Not In Our Name
"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
Colossians 3:2
As I write this, governments across the world are at war. Many of these wars are being launched in the name of people who detest them paid for with currency we all work for. I will not attempt to discuss details of these conflicts or the players involved. My purpose is, as plainly as I am able, to point out that this command from the apostle Paul to "set your minds on things above" contains within it the antidote to war and all the suffering we are collectively witnessing. In fact, the good news is that those who can grasp and follow this command are capable of transforming the way whole world thinks and lives, ushering in a new generation of progress. If you'd like to know how to take back your power and declare that these wars and this suffering is being waged #NotInOurName, please read on.
First, let us consider what is meant by "things above". Things above refers to non-earthly things which many might consider to be spiritual matters. These "things above" might also be thought of as the source of creation, the Creator himself. We have in our culture a common phrase that says "don't bite the hand that feeds you" which means to be aware of not just the food that you eat but also be aware of the hand that provides it. The hand, albeit an earthly image, is an illustration of "things above".
Second, let us consider what is meant by "earthly things." Earthly things refers to everything that is made of matter. It is the physical world, including the flesh and blood of any man, woman, and child. For many, earthly things is all that matters entirely. After all, it is from the earth that we are fed and it is from the earth that we build our homes. What could possibly matter more than food, water, shelter, and our very lives? Although Maslow may place these earthly things as essential for human development, Paul has a different hierarchy in mind here.
To further understand this commandment, we might also consider how things above and earthly things are described elsewhere. This is from Paul's letter to the Galatians.
Galatians 5: 16-26
"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."
Here we see the same contrast. "Things above" is "the Spirt" and "earthly things" are "the flesh". Paul then goes on to talk about acts of the flesh or what it means to set your mind on "earthly things."
"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Here we have the first promise. Those who set their minds on things above and walk by the Spirit will inherit the kingdom of God. Those who set their minds on earthly things and walk in the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Here we have the contrast with a list of "things above" for us to set our mind on. The commandment is telling us to value these things above earthly things. Value love more than food, joy more than sex, peace more than rage, forbearance more than hatred, kindness more than discord, self-control more than selfish ambition.
Knowing this is the command, how hard it is to not set our minds on earthy things! This is, after all, why so many people have jobs and careers, is it not? What father or mother is not consumed with earthly concerns and cares? Our minds can so quickly jump to thoughts of homelessness, hunger, thirst, and rejection. Unless we set our mind on earthly things, we might find ourselves powerless, being someone who is not in command of earthly things, especially through the power of money. Nevertheless, the commandment stands, and we must fight to understand why we must resist everything in our body and our world that tells us to set our minds on earthly things. Paul continues with the answer.
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
The life of Jesus, his crucifixion and resurrection is the answer to our fears. We fear homelessness, hunger, thirst, and loneliness because ultimately we fear death. We hear this promise of life from Jesus himself in John 11:25.
This is the promise for those who Paul says "belong to Christ Jesus". We are called to be willing to be hungry, thirsty, homeless, and destitute in exchange for the "things above". This is in fact what Jesus taught his disciples.
Luke 11: 19-33 (sans 22-23)
In this passage I have emphasized earthly things in burgundy and things above in blue. I have also highlighted the warning of setting the mind on earthly things in yellow and and the promise of setting the mind on things above in pink.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
How sweet is it to hear that final promise "all these things will be added unto you"! The hand that feeds us is the hand that knows we need food, drink, clothing, and shelter.
Application: A Call to Resist War, Tyranny, Theft, and Lies
The question now simply becomes, "Do I believe?" In the pursuit of the truth, love, courage, and compassion, do I believe my needs will be met? Bombs, created by military contractors and paid for with money I work for are, being dropped on hospitals in Gaza. How many people have died in my name simply because I sanction the government with my vote and give value to the money that gives the US government power to wage war? How many families lost homes in the housing crisis of 2008, simply because the system of government debt necessarily creates victims and victors? How many families have been broken up with government subsidies? How many poor men and women, beaten down by the parasitic nature of government money, have given themselves over to alcoholism, drug abuse? All this because we set our minds on earthly things, unwilling to believe in the power of things above.
Do I believe that setting my mind on earthly things is a fools errand, like storing a mink in a closet full of moths? Do I know how to properly value the kingdom and the "things above" compared to earthly things? What emotions arises in me when I think of persecution and people taking away my earthly things? How do I feel if I am unable to provide earthly things to my family for the sake of "things above"? Do the choices of my life glorify "things above", or does it look like I idolize "earthly things?"
