Last week we looked at the tantalizing fruit of
enterprise which we called infruit. This week we will probe at greater depth
into the actual seed itself. The seed of inspiration, or inseed, that produces
the new plant and eventually wonderful fruit. Within the embryo, the part of
the seed that brings about the new life we have really two unique components.
One is the complex genetic information itself, and the other for lack of a
better term, we call the spirit of life. The genetics itself does not generate
life, for once something dies, the value of the information, in all its
complexity ceases to be of value. On the other hand, if the life is not
controlled by the genetic information, the disease we call cancer ensues.
In a healthy plant or animal, the two, genetic
information and life spirit function in harmony. Originally, according to the
Book of Genesis death entered this perfect creation as the result of the sin of
Adam and Eve. In that respect one could summarize that with that sin something
was altered within that genetic structure of information so that life could not
continue to live indefinitely. We see in the Garden of Eden story, Òthe tree of
life,Ó whose fruit is able to counter act this death and the Òtree of the
knowledge of good and evil.Ó So in
some way the knowledge of good and evil, or to equate oneÕs self with God,
brings about death. Again one must assume that this knowledge, or information
is contained within the fruit of the good and evil tree, in its infruit or
inseeds.
But our goal in this article is not to look specifically
at these Biblical texts, but to notice the first fruits of tension mentioned
here. Life is contrasted with knowledge. Notice not knowledge about God, but
knowledge as God. We still see this tension played out today in the church, or
GodÕs people.
By using our powers of God given intellect, we can see
two camps, or inseeds of reasoning. One says, Ò I have doctrine, great
doctrine, of the finest minds of God given religious ability.Ó The other says, ÒI have life in the
spirit, the finest gifts of the spirit of God given religious ability.Ó Both inseeds have corollary statements
of judgement of the other side. ÒYour doctrines are nothing but dead
orthodoxy!Ó ÒYour spirit is just
fleshly emotionalism!Ó Both groups fail (by design?) to understand that both
doctrine and emotion must remain in tension, to produce healthy inseed and
consequently healthy infruit: Apricots, apples, peaches, grapes, watermelon,
tomatoes, kiwi, wheat, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self control
Before going further, notice that these tensions are
present in one body we call the church, the body of Christ. For just as in
natural fruit, and in the individual, we have a tension present between the
power of the intellect, or information, and the power of emotion, or the
spirit. In the church, these two have always existed, sometimes with violent
clashes between the two. As we change illustrations it is a good thing to say,
that most of the time the majority of people try to walk some how closer to the
center of the road, than those in either of the ditches. But that tension is
always present. It is part of the embryo present within the church at its
formation with the resurrection of Christ for the justification of sinful man.
In that respect, the tree of life first present in the garden of Eden is now
available to all who come through Jesus Christ to taste of its fruits. Just as
the first Adam brought about our expulsion from Eden, the last Adam, Jesus
Christ, restores that relationship with God in a new Garden, of restored
creation. Some preliminary tastes now available to who are called according to
His purpose.
As we examine these two tension sources within the
church, we see that the focus of each ditch is not really on Jesus Christ as a
person and an eternal personality, but on a form of information about Jesus
Christ. On one side is information, or doctrine, concerning His work, the other
side the life of His spirit. But as we looked at in Eden, careful analysis
shows that both try to exalt some man present power in order to speak as God,
rather than let God speak for Himself. This brings us to the Bible. The word of
God, where God speaks for Himself.
Only in the Bible do we see information and life spirit
functioning in oneness. While written by human instruments it is really a
composition by God for those created in His image. It is a specific source of
information that contains more doctrine than we can ever hope to decipher, and
more of life spirit than we can ever hope to experience. In this present age,
and for most of religious history, when confronted with this overwhelming
complexity, just as in the grasslands, when we do not know the true God of the
Bible we are forced to create one of our own design. Most of the time, just as
with original sin, it is our partaking of the understanding of the knowledge of
good and evil that we utilize to overcome our insecurities. Exalting ourselves
to the place of God. But in that tension, again as in nature, the true witness
of the Bible is that there is a God and we are not him.
