Christians and the World

I don't know about any of you, but it seems I always find myself getting hung up on the issue of being a Christian “in the world but not of the world;” Seeking first the Kingdom of God (and its righteousness) while still living in the kingdom of this world (which is passing away).

It seems I’m always facing the dilemma; do we forgo earthly endeavors in order to focus more keenly on the Kingdom of Heaven? Do we need to get away from man and worldly (read earthy) things in order to be rightly focused on God and the “truly” spiritual things?
How are Christians to view their jobs, their relationships, and whatever other earthly activities they engage in? Are we to pour our energies into these things? Are we to have these things in our lives? Or will they only serve as a distraction from realizing the Kingdom of heaven? Will focusing on (or paying much attention to) earthly things (such as politics, social issues, careers, family etc) really honor God in the end? Or does it represent a “defocusing” on the Kingdom of Heaven and the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Now, since it’s clear we can’t completely get away from these earthly things, (i.e. man must work if he is to eat) do we then just try to minimize these aspects as much as possible in order to maximize the heavenly aspects? Should we view this life as some kind of cosmic balancing act where we deny ourselves of earthly involvement in order to further our heavenly fulfillment?

Here is an blog I just read which touches on the dilemma. I thought it was quite good. Just so you know, these are some of the thoughts that still circle around in my mind… And although, I’ve considered them quite a bit, it’s still a struggle. So what can I say that I’ve learned? What’s my conclusion?

Honestly, I believe this is just evidence of how much we still battle the ancient (but perennially potent) heresy of Gnosticism in the Christian Church today. Thus we need to be constantly reminded from God’s Word about what His thoughts are on the matter… We are to have the mind of Christ [and that’s a lot different than the thoughts of the Gnostics (I might touch on this at a later entry)].

So it helps when faithful men point out [again, in my case (I’ve been through this before)] the doctrine of creation. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth... And he declared them to be good. We must have this view of things or else we will always run the risk of loosing our appreciation for what God has created (for His glory!). And thus, we will not offer up our whole lives to God (as living sacrifices pleasing to Him) but rather, we will offer pitiful mutations of the original – tragically stripped of the things God has created (for his Glory). Our jobs, our work, our families, our relationship, our communities, our societies -- all of creation He made, and He made them GOOD. And most importantly, He made it for His glory. And it honors and glorifies Him when we recognize that, and dishonors and doesn’t glorify Him when we don’t. In our pious attempt to please God by shunning this world, we actually displease Him by shunning his creation and withholding from Him our worship through those things.

He is both the giver and the creator of ALL of life. And thus He deserves it all.

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving (1 Tim 4:4)

For His is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever. Amen