How long will we let this go on? Let it be said that today we committed to setting our minds on things above. Let today be the today we committed to embodying our faith, storing up for ourselves treasures in heaven!
Today there are governments across the world waging war, destroying lives, and snuffing out spirits in our name. They claim to be democracies when they are really tyrannies empowered by their false currencies. With the power of their militaries and the power of their currencies, they are in complete control over those who set their minds on earthly things.
Because of this power and the false priorities of their citizens, everyday people sacrifice higher values like truth, courage, compassion, gratitude, and love to the idols of consumerism, money, food, clothing, shelter, and protection. If we love the material world, we will do and say whatever to keep it, even lying, stealing, and killing those who threaten it. If family is our god, we are already dead, compliant slaves. We are powerless against threats , whether they be physical like “I’ll hurt them” or monetary like “I’ll fire you”.
Like Jesus taught, I believe earthly things are important. They are beautiful manifestations of creation! I agree family is important. Families are designed to be a source of love, support, and strength for us. Even money can be useful. However, money, family, and earthly things are very easy to set our minds on and become obstacles to our ability to prioritize the things above.
“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.”
Romans 1:25
I’m not saying that we intentionally sacrifice our family or the comforts of this world when we don’t need to. Again, many of these things can support our ability to pursue kingdom values. Often, however, we fool ourselves into worshiping these things in exchange for pursing the kingdom. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6 that "Everything is permissible for me”, but then he sets all the “things” in their proper place with “but I will not be mastered by anything.” The “I” he is referring to is the Spirit, not his physical body with its physical needs. We know this because he then says “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"-but God will destroy them both.”
What are you being mastered by? Why do you go to work? Why do you work for dollars? For food? For clothing? For shelter? Are we not exchanging food, clothing, and shelter for war and propaganda? Who among us can tell what is true or false in the news today? How long do you think it will be before the fires of the war spread to your neighborhood? This is the consequence of setting our minds on earthly things. The world burns, the oceans rise, and the truth is buried in a pit of corruption, fear, and greed.
Our family and friends, if they too set their minds on things above, can be great allies in the fight for good. But if they are worried about their next meal, shelter, and the comforts afforded by money making, are they not walking in the flesh, setting themselves against the kingdom of God?
When we are given a choice between worldly comforts and telling the truth and doing good, we must always choose the higher values. The promise is that doing this will guarantee our needs will be met. To sacrifice truth, love, and courage to earthly things will guarantee failure, both physically and in the spirit.
We are living in a time where these choices have never been so obvious and where the teachings of Jesus have never felt so relevant.
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Luke 9:23-24
“But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.”
Luke 21:12
I take the name of Jesus to mean the spirit that tells the truth, that speaks truth to power, that shines light into darkness, and threatens the power of muscle with the power of freedom, regardless of the consequences. Followers of Jesus are rebels against all that seeks to deny human existence, humanity, and person’s freedom to set their minds on things above.
I think this is why there is such an emphasis on denying the flesh in Paul’s letters, because the material world is the world of pure muscle and force. The material world is empty without the spirit. The rulers of the world in Jesus' time did everything they could to shut him up and keep him from proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Satan tempted him with food and government control. The Jews threatened to stone him. The Romans tortured him and crucified him. Yet His Spirit endured and He proved the power of setting the mind on "things above" by his resurrection from the dead. This gives all who set their minds on things above the courage to sing:
Let Goods and Kindred Go
This Mortal Life Also
The Body They May Kill
His Truth Abideth Still
His Kingdom Is Forever
(From A Mighty Fortress Is Our God by Martin Luther)
May you take responsibility for your actions
May you break the chains of fleshly desires
May you speak up for the oppressed
May you joyfully stand against war and tyranny
May you refuse the promise of ill-gotten gain through government currencies
May you speak the truth with courage against lies and propaganda
May you bravely disobey those who set their minds on earthly things
May you find creative and exciting ways to encourage each other in the Truth
May you find hope in the knowledge that you are loved by Him who has conquered death
May you set your mind on things above, not earthly things
“You can resolve to live your life with integrity. Let your credo be this: Let the lie come into the world, let it even triumph. But not through me.”
―
Amen.
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