Comments on: Don’t Be So Heavenly Minded That You’re No Earthly Good? http://tsdi.wordpress.com/2008/04/15/so-heavenly-mindedyoure-no-earthly-good/ My (sometimes) qualified thoughts and opinions Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:10:24 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: baddogmooney http://tsdi.wordpress.com/2008/04/15/so-heavenly-mindedyoure-no-earthly-good/#comment-345 baddogmooney Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:16:18 +0000 http://tsdi.wordpress.com/?p=55#comment-345 Wow. Great perspective. I hadn't looked at it that way, but it is quite valid. I too have known Christians who have what I believe is an unhealthy lean toward the afterlife, while forgetting our duties here. Thanks! - mooney Wow. Great perspective. I hadn’t looked at it that way, but it is quite valid. I too have known Christians who have what I believe is an unhealthy lean toward the afterlife, while forgetting our duties here. Thanks!

- mooney

]]> By: greg http://tsdi.wordpress.com/2008/04/15/so-heavenly-mindedyoure-no-earthly-good/#comment-344 greg Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:41:59 +0000 http://tsdi.wordpress.com/?p=55#comment-344 not sure i agree with everyone here. i have a bit of a different understanding about what it means to be 'heavenly minded.' when i've heard that injunction used i have always thought it to mean that we shouldn't be so preoccupied with heaven (i.e., the afterlife), that we miss the opportunities for abundant life right here right now. in other words, "being too heavenly minded" didn't mean having the mind of Christ. of course we should have the mind of Christ! on the contrary, being too heavenly minded has to do with worrying way too much about our own personal eternal destiny (and how we get there) rather than caring more about the hurting neighbor along the way (the good samaritan). i have known many Christians who treated this life just as a prep school for the afterlife, just trying to learn all the right behaviours, follow all the right rules, and use all the right words so that they can be sure to be in the right place in the afterlife. that, to me, is being too heavenly minded. instead, i believe we are called to experience the fullness of God's amazing love right now in the present. jesus said that he came that we might have life, even abundant life. this is not a someday proposition. it is a present AND future proposition. so, while i appreciated your take, i just wanted to give a slightly different interpretation of the old phrase. at least for me, it is indeed possible to be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good. and i think it breaks God's heart. not sure i agree with everyone here. i have a bit of a different understanding about what it means to be ‘heavenly minded.’ when i’ve heard that injunction used i have always thought it to mean that we shouldn’t be so preoccupied with heaven (i.e., the afterlife), that we miss the opportunities for abundant life right here right now. in other words, “being too heavenly minded” didn’t mean having the mind of Christ. of course we should have the mind of Christ! on the contrary, being too heavenly minded has to do with worrying way too much about our own personal eternal destiny (and how we get there) rather than caring more about the hurting neighbor along the way (the good samaritan). i have known many Christians who treated this life just as a prep school for the afterlife, just trying to learn all the right behaviours, follow all the right rules, and use all the right words so that they can be sure to be in the right place in the afterlife. that, to me, is being too heavenly minded. instead, i believe we are called to experience the fullness of God’s amazing love right now in the present. jesus said that he came that we might have life, even abundant life. this is not a someday proposition. it is a present AND future proposition. so, while i appreciated your take, i just wanted to give a slightly different interpretation of the old phrase. at least for me, it is indeed possible to be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good. and i think it breaks God’s heart.

]]> By: steve http://tsdi.wordpress.com/2008/04/15/so-heavenly-mindedyoure-no-earthly-good/#comment-332 steve Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:41:37 +0000 http://tsdi.wordpress.com/?p=55#comment-332 Colossians 3 speaks of being "heavenly minded" as having the same attitude and lifestyle as Christ where being "earthly minded" carries the idea of having the attitudes and lifestyle practices of unsaved people. Philippians 2 speaks of having the same mind as Christ, which refers to laying aside our own wills and desires in order to seek that of Christ. So to be "heavenly minded" is to think and act like Christ. Colossians 3 speaks of being “heavenly minded” as having the same attitude and lifestyle as Christ where being “earthly minded” carries the idea of having the attitudes and lifestyle practices of unsaved people. Philippians 2 speaks of having the same mind as Christ, which refers to laying aside our own wills and desires in order to seek that of Christ. So to be “heavenly minded” is to think and act like Christ.

]]> By: Alan http://tsdi.wordpress.com/2008/04/15/so-heavenly-mindedyoure-no-earthly-good/#comment-327 Alan Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:47:31 +0000 http://tsdi.wordpress.com/?p=55#comment-327 I'll add to my previous comment that this is a prime case of a statement that is true or false, depending on how you understand it. I’ll add to my previous comment that this is a prime case of a statement that is true or false, depending on how you understand it.

]]> By: Alan http://tsdi.wordpress.com/2008/04/15/so-heavenly-mindedyoure-no-earthly-good/#comment-326 Alan Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:30:37 +0000 http://tsdi.wordpress.com/?p=55#comment-326 What you have said is true. However, let me propose another understanding of this extrabiblical 'saying': If I am so focused on heaven (and not on Christ) that I push other people out of the way to get there, I am too 'heavenly minded' to be any earthly good. I am not following God's will for my life. The goal is knowing and obeying God; following His will for us. Which does not include being calloused. Heaven is not the ultimate goal; it's a bonus. What you have said is true.
However, let me propose another understanding of this extrabiblical ’saying’:

If I am so focused on heaven (and not on Christ) that I push other people out of the way to get there, I am too ‘heavenly minded’ to be any earthly good. I am not following God’s will for my life.

The goal is knowing and obeying God; following His will for us. Which does not include being calloused. Heaven is not the ultimate goal; it’s a bonus.

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