Aliens and Strangers, Yes; But Owners and Stewards, Too

 Aliens and Strangers, Yes; But Owners and Stewards, Too


Sometimes we hear a lot of good teaching on how the church's saints on earth are "aliens and strangers"; and how we do not really "belong" here, and how we do not "fit in" here.  All of this is pretty much true; and it is important that we know this and believe it.  But, I wonder if sometimes we do not take this concept too far, and draw conclusions that are not so savory/good/biblical?

 

The truth is, we *are* "sojourners and exiles."  The Apostle Peter makes this clear (in 1 Pet. 2:11).  But the true regenerate church also "owns" the earth.  It is ours.  It has been given to us by our gracious Lord, King, and Master Jesus Christ.  We have "inherited" it (Matt. 5:5). . . . In reality, the non-regenerate people do *not* own this planet; and it is they--not us--who are "squatting" on it.  We Christians give them "squatter's rights"; but we should never cede the title of the earth to them.  To do so is to dishonor our Head (Jesus).

 

The problem, I think, is that we are tempted to make too wide a "gap" between heaven and earth.  In Jesus Christ and His kingdom, these two "realms" are now united.  This "connection" is in the one holy catholic and apostolic church.  The church in heaven is one with the church on earth.

 

Now, if the concern is that we should not be so-enamored with the things of earth, that we put them ahead of (or above) Christ, then (obviously) we agree with this.  Nothing can come before our love for our Triune God, in and through the God/Man Jesus Christ.

 

Though we are "aliens and strangers," this does not mean that the "City of God," (using Augustine's language), is--in the most-sublime sense--the "City" that does not "belong" here.  Regenerate Christian churchmen *do* "belong" here--it is just that we also belong to an even-greater expression of that same "City," which is permanent in heaven.

 

When taken to an extreme, teaching on our being "aliens and strangers" can result in selfish unfeelingness for the lost people on earth.  It can also lead to a God-dishonoring disdain for the care of His creation.  None of these mistakes need take place--but we are naturally inclined to them, if we conceive of our "alien-ship" and our "stranger-ship" as something *so* otherworldly, that it has contempt for God's creation.

 

What is harder: to think of oneself as so foreign to a place, that you have no interest or responsibility in it; or to conceive of oneself as the owner and steward of some valuable land?  I dare say, the second option is harder.  But, to this we are called. . . .

 

Sure, the unbelievers think this earth is theirs, and that they can do on it all that they want.  This idea is completely false and grossly misguided.  Let us, as God's children, not fall into the same fallacious thinking.

 

Abraham possessed Canaan below, and Canaan above.  The regenerate saints of the true church have the same inheritance as he (Abraham) had/has.  Let us enjoy it, steward it, and preserve it for the kingdom of God.

 

"Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. . . . those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land. . . . But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. . . . for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land . . . The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. . . . and he [the LORD] will exalt you to inherit the land . . . ," (Ps. 37:3, 9b, 11, 22a, 29, 34b/ESV).

 

Rev. Mark J. Henninger

Treatise #80

10 March 2026

https://theologicaltreatisesinretirement.blogspot.com

https://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com/

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