Continuing our reflections on
Geerhardus Vos’s Message on “Heavenly Mindedness” from Hebrews 11:9 – 10:
“Let us try
briefly to analyze what this other-worldliness of the patriarchs involved, and
in what respects it will be well for us to cultivate it. The first feature to
be noted is that it is not essentially negative but positive in character.
The core lies not in what it relinquishes but in what it seeks. Escape from the
world here below and avoidance of the evil in the world do not furnish its
primary motive. That is true only of the abnormal, morbid type of
other-worldliness, that connected with pessimism and monastic seclusion. From
an unwarranted identification with these the true grace portrayed by Scripture
has been exposed to much ill-considered criticism and fallen into disrepute.
“If
heavenly-mindedness were an upward flight in the ignominious sense of the word,
it would be the very opposite to the heroism of genuine faith, a seeking
for a harbor of refuge, instead of a steering for the haven of home. Do not
misunderstand me. It is only right that in some measure the bitter experience
of sin and evil should contribute to the Christian’s desire for heaven. The
attraction of heaven is in part the attraction of freedom from sin. And
not a little of the contempt poured upon it, while pretending to protest
against cloistered withdrawal, springs in reality from a defective perception
of the seriousness of sin.
“Where the
eye has not by divine grace been opened to the world’s wickedness, it is
easy to look with disdain on the Christian’s world-shyness. But the Christian,
who knows that the end of sin cannot come until the end of this world, looks at
the question in a light of his own. He is fully warranted in considering
ridicule of this kind part of the reproach of Christ and bearing it with
joy. Nor should we forget, that an excess of interest in the present life, when
shown in the name of religion, is apt, in our day, to be a symptom of doubt or
unbelief in regard to the life to come.
“Still the
principle remains in force, that the desirability of heaven should never
possess exclusively or mainly negative significance. It is not something first
brought into the religious mind through sin. The lineage and birth-right of
other-worldliness are of the oldest and noblest. By God Himself this traveler’s
unrest was implanted in the soul.” Vos.
Let’s remind
ourselves of the words of our Lord Jesus, “They are not of the world, even as I
am not of the world” (John 17:17). Also, “If you were of the world, the world
would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out
of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:19).
Do we not know
that the very word “church” (ekklesia) speaks to us of being “called out” as a
designated group of people? We are called out of the world and unto, and into,
Christ. To live as a heavenly-minded people is to live in this awareness; of
what we have been called out from and of what we have been called unto. Sadly,
the elixir of compromise has so seduced us that there is little distinction
between the professing – church and the world.
When there are
distinctions, those distinctions are often what Vos terms “essentially…negative
in character.” In other words, the focus is on building a negative wall between
Christians and the world that emphasizes “don’t touch, don’t taste, don’t
associate,” as opposed to focusing on the person of Jesus Christ. In my own
life I have learned that it is much easier to define myself in terms of what I
am opposed to, rather than by those things I affirm and support. This may be in
part because of my temperament, and it may also be because I am lazy; whatever
the cause, it is a temptation I have succumbed to more than once. (“Monastic
seclusion” is not limited to monasteries, many of which have rightly engaged
their surrounding communities; we can see monastic seclusion in local
congregations and denominations.)
Yet, we are
called to deny ourselves, we are called, in Christ, to reckon ourselves “dead
to sin and live to God” (Romans 6:11). And for sure, as Vos acknowledges, it is
natural to look forward to a time when there will no longer be the poison of
sin within our system, nor any remembrance of the hideousness of sin in our
lives, nor any temptation! But – our message is not primarily one of escape but
of fulfillment – for it is not a desire to escape which propels my heart, but
rather a desire for Jesus…more and more of Jesus. Heavenly – mindedness is not
nurtured by escapism but by a longing for home, by a realization that we are
children of another world, loved by our Father, saved by our Lord Jesus, being
transformed by the Holy Spirit.
“‘I came forth
from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and
going to the Father.’ His disciples
said, ‘O my, now you are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of
speech.’” (John 16:28 – 29). While the apostles may not have intellectually
understood what Jesus was saying, something within them identified with this
declaration; this Word of Jesus elicited a spark of heavenly – mindedness.
Vos writes of
the Christian considering “ridicule of this kind part of the reproach of Christ
and bearing it with joy.” What does “this kind” mean? It means saying “yes” to Christ
and “no” to the world. It means that we live as citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:30)
under the constitution of God’s Kingdom, under obedience to Jesus Christ as
King. Do we know what it is to bear this reproach?
My I gently ask,
that if we do not know what it is to bear this reproach, then how have we been
living? How is it possible to live in the world, work in the world, go to
school in the world, engage in the political processes of the world,
participate in the civic and social life of the world…and not know what it is
to bear the reproach of Jesus Christ? Indeed, how is it possible to participate
in the life of the broader church culture and not know what it is to bear the
reproach of Christ?
Consider these
words from Hebrews 13:13 – 14, “So, let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing
His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the
city which is to come.” When we are heavenly – minded we will often find
ourselves outside circles of people – because we are seeking the city which
is to come. For the heavenly – minded man or woman, the gravitational pull
of the City of God is greater than that of the City of Man.
Have we trained
one another to be chameleons, blending into our surroundings so as not to be
identified with Jesus Christ and His Kingdom? If we have not done this, then we
ought to know what it is to bear the reproach of Christ outside the camp,
outside the ways of the City of Man, outside the ways of religious and
political and economic Babylon.
Sometimes this
reproach is overt, sometimes covert, sometimes we are encouraged to go along to
get along, sometimes we are threatened. Let us beware of the temptation to
rationalize away acquiescence to the world and denial of Christ. Let us not
forsake our call to share Christ’s sufferings for His glory and the blessing of
others – including those who oppose the grace of God, for after all, we were
also once the enemies of Christ.
Vos writes, “The
lineage and birth-right of other-worldliness are of the oldest and noblest. By
God Himself this traveler’s unrest was implanted in the soul.” G.K.
Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, Blaise Pascal, Fenelon, Augustine, Francis de Sales;
throughout history Christ has drawn people to Himself by placing “this
traveler’s unrest” within their hearts, minds, and souls. While yes, the image
of God within us is defaced by the Fall, it is not obliterated. Within the soil
of our souls lies a sense of goodness, truth, beauty, purpose, and destiny.
Sadly, this
sense is programmed out of us, beaten out of us, threatened out of us, educated
out of us, and laid to rest in us by pleasure, materialism, and other
seductions. This is one of many reasons the disciple of Jesus Christ
desperately needs the Word of God living and abiding in him or her, so that we
might behold our Lord Jesus and have our birthright of heavenly – mindedness continually
renewed, expanded, and brightened – more and more until that Perfect Day (Proverbs
4:18; 2 Cor. 37 – 18).
O Christian,
your “lineage” is that of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is that of Jesus Christ.
It is of that Holy Spirit which causes us to cry out, “Abba Father!” (Romans
8:15 – 16; Galatians 4:6). You have been called into the koinonia (fellowship,
communion) of the heavenly – minded. Embrace your calling in Jesus Christ, love
Him, grow in Him; and by His grace bring others with you on your pilgrimage to
that City whose Builder and Maker is God.
