You shall know them by their fruit

You shall know them by their fruit

The other evening I was with a group and one of the people there, in essence, questioned the commitment and even Christianity of those who did not take part in a certain project at the church. The idea put forth was that you could tell their commitment based on their fruit and since they did not take part in that project their fruit was lacking, or non-existent.

I have spent quite a bit of time since then thinking on this and the more I think on it the more I believe this brother was completely wrong, Further, as his comments were made in the presence of a new believer I think his comments were inappropriate and dangerous to this brother’s faith. Thankfully on the way home I was able to talk to them and, I hope in some small manner straighten out the issue for them.

The issue though seems to be common within the Church. We seek to recognize each other by a certain standard of what fruit should be and not by their unique fruit.

It is clear that Jesus told us that we are to recognize a tree by its fruit. Luke 6:44 NIV (“Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.”) This being said Jesus also said we are not to look to a tree for a fruit different that what grows on it. To carry this thought a logical jump forward we are not to expect to find apples on a peach tree or oranges on a pear tree.

Does this mean the apple tree is not a valuable as the peach tree because it bears a different fruit? Or the orange is a second class tree because it does not bear pears?
Paul talked about this in 1 Corinthians 12 where he told the church at Corinth that “[t]here are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” 1 Cor. 12:5-6. He went on to use the analogy of the body and told them:

"12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts."

I find it to be clear that just because one believer is called to a particular work and another is not does not mean that the one is somehow deficient because they are not bearing a certain type of fruit. As Paul wrote ““[t]here are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” 1 Cor. 12:5-6.

If I am called to clean the bathroom and another is called to lead worship in the eyes of God both callings are equal. They are different kinds of service but they are being done for the same Lord. We are not all called to be eyes or hands or feet. We are called to be what God has made us. If you are called to bear a certain fruit but your brother is called to bear a different fruit that does not make you superior it just means that you have a talent that God is using in one way while your brother has a talent God is using in some other manner.

Jesus tells us to “to recognize a tree by its fruit.” Luke 6:44. If I see a tree with peaches hanging from its branches I recognize it as a peach tree, or an apple tree is recognized by the apples hanging from its branches. A believer is recognized by their fruit and, as in nature, there are a great many different fruits but the same Lord and they are all following their calling and purpose.