The similar phrase 'Worldly Christianity' is one used by Bonhoeffer. It's J Gresham Machen that I want to line up most closely with. See his Christianity and culture here. Having done commentaries on Proverbs (Heavenly Wisdom) and Song of Songs (Heavenly Love), a matching title for Ecclesiastes would be Heavenly Worldliness. For my stance on worldliness, see 3 posts here.

God is Good, God is Great


I was reading Psalm 86 recently and I noticed how it underlines that God is both good (verse 5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you) and great (verse 10 For you are great and do marvellous deeds; you alone are God). The theme is found elsewhere especially in Psalm 145 (verses 3 and 7-9, also see Psalms 135, 136). There is an old children's table grace that goes

"God is great, and God is good, and we thank him for our food.
By his hand we all are fed; give us, Lord, our daily bread. Amen."

To adapt Keats (Ode on a Grecian urn)

Our God is great, he's good - that is all
We know on earth, and all we need to know.

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