“Other-Worldliness is [now] a seldom used word. The word really speaks for itself—meaning ‘not like this world’—ethereal even. Christ’s followers ought to be both heavenly-minded and different—unlike the prevailing cultural norm. Those who are considered other-worldly’ are often thought to be decidedly odd—different even. Jesus, quite clearly, calls his followers to be significantly different. History has proven that the behaviour/lifestyle of many Christians has profoundly affected the course of history. Openness, Orthodoxy and Other-Worldliness are, for professing Christians, and for those not yet on the Christian journey, as essential as water is for fish. Without Biblical orthodoxy, there is no gospel; without openness, there may be no access; without other-worldliness, there may be no salvation.” (‘Walls That Divide: Openness Orthodoxy and Other-Worldliness’ 2010)
I wrote the above words a while ago now, and as I look back over the last five years I wonder how my use of these 1820 days look from God’s perspective: Have I been ‘other worldly’—focussed on what God would achieve through me—through the talents (Matt 25:14-30) God has invested in me? Have I been ‘that’ different—winsome enough to attract others to seek after Christ? Moreover, have I been bold enough to speak out for Christ or have I held back for fear of rejection—or of being labelled a bigot? Have I allowed the world to shape me or to stifle the most important news the world (our world) will ever hear? I’m pretty sure that there will have been, for all of us (professing disciples of Christ) good and bad days. The question though is not one of ‘productivity’ but of ‘availability’. Exactly, how available have ‘we’ been over these 1820 days?
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