Closer Than We Think?

"Spend your life inside a box
looking through stained glass
Dream about a better day and hope it finds you fast"


Lately, I have been reflecting on what much of the evangelical world has taught me over the past 30 years.

And I am having my doubts.

Not about Jesus, or the fathers of our faith, or the sacraments or the primary elements of reformed theology. Its about the other stuff.

And this is the stuff that often serves to define who evangelicals are. One of the pieces that really bothers me is the whole subtle idea of evacuation theology. Why this obsession with leaving the planet? Perhaps its because living down here, on this dusty, too hot, too cold, suffering, starving, messed up place, well, just hurts too much. Its better not to think about it; easier to dwell on Someplace Else. Its easier to argue about the concept of election, or who is really saved, or predestination, or the End Times (woooooo!), or, etc, etc, ad nauseum. Its easier to make rules, clarify rules, argue about rules, and then constantly fail trying to follow them. No wonder most of the world is bored by us church people.

But what if The Kingdom has come? What if Jesus was right, when he said that the Kingdom is at hand? What if we are to do Kingdom work right now, instead of Someday By and By?

Recently, and almost by accident, I downloaded some music on my IPod from Fiction Family, a couple of very talented musicians who have made just one album. The song "Closer Than You Think" does a wonderful job of capturing what I have been thinking about. I share it here for you to think about as well.

You've got a vision of some far of day beautiful and bright
A carrot hanging out of reach, but always in your sight
There's an icon in your mind that stands for happiness one day
A picture on some wall of a kingdom far away

Oh, It's closer than you think
Oh, It's breathing in between
Oh, It's closer than you think
Oh, It's right under your feet

The sky is much more blue and the clouds are always white
The streets of course are gold and lit with ray of light
There's nothing on this earth that's as good as whats up there
Life is so much better when you're floating in the air

Oh, It's closer than you think
Oh, It's breathing in between
Oh, It's closer than you think
Oh, It's right under your feet

Forget about your brother if he doesn't seem to understand
The heaven you've concocted in your head
Never mind your sister when she asks you silly questions
About all the broken people left unfed
Cause burning questions are better left for dead

Spend your life inside a box looking through stained glass
Dream about a better day and hope it finds you fast

Oh, It's closer than you think
Oh, It's breathing in between
Oh, it's closer than you think
Oh, It's right under your feet