I recieved some pretty negative responses to my whole idea that we as believers should not inspect each others fruit. However, this has driven to me study further and I am even more convinced of my position. Let me say exactly why I believe fruit inspection to be an unbiblical endeavor. First of all, this is not to say that we should not keep each other accountable. I think that keeping each other true to biblical standards has become a failing art in the church and I am praying, that as a church, we discontinue our habit of offense and accept exhorting words from eah other. Otherwise, my peeve resides pretty much in the phrase "inspecting fruit". I have heard it used numerous times in reference to each others as believers and I cringe every time I hear it.
Mat 7:15-22
Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits.
Sheeps and Wolves....Believers and unbelievers. A good tree....believers. A bad tree....unbelievers. Jesus did not die on the cross and create bad trees. We immediately become a good tree and bear good fruit.....ALWAYS!! "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. When we start judging fruit then, we are really judging salvation because if we say that someone is bearing bad fruit, we are concluding that they are a bad tree. For example, we might say, "that person has not born any fruit". We may furthur conclude that this person is not saved because of this. I am to judge whether a tree is good or bad. This comes in handy when judging between false teachers and good teachers. However, I think we must be very careful when we tread on this ground.
Gal 5:18-23
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self- control; against such things there is no law.
The fuit of the Spirit....always good...always pleasing to the LORD: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. If I say about someone that I don't see fruit in thier lives, am I saying that I am around them 24/7 and I absolutely never see the Spirit of God working in their lives? Hmmm. I can't say that about anyone. Ah, but I can say that I see some DEEDS not fruit of the flesh. Perhaps you are like me, sometimes indulging the flesh. That doesn't mean that I am not saved, unless you believe that believers never sin. I wholeheartedly disagree with this but that is another discussion. It isn't pretty when I sin and I deserve to be called out on my misbehavior. Judging someone's output is appropriate. Judging someones salvation may not be appropriate. If I have any inkling that someone may not be saved, I am not going to call them out on their behavior, I am going to speak the gospel to them in love...maybe for the hundredth time, hoping that at some point repentance kicks in.
Some might say that I am just picking on symantecs. Maybe I am. But the words we use are important. Afterall, it is 90% of the way we communicate with each other. It is also the phraseology of the Bible. If I endeavor to live my life as close to the Bible as possible then why not use the words that it uses correctly. If I do so, then other places where I see the word "fruit", might make more sense to me. If I understand what Jesus is talking about when He refers to fruit and trees, I am in a better place to understand those words when used elsewhere. It might end up being a revelation towards other passages..."Gee, I never understood what this passage was talking about, but now that I understand, in the wholeness of scripture, what this phrase means, I totally get it now". For me, it is a joyful thing when scripture is brougt to light.
