It seems that some Christians think that this world is simply a waiting area for the next one in heaven. They take on the mantel of we are all just poor miserable sinners who are capable of nothing good. So the only thing to do is to wait passively to get into heaven which is their “true” home. This philosophy is primarily accounted for by the epistles of Paul. Since Protestants latch onto Paul much more than Catholics this world view is associated primarily with them. Many hunker down in their churches each Sunday singing praises to God and waiting for the second coming. Since they think so little of themselves and their God given abilities they think little or nothing is required of them. What a sad way to live in this world!
I wonder just how surprised they will be when they find out that God actually intended them to do something while they were here. I don’t know what the consequences of their inactivity will be? I will leave that up to God. But, I think Jesus clearly pointed out a different tract for us to take. He meant for us to actively praise God through our actions and to love our fellow man. To give our neighbors the shirt off our back if he needs it. Yes, to even being a bleeding heart! Just casually looking at the red letters makes this very obvious to me.
God created the universe which is a vast and wonderful place. He set the earth in motion and then populated it with everything we need to make a fulfilling life here. Some might say to even make his kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven. To waste all that by being passive is an affront to God in my opinion.
RedLetterLiving 
I don’t think it is one versus the other. Paul is a mighty force for Christ. He was dealing with the formation of the early church and he had to deal with many problems in the church. Goodness! Talk about a man living for Christ! That would be Paul.
Peppy,
I’m not trying to discount the fact that Paul was a man living for Christ. He indeed did spend his life spreading the word. If it had not been for Paul what we know as Christianity today might have been just another version of Judaism. Much like the Pharisees or the Sadducee!
But what I am saying is that Paul put his own personal twist on being a Christian that I’m not sure originated from Jesus. I like Thomas Jefferson, believe that as a result of how his letters are treated today he put a lot of rules and regulations in place that Jesus did not necessarily speak of.
Long story short, I think too many Christians put too much weight and meaning on Pauline theology to the detriment of the actual words of Jesus. But that is just my opinion.