One of the most commonly trotted out critiques about living a life of faith is that it is all about “pie-in-the-sky-bye-and-bye.” The critics claim that those who put their ultimate faith in a heavenly reward, don’t really engage with this world. This critique is best expressed in the phrase “so heavenly minded, no earthly good.” Hardships and harassments are accepted in this world because “in the next age” heavenly rewards will far outweigh anything this earthly existence might have to offer. “Pie-in-the-sky” theology also has a checkered history of being used by the rich and powerful to keep the abused and down trodden accepting of their lot and their hope deferred.

Pie of this kind is best left in the sky. Jesus preached an inside-out, upside-down, “inverted” gospel — the last would be…