Citizens of Heaven, Neighbors on Earth

Engaging Culture Without Compromising the Faith

What does it mean to live faithfully in a culture that no longer naturally supports Christian belief?

In Citizens of Heaven, Neighbors on Earth, Geoffrey Schmitt explores the enduring challenge of being in the world without being shaped by it. Rather than offering slogans or culture-war strategies, this book invites readers into a deeper way of living—one formed by discernment, patience, and embodied love.

Drawing on Scripture, pastoral experience, and decades of ministry—including extensive work in prison settings—Schmitt examines how culture quietly forms us through stories, rhythms, technology, and expectations. He names the subtle drift that often reshapes faith not through rebellion, but through distraction and accommodation. He explores when Christians are called to adapt in love and when they must resist with clarity, and what it costs to live without blending in.

Throughout the book, faith is presented not as performance or argument, but as formation—a slow, faithful shaping of the heart through community, practice, and presence. Readers are invited to consider how the Church can function as an alternate culture, forming disciples who live with integrity, courage, and humility in complex times.

Citizens of Heaven, Neighbors on Earth is written for thoughtful believers who refuse both withdrawal and compromise. It is a guide for those who want to love their neighbors well without surrendering their deepest convictions—and to trust God with outcomes while remaining faithfully present where they are.