Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., was quite a guy. A prominent, influential physician and writer, his friends included Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Ralph Waldo Emerson. He was born in 1809 and died in 1894.
His son was Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., who fought in some of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War and eventually became an Associate Justice on the US Supreme Court in 1902, serving for 29 years, dying in 1935.
At the age of 21, the senior Holmes wrote one of his most influential works, the poem “Old Ironsides,” which played a key role in the United States’ decision to preserve the USS Constitution, now in the Charlestown, Massachusetts, Navy Yard. It is the oldest ship in the world still afloat, launched in 1797.
Holmes, Sr., entered Harvard for undergrad studies at the age of 16. He got his Doctor of Medicine from Harvard in 1836.
I know these are high weeds to walk into, but I disagree with Oliver, Sr.’s statement shown in the opening line of this post. And to take my objection further, I also disagree with singer Johnny Cash, who included the line about no earthly good in a 1977 song.
Just because someone smart and/or talented says something doesn’t make it true.
For the Christian writer, there is a difference between worldly wisdom and the wisdom of God. God reminds us in Isaiah 55 that our thoughts are not even close to his.
Jesus, speaking to Nicodemus, continued the point of earthly vs. heavenly when he said this:
“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?” (John 3:10-12, NIV).
John wrote:
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:15-17, ESV).
So, sorry about that Ollie and Johnny. You do good work, but I need to disagree with you this once. We should be much more concerned about fellow Christ-followers and writers being so worldly minded they are no heavenly good.
Food for Writing
I think of Heaven often now,
and ponder that which lies in store,
and at times must laugh at those
who paint it as a crashing bore
of cherubs, harps, and gauzy wings,
and baby lambs at clumsy play;
to some these are delightful things,
but I have not been made that way.
God don’t waste what He brought to be,
and He don’t bait and switch,
and He’s made me come to see
that there will be the rugby pitch
which hooligans of His heart need,
green grass where we can laugh and bleed.
“Hooligans of His heart”—I love that, Andrew!
What a great post, Dan. I love that you pointed out, “Just because someone smart and/or talented says something doesn’t make it true.” Yes! Exactly. And we need to stop putting people on a pedastal and taking their words as gospel. 🙂 I always pray my books are heavenly minded, pointing the way to Christ and honoring him. Even if I do write about serial killers and such. Itsn’t it amazing what God can do with absolutely anything when the writer’s heart desires him to do so?
Totally agree. Thank you, Dan, for your insight and comments.
I agree with you, Dan. It seems our problem these days is people being more earthly minded than heavenly minded. Imagine what we could accomplish for the Kingdom if our thoughts were fixed on Jesus.
My mother used to tell me I was “so heavenly minded, I was no earthly good”. In a way it hurt me, but in a way it brought me closer to my Lord and Savior. My mother was worried I was letting people (the world) take advantage of me, and I was allowing it. But if by allowing it, she meant be humble, turning the other cheek, having a Christlike attitude? I’ll take that every time. Thank you for reminding me!
Yes!!!
Thank you, Dan. Words of truth! I am acquainted with authors who will tell me they want to be a witness to the unbeliever by writing their book for the secular audience. A worthy goal. . . until someone crosses the line and the story ends up complying with the standards of the world instead of truth of God’s Word. I struggled with why I chose to write suspense when I got started. I wanted to be God honoring, and I didn’t want to promote evil as a form of entertainment. But ultimately I understood my passion is to share God’s truth that through the blood of Jesus Christ, good has already overcome evil. I pray I hit the mark with my stories. Thank you for this message.
Agree with you on all counts, Dan, a hundred percent. Thanks!
Thank You for this post and 👍🏿💜
Yes!!
Thank you, Dan.
Excellent point, Mr. Balow! Thank you!
“We should be much more concerned about fellow Christ-followers and writers being so worldly minded they are no heavenly good.”
A constant prayer of mine! So much worldliness has crept into the church. Keeping our minds fixed on Christ is desperately needly, vital!
And all God’s people said, Amen. I pray my words are never a stumbling block. May others see Him in my words.
You’re both right. It works both ways. Perhaps it has to do with attitude.
Holmes Jr. ruled, “It is better for all the world to let the degenerate or mentally retarded to starve and force the parents [male and female] of such offspring to be held down, castrated and forced by the physical and emotional trauma of cutting the fallopian tubes to prevent ‘those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind’.” 1927 Buck v Bell
He was influenced, it seems by war deaths that were for” the public good”
and felt he could/should do away with those who sap the strength of the State — Not until 1988 was the law changed to voluntary sterilization of 18 and older with written and informed consent…but by 1973 and following no informed consent was given to in utero babies, and many times, the moms who were ravaged and sterilized by abortion.
Junior was also a contemporary of Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, so adding up all the various events and philosophies surrounding that period of time, it isn’t a surprise that some pretty terrible stuff came out of it.
Huh?
This quote always made me think of the way we fool ourselves with spiritual-sounding talk but don’t necessarily pay close attention to our actual actions and heart for those around us.
Not saying he was a good man or anything but it feels like he is calling out powerful Christians who sounded godly but were actually hypocrites.
Like the Priest and the Levite in Jesus’ story of the good Samaritan. They were so concerned about looking spiritual, they refused to do good when the opportunity presented itself.
The irony is strong as someone who was truly Heavenly minded should have a powerful impact on earth as they grow more and more like Christ in word and deed.
I agree. Both must be present. I would consider being heavenly-minded as an example of the great commandment to love God and love others.
To separate the two and make it an either/or proposition is just an attempt for some to think they can earn their way to heaven without having to first love God with all their heart, mind, and strength.
Thank you, Dan. I fully agree with your “disagreement.” We Christians need to wear “the helmet of salvation” at all times. There is so much out there that is close to what the Bible says, yet not what the Bible says. We need to pray for discernment and wisdom. Prov. 2 says we are to seek wisdom as we seek silver: diligently. Mining silver requires a lot of digging. It’s hard work. I wonder how many believers do the hard work of studying the Bible diligently, seeking wisdom like we would seek silver. How much better to be rich in God’s treasures than worldly riches!
Excellent. Thank you.
That line has always bothered me. I love your correction: being so worldly minded they are no heavenly good. That does seem to be our cultural dilemma, doesn’t it. Thanks for affirming this truth.