Devotional Messages

DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE

Matthew 7:15-20 – “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 is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus you will know them by their fruits.”  (NRSV)

I’m guessing this Fourth of July will be a more complicated holiday for many of you than it has been in the past.  Many people are feeling as if “government of the people, by the people, for the people” has been abandoned in favor of government by and for the very richest.  Commitment to the common good and the general welfare seems to have disappeared.  What does it mean to celebrate independence when it seems like the people in charge have completely stopped listening to the voices of their constituents?

As Christians, this secular holiday can be even more complicated.  As we’ve learned more about the pernicious threat of Christian Nationalism, we’ve come to understand that the place for patriotism is not within the church walls, where God alone is the center of our lives.  But that doesn’t mean we ignore our identity as Americans.  What does it mean to live out our faith as active, engaged citizens in a pluralistic democracy?

These verses from the Sermon on the Mount can help us determine how our faith should impact our actions as citizens.  We can listen to the words of those who would make decisions for our nation; some of them may even be true.  But more importantly, we need to evaluate the impact that the policies they enact have upon God’s people.  What sort of fruit are our leaders bearing?  Are the results in keeping with God’s desires for the flourishing of all humanity?  If not, is it because something went wrong?  Or were the problems that arise obvious results of the policies that were passed?

I find these verses particularly helpful in guiding our perspectives as citizens because they don’t require that other people convert to Christianity.  Jesus wasn’t as interested in people crying out his name as he was in us doing the work of the gospel.  People of many faiths and none can bear good fruit.  But people who try to claim Jesus’ name while bearing bad fruit are the false prophets he told us to watch out for.

When we come together as neighbors to cultivate policies and culture and communities that will bring more love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, kindness, generosity, gentleness and self-control to life, that is something worth celebrating!  We can continue to do this, even when the structures of our government are working against those goals.