My mom used to say:
Some folks are so heaven minded that they are no earthly good.
I see some very super-spiritual comments on other blogs when someone just wants to make a joke – not everything has to be so spiritualized to the point where we cannot make jokes and have fun with each other.
I think about my mom’s quote quite a bit. It keeps me grounded in my beliefs…what good am I if I cannot even speak to someone on their level? What good can I do if I am so spiritual that they cannot even understand what I’m saying? How can we reach a hurting generation on this earth if we use words like “revival” or “redemption”?
We still need to be examples and live a life which demonstrates God’s love, but we are still in this world for now. What do you think….?!?!
I absolutely agree! I get frustrated when people won’t say how they’re doing but tell you in a very passive aggressive, “Well, I’m just really praising Jesus!”(while gritting their teeth). If we can’t be honest with ourselves and our honest and true struggles with faith and life, how can we be honest and real with God much less others?
Good post, Judi! I strive to be vulnerable and transparent in my walk with the Lord, regardless of the cost. Hopefully, in that, people will see a real God instead of one that seems to only exist in my words.
But on the other hand being critical of people who respond to God in ways that make you uncomfortable may not be pleasing to Him either. People are at different stages in their walk. Some are new babes and others more mature. It kind of reminds me of that passage in Romans 9: 20-21 about the Potter and the clay. Read it and see if it might soften your view a little. Mizpah31
Thanks for writing that! We need to not take everyting so serious.
Great post and great quote from your mom
Amen sista! It took sometime for me to lighten up about some issues, too. However, I’m very thankful to belong to a church that strives to make the message of the gospel relevant to the times without sacrificing or watering it down. Words are always changing, but the meaning/message stays the same (i.e. “great”, “cool”, “awesome”). It is so much easier to gripe about the words we use, than be concerned about all the people Jesus wants to reach through us. We are first and foremost representatives of Jesus and He wasn’t hung up on all of the superficial stuff. Thanks for stepping up to encourage discussion.
Hey Judi. I love your blog. And this post is so right on. Sometimes I take myself too seriously. Most of the time if I would just relax and be myself I know that God could use me to a greater degree.
Thanks again!
Amen Judifree.
Fully agree. Many well-meaning, authentic Christians are the worst listeners in the world to others. BTW- are we still doing a va-ca with you two or what. Have Mark get ahold of me.
Yep. Totally agree with this. I’m making a concentrated effort to lighten up a bit. Hopefully it will soon become second nature and won’t require so much effort. lol
God loves a good joke.He made you didn’t he?
thats the problem with a lot of people now days for real Christians. They think there so good that they don’t need to pay attention to anything else and they will be better off.
nice entry. I agree, the motivation of Christianity should be life more abundantly here on Earth. Heaven is a bonus.
Gayskeleton is looking to get his a$$ kicked.
HA! I KNOW…what a comment. I almost deleted it, but then figured it would spark more convo.
meh, there are always going to be internet lurkers that THINK they are clever
This post is great and so true. Look how much discussion and comments it inspired- this is a mark of a good blog, Judi. Well done. But really, Dustin and I have always struggled with this same idea. We can be rather taboo at times, especially around over-baked super-spiritual people. But one thing I found was that I have swung too far in the other direction and am afraid of stepping into the truly spiritual realm in conversation or in life. There needs to be a balance, I think.
gayskeleton really likes his jokes, doesn’t he? He is like a comedian! Someone get him to a comedy club!
i thought maybe gayskeleton was someone you knew and was making an inside joke with an old pal. i see that he/she isn’t a friend. i get so disappointed in humanity. the joke must be on him/her, cuz you’re stinkin’ awesome!
I just don’t get how you can be gay and a skeleton all at once, just doesn’t seem physically possible.
all of my friends are just sooo funny
I am thoroughly impressed by the popularity of this post.
No kidding. I was not expecting this much of a response…