“The Next Spiritual Journey” Day 11: Being “so heavenly minded, that you are no earthy good,” is not a thing.

“I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭14‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

During what we have called here, “The Next Spiritual Journey,” the Lord led me to become aware of a controversy associated with something referenced as “Celestial Armenia.”

Sadly, this topic was presented in a pejorative way by an individual who sees the Armenian Apostolic Church leaders, supposedly embracing the concept of a “Celestial Armenia,” as being a roadblock to Armenia becoming a practical, sovereign, modern, geopolitically responsible State within its current borders. The reason those who embrace the concept of a Celestial Armenia are seen as being a roadblock is that this way of thinking, emphasizes a “paradise,” or Garden of Eden view, prioritizing faith and dogma over those aspects listed above: practicality, sovereignty, modernity, geopolitical responsibility.

Indeed, the detractors of what is called “Celestial Armenia,” maintain that the concept of the Kingdom of Heaven, a “Kingdom of Elsewhere,” cannot exist and is fundamentally incompatible with the sovereign Armenian state recognized by the international community. In fact, the current Armenian leader, Nikol Pashinyan, also sees this notion of allegiance to a Kingdom that is not of this world, as being in opposition to a sovereign modern country.

Before you glaze over, let’s break this down a little:

Armenia was the first Christian nation. Additionally, over 1 million Armenians—perhaps upwards to 2 million Armenians—were massacred in a genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire under the rule of the Turks. Armenians have paid a great price for their love of Jesus Christ.

But we’re not really just talking about Armenians are we? Isn’t it true that the world system rejects the idea of a greater Kingdom than that the world can offer? In reality, the battle against those who are “heavenly minded” is not limited to the Christian Armenians. It is the battle between light and darkness, between the kingdom of this world and the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ.

We have need only to make a cursory survey of the Bible, to see that the notion of God‘s Kingdom being above all other kingdoms, is ubiquitous therein.

In Daniel chapter 2, we see Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a statue representing all of the major world kingdoms, being destroyed by a rock that then turns into a mountain. And that mountain is the eternal Kingdom of God.

John warned against love of this present world and what it has to offer.

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The writer of Hebrews makes clear that this world is not our permanent dwelling place and that our allegiance should be to God.

“We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle have no right to eat. Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭10‬-‭15‬ NLT

Peter made clear that the people of God are royal priests, part of a holy nation.

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul warns the Colossians that their minds need to be set on things of heaven.

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In our opening scripture, we see that Jesus, in His Priestly prayer to the Father, made clear that we are no more a part of this world than He is.

The scriptures we have considered here are just a small representation of a host of biblical references to the fact that our ultimate allegiance should be to God‘s Kingdom, over which Jesus Christ will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As such, it is only right that our ultimate focus be on the Lord Jesus Christ, our future hope based on being with, and reigning with Him, forever, in His eternal Kingdom.

No, my friend, the controversy is not just about Armenian Christians. It’s about all true Christians. The world system is threatened by the knowledge of a Kingdom that is to come, not of this world, that will end all other rule forever. And make no mistake, the call still cries out, “Come out from among them and be separate.”

Next time we will continue challenging the notion that we can be “so heavenly minded,” that we are no earthly good.”

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!