What are we to do? Really, the only prayer we have is to
focus, not on ourselves and our own understanding, but to focus on Jesus Christ
as that redeemer of sinners. Biblical verses in the New Testament saying much
the same are quite common, and are always contrasted with our own desires as
the end. Focus outside and beyond our intellectual and emotional ability comes
by faith in Jesus Christ, the power of eternal productive change. We receive
that faith through the written Word of God, to know the person of the living
Word of God. As we learn to know Him better, we are drawn out of our own
resourcefulness and desire to be perfect in doctrine or spirit and truly begin
to understand the power of GodÕs love. Love to make a way, where there is no
road. Love, where a cross provided perfect righteousness, in the place of sin.
As an illustration of the part we play, I have been thinking
about some comments I made about what I called the bush nature of womenÕs
basketball some months ago. Shortly after that statement I was watching some
womenÕs round ball clips on the news when the solution hit me. The difference
between the menÕs game and the womenÕs game I saw, was that in menÕs
basketball, the jump shot is taken with the ball over the head, the shooter
viewing the basket beneath the ball. In womenÕs basketball, most shooters, even
at the professional level, shoot a jump shot viewing the basket over the
ball. Now in menÕs hoops that type
of jump shot will, at a competitive level, send you quickly to your dentist for
bridge work, or you will learn to spend much time prone, your back on the
hardwood. Perhaps both.
The only difference I can see, must be in the quality of
the coaching and in womenÕs hoops you can get by with a poor jump shot. In summary, poor coaching, mediocre
competition, and laziness. In boys basketball, good coaches teach young kids to
put the ball over the head and flip the ball to the rim with the action of the
wrist. This many times occurs before the boys are strong enough to get the ball
ten feet high. But by the time these little guys are in high school however,
that wrist flick can sent a fifteen to twenty footer arching with ease. Nothing
but net, or so goes the story.
So could the trouble with menÕs and womenÕs church be
this application as it pertains to the Word of God? Pastors (coaches) that
think that just preaching or teaching some of his views of the Word of God on
Sunday is sufficient to produce productive, Godball players. Lack of
competition in diverse leagues of good (biblical) works, allows the continued
desire for individual inbreeding and arrogance. We really are GodÕs gift to
Godball. Finally, since I am such a good Godball player, I really do not need
to practice many hours a day with the Word of God , to become the best I can
be. Jesus loveÕs me as a mediocre, cheap grace Godball champion.
As infruit in the Bible becomes part of the church and the
individual, lifeÕs diversity begins to increase as the life of Christ and the
fruit of His Spirit become more apparent.
We live a balanced or tensioned life,without the tendency to be overly
swayed to either ditch. Instead, we find live orthodoxy functioning in
conjunction with a fruitful spirit. Once this fruit begins to be fostered then
it becomes the source of life in all aspects of GodÕs garden and his orchard of
tasty fruit. The church is reformed and restored by the Word of God, as Luther
taught, but was so quickly forgotten. But for that brief period all society is
transformed by the perfect information or genetic wisdom of the Word of God.
The arts, science and other forms of enterprise flourish and the glory of God
is present in all society. Not by the wisdom or our desire for gifts, but
instead we receive them as they are transformed by the fruit of the spirit:
love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self control.
The church is supposed to be a team, a community of
believers in Jesus Christ as redeemer and Savior. But through the incorporation
of worldly knowledge and programs, she has lost her witness and her ability to
compete in the arena with the worldÕs best. By seeking egalitarian solutions
and dumbing down her message in order to become relevant, we have missed our
shot and in many cases are not
even chosen for the game. It is the role of leadership and all who know the
truth, to try to pull others forward and not get mired in the worldly muck,
raising the game of all to a higher level. For our benediction and our
edification we shall use the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13,14:
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things
which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus.
AMEN.
Two years ago Monday, I began this weekly message, not
really knowing where it might lead. Those of you who have been putting up with
me for all these months, I thank you deeply. For those of you newer to this
work, I greatly appreciate your involvement also. Those of you who have taken
the time to pray, may God bless you mightily. For all, my hope is that you have
found these messages generally edifying.
Things here seem to be coming to a close, as work and
opportunities seem to be shifting east of the mountains. I probably would have
gone over last week provided monies owed would have been forthcoming. Not so, I
was able to complete some provisions that will be nice to have during a
transition period, but I do see that an unknown provision(s), or miracle(s)
will be needed to bring it all about. I also see seeds of organization that are
not random occurrences and must be part of design beyond my understanding.
Please continue to intercede for the resources, the people, and the fruit and
fruit of the Spirit to accompany all who are associated with this work.