God-apples?
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
In the fifth chapter of his letter to the churches in the region of Galatia, Paul, a church leader, spends some time talking about the fruit of the Spirit. In contrast to the evil deeds people tend to do when left on their own (he talks about those, too!), Paul is saying that if someone has God’s spirit within them, they will naturally become more like God. Just like an apple tree bears apples - it can’t help it - someone with God’s spirit inside them will bear God-apples, so to speak. So Paul lists some of the God-apples that he expects to see in God-followers:
“...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...” (Galatians 5.22-23, English Standard Version of the Bible)
I find it interesting that Paul chose the fruit analogy to talk about Christian character. I think there are at least two aspects of fruit that zero in on the meaning.
First, fruit naturally grows on fruit trees. In fact, being agriculturally ignorant, I can only tell what kind of tree it is when I see what kind of fruit is growing on it. In the same way that a tree is known by the fruit it produces, Jesus-followers are known by the God-apples they produce. And notice what this God fruit is - it’s not sermons preached or telling others about Jesus. It’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When we see someone with these characteristics, we’re probably looking at a God-tree.
Second, Paul calls these characteristics the fruit of the spirit, not the fruits. In other words, this isn’t the produce section at the grocery store where you may pick and choose which fruit you like. I like peaches better than apples, and I really don’t like pears at all. When it comes to God-apples, it’s a package deal. If I’m a God-tree, God’s spirit will be working to produce all of the fruit, not just my personal favorites. Some of this fruit grows a little more easily in me. I’m a pretty joyful person. Some of it is a real struggle. I’m not naturally gentle; in fact, sometimes I’m like the proverbial bull in the China shop. To continue the agricultural metaphor, God weeds, prunes, and fertilizes my heart to bring out the fruit. And sometimes that’s not pleasant or easy - the weeds have deep roots that don’t want to let go. But if I’m a God-tree and I’m going to produce God-apples, the master gardener is going to do his work. And if I’m not producing this fruit? Maybe I need to take a closer look to see whether I’m even in the orchard.
What about you? Which of these characteristics come easily for you? Which are harder? Where has God been weeding and pruning?
Peace,
Matt