I have a friend.
Honest. Didn’t buy her or anything … Well, not for a lot … Well, nothing that I won’t be able to pay back … Eventually.
Anyway, so this friend posted an FB update that is the basis of this post.
My wife calls me a dreamer, to which I refer her to what the prophet John Lennon said concerning them. Imagine her response.
In any case, as with all ‘…ists’ and ‘…isms’, being an idealist has to be considered carefully.
My friend’s sister, who is also a friend of mine (paid in installments), made some brilliant insights about the perspectives that inform us of idealism. Political, sociological, cultural, philosophical and religious perspectives can determine your conclusion on the matter.
Mine is informed by faith, which subsequently informs everything else.
As a follower of Christ, I can never be too idealistic, as long as the ideal remains Christ. In fact, reading scripture Jesus is displayed as the ideal. Creation and all it aspires to be is founded, inspired and driven by Jesus.
After Adam’s fall, humanity itself sees its ideal in Jesus Christ. In fact, even Adam is created to reflect Jesus.
His earthly ministry, which is His life, displays the ideal of family and social relationships. His teachings were for people to live by to be holy, righteous and perfect in real, tangible, practical ways.
Since His ascension, those that follow Him, are in pursuit of the ideal. Every other ideal pales into insignificance in comparison to what He embodies. His Kingdom Agenda is inextricably entwined in His character. Realisation and growing revelation of that, stirs the heart in pursuit of an ideal that is hoped for, with a hope that will be realised in its fullness on His return.
That informs our present actions. It propels a desire to grow in the grace and knowledge and see it experienced in the now, even as we anticipate it.
We can never be too idealistic, because He is real. The same Spirit that rose Him from the dead, lives in people today, changing lives, transforming communities, reforming systems and giving a glimpse of the Ideal realised. As long as we remain focussed on Him, people can continue to accuse disciples of being dreamers, being so heavenly minded they are of no earthly good.
The reality remains, it is the heavenly Ideal who sits at the right hand of God, that illuminates hearts and minds, stirring people to act for earth’s benefit in realising the Kingdom of Heaven.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
Life With CD 