Not Of This World

So I was walking this morning and saw a sticker on a car with the initials NOTW.  This is a common clothing brand in religious circles and a pretty common philosphy among the 648 million evangelicals worldwide. Not of this world.

When I was growing up in a conservative church, a popular song on Sunday mornings was "This World is Not My Home."  Same idea, same philosophy:

"This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through.
My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore"

I just have to say that this is so misguided and part of the reason we have so many in the world without hope today. Regardless of whether you believe in God, heaven, eternal life, having a philosophy that you don't belong here and are not of of this world can lead down the path of not caring about and for this world. The results are apathy, more hunger in the world, more homelessness, and a focus on the future, not the present. Being a heavenly person with no earthy good.

I've used this image several times, but I believe it to be true in life, business and certainly in world view philosophy:

If the result is apathy, you can take Action: start a food bank, talk about what's wrong with the world, do community projects.  These are all really good and I'm SO glad people are doing them, but it won't change the results. We can put Systems in place, missions projects, non-profits, service days every year.  All good things, but it won't change the eventual result until the beliefs and assumptions are changed.

You are of this world.

All of us are here for a reason. Ghandi got it.  Mother Teresa got it.  Both "Of This World."  Most scriptures of all religions point to taking care of those less fortunate than you. In this world. "The least of these" from the Christian tradition is the focus.  Until we realize that we are of this world and it matters what we do, not just what we believe, the results in the world will be the same.  If the 648 million evangelicals became 648 million activists for THIS world, so much would change, event today, even in the Horn of Africa.

Be Of This World.  Be present.  Take notice of what's wrong and don't wait for "some day" (passive) to come.  Do some "to-day" (active) to make your world a better place.

Simply OTW,

Tim