Sh!t Jesus Says, Part Eight: Beware

Love recognizes the humanity in others, and acts with compassion and empathy towards them. Love is the power Jesus uses to transform our hearts from the inside out. And the way he draw us closer to God and one another. 

​If a person dresses like a Christian but refuses to love without conditions, what does that say about their fruit? ​

In the classic story “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” Mark Twain wrote in two characters called “The Duke” and “The King.”

The two fabricate a story about their noble lineage to gain sympathy from Huck and Jim. But what they really want is free passage on their raft and to be taken down the Mississippi.
 
It doesn’t take Huck long to realizes they are frauds. He plays along with their game, until the conmen sell Jim as a runaway slave.

This act of betrayal sets the stage for the novel's climax, and teaches Huck a few valuable lessons on human nature, deception, and the complexities of morality.
 
While we might believe ourselves to be more sophisticated than say Huckleberry Finn, we’re all capable to becoming prey for wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing.

​Because it happens at the pulpit as much as it does in our politics and personal lives, Jesus has this to say.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.                           - Matthew 7:15-20 - 

When I first read this passage, I’m not going to lie…a particular politician came to mind. I thought I could hold up a picture and read these verses and that could be my entire message. But then the more I sat with this passage, really contemplating each word, the more I began to see how doesn’t name who the false prophet is because, if we’re being honest, it could be any one of us.
 
Biblically speaking, a prophet was someone who spoke for God. Someone like Isaiah who proclaimed God's holiness; warning Israel to live righteously or face the consequences. Prophets are the ones who remind us of what God expects from us like Micah who said, to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly.
 
As you can imagine, they weren’t very popular with those in seats of power. Like Jesus, prophets were always at odds with our conventional wisdom. Which makes sense because we are constantly being led astray from what God asks of us.

So Jesus says, “Beware of false prophets,” the ones who say they’re speaking on God’s behalf but are really seeking to benefit themselves.
 
He goes on to tell us we will know the difference by watching what someone does. One’s actions are a pretty good indicator if they’re for real, or have ulterior motives. I’m sure we’ve all met someone who seemed trustworthy and kind, but then show their true colors often at your expense.
 
It’s a story as old as time. Like when Eve met a snake in the Garden of Eden who claimed to be wise and enlightened. Well, we know how well that worked out (Genesis 3).

Or like in George Orwell’s book, Animal Farm, a pig named Napoleon presents himself as a great leader and benefactor of the other animals. As the story unfolds we discover he’s nothing but a narcissistic tyrant who exploits and betrays the ones he promises to help.
 
Sometimes a person’s deception is so obvious it’s laughable. But most of the time it’s so subtle that you don’t know it happened until it’s too late. Like Jesus says, a tree can look healthy but still produce sour fruit.
 
So how will we know without having to take a bite? I think Paul gives us a perfect metric to go by in his letter to the churches in Galatia. He writes, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…" (Gal. 5:22-23).
 
These nine fruits are the hallmark of a life that’s aligned with God's will. They are hard to fake or disguise. To bear such fruit requires intentionality, effort, and sometimes even sacrifice.

I think this is what Jesus means when he says, “anyone who wants to follow me must pick up their cross” (Matthew 16:24). He puts the onus on us to produce good fruit if we are to follow him.

In a society that often values power over peace, self-interest over kindness, and instant gratification over self-control, it might seem impossible to embody all nine of these fruits. So why not start with one? The fruit of love. According to Jesus, love for God and others “is what all the laws and prophets hangs on” (Matthew 22:37-38).
 
If you love, you will possess real joy. You will create peace. You can show patience, kindness and goodness to even the most difficult of people. Love paves the way to faithfulness. It makes you gentle with others. And guides your life in a way that reveals Christ’s light in the darkness.

So it’s no surprise, Jesus makes love the cornerstone of faith when he commands, “love one another as I love you” (John 13:34-35).
 
From the pulpit, St. Augustine of Hippo asked, "What does love look like?” He answered, “It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like." (Sermon 350, 2)
 
Paul said without love he was nothing. “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”  (1 Cor. 13:4-7)
 
No wonder Jesus says, “Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back so your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High” (Luke 6:35).
 
Love is the action that cultivates all the other fruits. It recognizes the humanity in others, and acts with compassion and empathy towards them. Love is the power Jesus uses to transform our hearts from the inside out. And the way he draw us closer to God and one another.
 
If a person dresses like a Christian but refuses to love or help someone without conditions, what does that say about their fruit?

Jesus says, “Beware” Don’t follow that person as someone to believe or imitate. Or like he says elsewhere, “You don’t throw pearls to swine” (Matthew 7:6). To follow Christ is to imitate him, to be like him, to love like he does.
 
Which is why it’s imperative to watch Jesus, to study his words, and mimic his actions. He is the way to God, to truth and enlightenment. He says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit…” (John 15:4-5).
 
So here’s the thing…if you are going to call yourself a Christian then you are choosing to bear the fruit of Christ. You are choosing to pick up your cross - no matter the cost or sacrifice.

We have to be mindful of what we do because there are others watching us closely too. They are ready to call us out and prove that our faith is as flimsy as a wet noodle. That doing the will of God is not worth their time.
 
A few years back I did something foolish. But at the time it seemed like the right thing to do. In the middle of worship, I called out some very prominent religious leaders who I believed were the kind of false prophets Jesus warns us about. They talked the talk, but didn’t appear to walk the walk.

So I named them publicly, and asked rather audaciously, “Where is Christ in your Christianity?” What I should have done was ask myself where is Christ in me?
 
Blinded by my own self-righteousness, I actually believed I was better than they were. The fruit of my action was no different than theirs. The thing is, Jesus never belittles or shames or pressures anyone to follow him - he just pours his love upon them and leaves it up to us to do the same.
 
We are either good fruit or bad. We either love and accept all people as God does, or not. But Jesus makes it very clear when he says, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
 
To take the name of Christ while refusing to bear his fruit is no different than a politician telling people what they want to hear to get their vote. Everything we say and do is a choice we make on how we will reveal God’s glory on this side of eternity.
 
As we move through Anamesa, we all must ask ourselves, “Will I choose to reflect the character of Jesus? Will I commit to living a life where I actually love God, love others, and serve both?”
 
Will I support leaders who best embody these spiritual fruits? Will I advocate for policies that care for the marginalized.

Will I stand for love not hate; build bridges not walls; and engage with people respectfully even if I disagree with them? Will I care for my neighbors despite their race, gender or sexual orientation?
 
As Basil the Great wrote, "A tree is known by its fruit; a person by their deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love." (Letter 93)
 
Love is the way they will know our fruits, and we will know theirs. Good produces good. Bad produces bad. It really is that simple.
 
So let us go out into this space between heaven and earth, growing and nurturing the fruit of Christ-like love. Remembering the words St. Catherine of Siena who encouraged us to, "Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire." (Letter T368)​

Through Christ we have been given the Holy Spirit to light up the world so all can see God’s glory. In doing so, may we come before our Lord who say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:21).