Fruit Salad

I came across a conversation between two pastors on a podcast in regards to Christian maturity. Landon Macdonald, a pastor of Mission Church in Arizona, was speaking with Chad Moore pastor of Sun Valley Church. As they were discussing Christians in the church Chad said, “Everyone thinks they are spiritual based on their watering system. Did you read the bible today? Did you pray today? Did you go to church today? Did you do the practices today?” Initially this seems a little shocking? My spiritual life and maturity has nothing to do with prayer, reading the bible and going to church? Well let us give him the benefit of the doubt and hear Chad explain what he means.

He continues, “But what Jesus examines is the fruit. And that is how you recognize a tree.Which is why the Pharisees who did read the bible today, who did pray today, who did go to church today, their fruit sucked, right? So they had a lot of knowledge, [but] they didn’t have much maturity.”  So I kind of see where he is coming from. It is true that religious practices do not mean you are a follower of God. There are people who go to church and read their bible that will not be going to heaven. Jesus even illustrated this at the end of His sermon on the mount after saying you will know them by their fruit (see Matthew 7:21-23).

Let’s see what else Chad has to say: “This is my problem with church people; they got a lot of knowledge and no love. Church people in quotes, so I mean the negative Pharisaical kind…just to clarify, so they’ll come to me and say, “Pastor, well I’m a mature Christian.” As soon as somebody says that I’m, you know, immediately: “Well you are the worst kind of ignorant, you're the arrogant kind, right?” At this point Landon starts laughing. Chad continues: “And what they mean is, you know, I’ve done some Beth Moore bible studies, right? Like, I know some stuff” Landon laughs some more. Chad continues; “So after I throw up in my mouth for a little bit…” Then Landon, still laughing, goes “Hey coach I’m a good basketball player. What other category would that be even vaguely acceptable?” And then the clip ends.

This was very interesting to listen to yet full of half truths. Is he right in what he is saying that your “watering system” does not amount to maturity? Yes and no. Yes you can read the bible, pray and go to church a lot and still not be a mature christian. But that doesn’t mean you can be mature without them either. And that is almost what Chad is alluding to. That we can be mature without all of this “religious” stuff. But that couldn’t be further from the truth!

The problem is he is drawing his conclusions from people in the bible instead of what the bible actually teaches. Yes the Pharisees were very religious and at the same time very immature. But that wasn’t because they were reading the bible and praying. That was because they were not saved! They were not reborn. They never repented of their sins and followed God by faith alone. We walk by faith, not by religious works. And the Pharisees never had faith that would be counted to them as righteousness to begin with.

What did Jesus say would produce fruit in His people? By being “in Him”. “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) What does being in Jesus mean? To have a relationship with Him! I.E. to be saved. Then maintaining and strengthening that relationship. The reason the Pharisees didn’t have fruit was not because they prayed a lot but because they were never “in Christ”. And once we are in Christ how do we continue to develop and grow our fruit (i.e. our christian character)? By growing our relationship with Christ. And how do we remain in Him and grow our relationship with Him? Just like any other relationship: spending a lot of time with Him. And how do we spend a lot of time with Jesus? By reading our bible, praying and going to church!  

But Chad thinks it is just about love. He said, “This is my problem with church people; they have a lot of knowledge and no love.” But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Love is actually one of the fruits itself! So if it is a fruit, how can it be the thing that grows fruit? Whoever heard of an apple on a tree growing the other apples on the tree? It's the tree that grows the fruit! And in Jesus’ analogy the tree is Himself! And so the more we remain in Him and He in us, the more fruit we will bear. Not, the more we love the more fruit we bear. By the apple being attached to the tree it flourishes and grows. Once it is no longer connected to the tree, it has lost its life source. It is the same with us. An apple by itself can not grow, it needs the tree. So love by itself can not grow. We need to remain in Christ. Reading the bible, praying and church are vital to the health and maturity of our faith. But you have to have saving faith to begin with. Do not neglect the graces that God has given us to strengthen our relationship with Him, grow us and give us much fruit!