Figs From Thorn Bushes?

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:43-45, NIV 1984).

My Musings – You can dress up a cause with a fine sounding name or slogan that most will find compelling and hard not to support.  But if the “fruit” of the cause is not good, it does not matter what you call it, the tree has bad roots.  The figs turn out to be thorns and the grapes turn out to be briers. Sometimes the cause is good, but the people behind the cause act inconsistently with the intent of the cause. The evil stored up in their hearts will overflow into their inflammatory rhetoric and destructive behavior.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.  Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.  I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”  (Martin Luther King, Jr.).

“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.”  (Philippians 2:14–16, NIV 1984).

My Advice – Not every good sounding cause is worth supporting.  It must be more than good sounding.  Make sure it bears good fruit.  Make sure it is not storing up evil, because eventually that evil will overflow, speaking with actions that are recognized as evil.  Not every church is a bride of Christ.  By their fruit you will know them.  Not everyone who cries, “Lord, Lord,” are known by Christ.  By the overflow of their heart you will recognize them.

Author: thebrewisamusing

I was raised in a Christian family and my earliest childhood memories include regular Sunday school and Church attendance as a family. I was taught that our Judeo-Christian values were not just a part of our Sunday routine they should be part of our character and influence all aspects of our lives. I was also taught that as important as these values were they could not save us. We must also be “born again” by accepting Christ. View all posts by thebrewisamusing