January 17, 2010

• Thought For The Week 29 pt 3

  
  Mat 3:8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

  There were a lot of meanings for the words “bring forth,” but the ones that stood out to me were these: to be the authors of, the cause, to produce, to acquire, to provide a thing for one’s self, to make a thing out of something, to act rightly, do well, to carry out, to execute, to perform.

  We also know that fruit could mean:
  

  a) the fruit of the trees, vines, of the fields
  b) the fruit of one’s loins, i.e. his progeny, his posterity

  
  However, in this case, the meaning falls under this:
  

  2) that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result

  a) work, act, deed
  b) advantage, profit, utility
  c) praises, which are presented to God as a thank offering
  d) to gather fruit (i.e. a reaped harvest) into life eternal (as into a granary), is used in fig. discourse of those who by their labours have fitted souls to obtain eternal life

  
  Now, my NIV bible says “in keeping with” for the word “meet.” I wanted to see what this word specifically referred to as well.

  1) weighing, having weight, having the weight of another thing of like value, worth as much
  2) befitting, congruous, corresponding to a thing
  3) of one who has merited anything worthy

  a) both in a good and a bad sense

  
  Thus far, this verse is telling us to be the authors of, or the cause of that which originates a result or effect, such as a work, act or deed; something that results in an advantage, profit, or utility (ie: is useful); and something which brings about praises, which are presented to God as a thank offering.

  In other words, let your “fruit be something that will reap an eternal harvest which is used or produced of those who by their labors have fitted souls to obtain eternal life. Make sure that this fruit has weight or value and is worthwhile or of benefit to someone.

  There is one more part to this.

  Mat 3:8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
  
  This fruit is “meet” or has a purpose “for repentance.” Note that it doesn’t say “with”, but “for,” which indicates that the purpose of this fruit is to bring about or cause repentance.

  Repentance is a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done. It contains or is demonstrated by deep sorrow, compunction, or contrition for a past sin, wrongdoing, or the like, and regret for any past action.

  There are three Greek words used in the New Testament to denote repentance. (1.) The verb _metamelomai_ is used of a change of mind, such as to produce regret or even remorse on account of sin, but not necessarily a change of heart. This word is used with reference to the repentance of Judas (Matt. 27:3). (2.) Metanoeo, meaning to change one’s mind and purpose, as the result of after knowledge. This verb, with (3) the cognate noun _metanoia_, is used of true repentance, a change of mind and purpose and life, to which remission of sin is promised. Evangelical repentance consists of (1) a true sense of one’s own guilt and sinfulness; (2) an apprehension of God’s mercy in Christ; (3) an actual hatred of sin (Ps. 119:128; Job 42:5, 6; 2 Cor. 7:10) and turning from it to God; and (4) a persistent endeavour after a holy life in a walking with God in the way of his commandments. The true penitent is conscious of guilt (Ps. 51:4, 9), of pollution (51:5, 7, 10), and of helplessness (51:11; 109:21, 22). Thus he apprehends himself to be just what God has always seen him to be and declares him to be. But repentance comprehends not only such a sense of sin, but also an apprehension of mercy, without which there can be no true repentance (Ps. 51:1; 130:4).

  Now, as an example of this, I am bringing forth two ideas about service that many churches involve themselves in; and I am bringing forth these service examples with questions.

  First, there are many churches that do some sort of feeding program for the homeless. In such programs, they conduct a church service first, making those who have gathered to be fed, wait so they can be fed spiritually prior to being fed physically.

  On the surface, I understand the ideology behind this, and I agree that it is good to be fed spiritually prior to physically. I also realize that the thought behind this is that the people will not stay to hear the church service if they are fed first. However, I do question this practice for this reason.

  Is the spiritual feeding a forced feeding? Isn’t this practice somewhat manipulative? In other words, are the homeless being forced, by having to wait through a church service prior to getting their physical food, which is what they came there for in the first place?

  Are they being forced into being spiritually fed against their will simply because they are homeless and therefore forced by circumstance into this necessity of coming to the feeding center? I mean, if we are truly reaching out, why aren’t we doing so without strings attached?

  I’m not saying don’t offer the spiritual food, but the manner in which it is offered indicates manipulation or an agenda, doesn’t it? Shouldn’t the people be lured to the spiritual by the spirit in which the food is given or their needs are being met, as opposed to being manipulated into a spiritual feeding that they weren’t initially seeking? Shouldn’t they have the option and respect to make that choice for themselves as opposed to  being “led” into it because they have come to have a physical need met?

  The reason I ask this question is that a friend of mine, who was once homeless, told me that he was forced to sit through a church service “just to get some food.” This is one of the reasons why his opinion of the church is that it is hypocritical.

  In the course of waiting for this food, a well-meaning Christian brother approached him and inadvertently passed judgment on him by assuming that he was in need of salvation because of his external condition of being homeless.

  When he did not respond to this conversation the way this Christian brother desired, ie: responding favorably to his invitation to salvation; the brother told him he would pray for him. My friend said he was insulted because the guy assumed by his condition of being homeless at that point, that he was without salvation, and in need of prayer. He said he told this guy not to bother; that he didn’t need his prayers.

  Now I know that some people who read this will automatically jump to the conclusion that this friend of mine definitely is in need of salvation if he said that, but again, that is still an idea from a position of judgment.

  I’m trying to get you to see this from a perspective outside your own Christian one…the perspective of someone in a position of need, whether saved at some point in their life, or unsaved, and how they might receive and perceive this as assistance with an agenda.

  Some might feel that it doesn’t matter; that what’s important is that they get the message out. However, I have to wonder how effective that message can be if people are having this sort of perception about how the message is being presented and whether or not they had a choice in hearing it.

  I think if the brother had asked him, “Can I pray for you?” instead of just assuming that he needed prayer, it would have gone over better. However, the question about the methodology of the service still remains.

  Secondly, a previous church I used to belong to years ago went out into the community to do an outreach. We went to a large indoor flea market and the goal was to extend invitations to the people to come to the church. We were given flyers and told to walk around handing them out and inviting people to come.

  I had, at that point, never been on an outreach before, so I basically was doing more observing than anything else. After the group had gone through the entire building and gathered again outside, they spotted a homeless man pushing a cart full of cans.

  It was clear that he had been out in the streets for quite some time, and they immediately targeted him as the ultimate candidate in need of what they were offering.

  They rushed this man, surrounding him and telling him about how he needed God, the church and salvation. I can only imagine that from his point of view, these people were just bombarding him with a lot of noise, which was apparently not getting through, because he seemed to be in a complete daze.

  After 10-15 minutes of this useless onslaught, they finally gave up and moved away from the man. None of them had managed to get him to take the flyer from the church.

  After observing this, I walked over to him and spoke real low next to his ear and said, “You can get the best wine you’ve ever tasted.” Immediately, he said, “Where?!?” I handed him the flyer, and told him to go to the church, and God would give it to him.

  Did he go? I have no idea, but at the very least, I didn’t come at him with judgment, but just attempted to identify with him where he was. That identification of what he physically desired allowed me to give him a spiritual option to get what he needed, as I was referring to getting the wine of the Spirit, which would satisfy any thirst.

  Whether or not he took the option is up to him. He is still a human being with his own ability to reason on whatever level. I didn’t dismiss that or disrespect it. I just offered an option he was unaware of. For me, this is the way to really reach out and bear fruit that can lead to repentance. Judgment, no matter how subtle, is not the way. What do you think?

  • 2:16 pm
  • Leave a comment