the most
devoted to God are the ones who are most devoted to the institution,
and/or its teachings and practices. Funny, that's the same false
perception held by the people in Jesus' day.
Actually, the very concept of "heavenly minded" has come to have little
to do with setting one's "affection on things above", as in Christ
himself, but has far more to do with the religion of man that has built
itself up around the idea of Christianity. There is nothing quite
so tragic in the realm of the religious institution according to those
who are comfortable with a moderate amount of "devotion" as when one of
their own takes it to extreme and becomes caught up with his own
"devotion".
If the phrase "heavenly minded" does in fact refer to the very life and
freedom of Christ then there is no such thing as having too much of
it. The very essence of the religious mind revolves around its
own self, and NOT around Christ, though it will use Christ to its own
means in order to promote itself. It's no wonder that those who
get caught up in "too much" of this mindset discover that their
"devotion to God" seems to cut them off from the very ones the real God
would love through them.
Keep the real Christ in your thoughts - and even let it carry you away
- for HIS life is so very real, and very connected to true relationship
with those around you! :)
Love, Jim
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