Set Your Mind on Things Above

The Art of Unlearning, Chapter 8, Part 4

This will conclude our four-week discussion of “unlearning” the improper use/view of money and seeking to re-learn an appropriate stewardship of resources. As so often happens in the life of Christ, we’re pointed toward character and away from things.

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Two of the reasons the church has often rejected the notion of abundant abundance is first, its abuse and gross glorification. The “health and wealth” gospel—that faith in God guarantees financial abundance and perfect health, provided you have enough faith—is a monstrosity of a doctrine and an outright lie.

The second reason is subtler and cleverer. It is easier to give up “things” than it is to give up sinful attitudes. Christianity walks a fine line between asceticism (strict religious practices) and freedom in Christ. Paul says the way to stay on the line instead of falling off on either side is to focus on who Christ is, what Christ has done, and who we are in response.

Paul dealt with this as he wrote to the extremely young church in Colossae. He warns them not to adopt a faith of “avoidance”:

“Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”[1]

Paul admits that on the surface, “avoidance” teachings appear wise and holy. The problem is that some believers take the warnings about the love of money and turn them into prohibitions about possessing money. “Do not handle! Do not own! Do not buy!”

Dallas Willard rightly warned that if every Christian gave away all of her or his money, then only the godless would manage the money that remains. But the wise believer will recognize that managing money is like managing nuclear energy—it can light your house or blow up your life, depending on what you do with it.