By their Fruits...the Wayfarer 5/11/13

“By their Fruits”

“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Every tree that bringeth not good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

(Matthew &: 16-20)

Back to the Sermon on the Mount again today!

 The reason for this particular discourse comes about through the auspices of yet another conversation at one of our discipleship meetings.

Conversation had, unintentionally wandered off point from the scripture to be studied on this particular evening. It came in the form of a question about a member of another church who was forced to leave that church because of having had previous imprisonment.

 My thoughts immediately jumped to my “broken ones,” and the fact that all are broken at some time in their lives, and are entitled to no judgment but that of God Himself.

It never fails to amaze me that people organize themselves into cliques, make their own rules for those cliques, refuse to allow anyone that shows some dissimilarity to them to join that clique and then proceed to call that clique a “church”, without ever giving thought to who Jesus really was, what he really taught, and to whom he purposefully devoted his ministry.

I spent a short time expounding on the fact that we are never to judge one another, that if Christ can forgive, then, we have no right to do otherwise.

 I also reminded the questioner that there is only one sin that is unpardonable, and from which we must separate ourselves, to remain a functional church. That sin is blasphemy. 

As I recently defined this term, there is no need to do so again, but for any who may have missed that, I reiterate that blasphemy consists of the denial of the existence of the Holy Spirit. Since that Holy Spirit is embodied in both the Father and in Christ Jesus, the denial of either of them is a denial of that Spirit.

Those good Christian folks who meet regularly, and congratulate themselves on their righteousness while looking down on those who have admitted past sins and repented them are denying the forgiveness offered by our savior!

ANY who hears His voice and truly repents should be welcomed in any house that purports to bear the name and teachings of that Savior.

The conversation again wandered to the  bombings that took place in Boston, and the individual perpetrators involved.

There was no stated question, but only one implied, as to whether it was wrong to feel sorry for the surviving bomber and the treatment he is being given.

Forgiveness is a requirement of our fundamental tenets, taught by Christ and is never wrong to be given to the individual who seeks it. Jesus , when asked how many times to forgive one's brother said, not until 7 times 7 but until 70 times 7 if that brother ask that forgiveness!

This unstated question led to the discussion as to the enmity between the heirs of Abraham and whether such enmity could be justified.

Hatred can never be justified.

Neither can murder, or forced acceptance of teachings that deny the deity of our Lord.

Another recent question posed by someone else entirely was in reference to the Commandment not to kill.

That Commandment is as much in effect today as it was when given. It applies to ALL who choose to follow Christianity, in the same context in which it was given… not to murder our fellow human beings within our society.

The exceptions to this commandment also still stand equally in effect today as they were then, and is expressed in the third chapter of Ecclesiastes telling us there is indeed a time to kill… in defense of self, family, nation, and in DEFENSE of faith. This does not extend to any attempt to destroy another faith, or to force your faith on any other nation.

Defense is permissible; forced belief is not: nor can it ever be effectual, and bear acceptable fruit.

If we are to follow the precepts of Christ and of our Bible, we must follow them all. As I have said before, we cannot pick and choose what teachings we wish to discard and those we find palatable in a politically correct society.

It is therefore critical that churches teach those precepts, not just some, but all!

That does not and will not preclude this preacher from calling sin what it is.  I may only name that which has been named by those very teachings from the scriptures I attempt to impart to those willing to listen.

If any come through the doors that disagree with what my bible teaches, they are still welcome to listen… if they still choose to disagree, that is also their right, and their responsibility when they stand at the throne of judgment.

 It is at that throne, that judgment will be meted out, not by this or any other preacher, but by God Himself!

The fruits that will, and must show, in any life, come from the seeds sewn through the teachings that have been accepted.

If those teachings deviate from the seed of God’s word, then the ensuing fruit can only be corrupt and evil.

That is why we will continue to see so much violence, depravity, greed, dishonesty, and every other vice known to man, and see an increase in all of it, as those who are willing to admit their own frailty and sin, decreases with the acceptance of the many feel good philosophies and false doctrines that have taken the place of what is to be found in the books from which I preach. Those books are found in a single library, called the Bible, and, should be the definitive answer to all questions of how we are to conduct our lives, interact with each other, raise our children and make acceptable laws for our society.

The message to be given to all is to follow the teachings found between the bindings of that library and,  REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND!

I close as always, with the same love given all by my savior, still a simple sinner saved by grace and the sacrifice of that savior , and still a soldier willing to endure until endurance is no longer necessary as I stand at a throne of GRACE.

AMEN and AMEN

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

the Wayfarer