The Fruitful Christian

At a conference of the Christian Medical Fellowship a speaker emphasised that the fruit God wants to see in Christians is the Christlike characteristic of service for others.  He felt that sharing the faith was for the few.  He was adamant that the only fruit that was relevant for all was that of Galatians 5:22-23. It was this teaching that lead me to write the book ‘the Duty of a Disciple’.

I had a patient who was the church warden of a local village church.  After the medical issues had been dealt with I asked her how the church was going.

“It’s getting difficult.  We are getting smaller and older.”

“Oh dear,” I replied, “Tell me, do members of the church talk about the Lord Jesus with others in the village?”

“Good gracious me no.  We don’t even talk about him amongst ourselves.”

The only thing I could think of saying was,

“Doesn’t that mean that your church must die?”

The Bible stresses that God’s people are to produce fruit for him.  My recent book ‘The Duty of a Disciple’ tries to emphasise this.  It contains a survey the Bible teaching on this subject.  The list of Biblical references listed at the end are most instructive.

Genesis starts with the notion that being fruitful is to numerically grow.

“God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number . . .” Genesis 2:26

A Psalm says,

“The Lord made his people very fruitful; he made them too numerous for their foes.”

In the upper room Jesus says to his disciples,

“He cuts off every brach in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:2

“If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

The whole of the discourse in the upper room was to remind his disciples what their life’s work was to be about.  That this is part of the fruit he is looking for is clear from what he said a little later,

“You did not chose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit.” John 15:16

He then explains that this is why his followers will be hated and says that we will be treated just as he was.  The reason will be -

“Remember the words I spoke to you: No servant is above his master.  If they persecuted me they will persecute you also.  If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” John 15:20

The main purpose of the church is to teach God’s word both to Christians and non-Christians alike. We are clearly to do this as winsomely as possible and so win people for God.

The book of Proverbs emphasises this:

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” Proverbs 12:30

In the parable of the sower, why does Jesus talk about numbers when talking about being fruitful?

“Others, like the seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it and produce a crop, thirty sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”

So how does the wonderful list in Galatians fit in to this fruitfulness.  If you notice what is missing the point becomes clear – why is there is no mention of personal holiness or prayer.  All these characteristics are interpersonal.  It is by having  close relationships that we can build people up in Christ and win people for Christ.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control . . .” Galatians 5:22

These are such attractive, winsome character traits we should all cherish, so that we can be effective for Christ.

Jesus commissioned his church,

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations . . .” Matthew 28:19

That this wasn’t just for the chosen few is stressed by what follows,

“ . .  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:20

God surely wants his people to have this love for him and for the people in God’s world. The theologically sound church in Ephesus was criticised by Jesus because they had lost this love and passion for Christ.

“You have forsaken your first love.  Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” Galatians 2:5

What would happen to the Ephesian church if they didn’t repent of their inward looking attitude – they will die out. And the same will happen to British churches.

How we in our churches need desperately to return to this Christ centred life and we leaders have a responsibility to lead in this.  How we need to realise God’s power again.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses . . . “ Acts 2:8

We do urgently need to prepare Christians for mission, so that all of us can be effective and productive for Christ.  2 Peter 1:5-8 tells us how this can be done!

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5-8

Interpersonal skills are essential if we are all to be effective and productive in winning disciples for the Lord Jesus.

BVP