THE MYSTERIES OF WEEDS IN THE CHURCH
We’ve probably had weeds as long as we’ve been planting things. Weeds are
highly adaptable, have you ever noticed that weeds grow where other plants
won’t? Weeds are also sneaky.
Jesus takes this very familiar scene in everyday life and
applies it spiritually in another one of His stories, designed to make us
think about spiritual things in a new way. Let’s begin in Matthew 13:24.
1. Weeds confuse the appearance of who is a believer and who is not.
We’ve heard Jesus say it before: Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, ’Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
The truth is that in the church as a whole there are among us those that look like a believer on the outside but aren’t redeemed on the inside.
And so confusion sets in which works nicely into the enemy’s plan. It’s like dressing up enemy soldiers in friendly uniforms. They can infiltrate without being detected.
So what do we do? Believe the best, and don’t judge but be observant.
2. Weeds injure the roots of real plants and impede growth
People that aren’t redeemed are going to try to tangle you up into all kinds of stuff that won’t help you grow closer to the Lord. So when someone you think is a Christian invites you to do something clearly immoral or hindering to your growth as a Christian, resist don’t become entangled in that things just because someone you trust is saying it. Use the Word and what you know of Jesus’ character as a guide, not the words of another person.
3. Weeds rob the soil of nutrients
Unsaved people will generate all kinds of energy focusing on what they shouldn’t focus on dividing the church, attacking other Christians, diluting the gospel by arguing over doctrine, subverting the church by drawing Christians off into ungodly pursuits. All this takes an even greater amount of energy to ward off.
4. Weeds produce no fruit but plenty of seeds
A non- believer can be known eventually by the fact they produce no change in character that shows they are a Christian. But like weeds, non believers plant many seeds, seeds of mistrust, seeds of iniquity, seeds of apathy that if allowed to take root will harm us.
So spread anti-weed around the yard of your life in the form of the Word that won’t allow seeds to germinate, of prayer that kills the seedlings.
5. Weeds dry up quickly but are always present and return perennially
Even when we think we are weed free know that weeds will return. Make-believers will always be among us, so we must keep up our guard.
So there are a couple of values we need to adopt in light of this patience and careful observance.
Patience – God doesn’t rush to judgment but waits until the fruit shows. We need to wait as well as a general principal. Maybe you want to do great things for God or maybe you’ve just called out to Him in pain and begged for His intervention – and it isn’t coming. Have patience, God may be growing fruit in you.
Careful Observance: I’m not saying that we should examine each other and judge the ones we think are not producing enough fruit and call them “weeds.” But Jesus said you will know them by their fruit. If someone you know is growing in the Lord, it will eventually show. And conversely, if they show no growth over a long period of time, then maybe its time to lovingly encourage them to examine their walk with the Lord to determine why the growth isn’t happening.
1. Weeds confuse the appearance of who is a believer and who is not.
We’ve heard Jesus say it before: Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, ’Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
The truth is that in the church as a whole there are among us those that look like a believer on the outside but aren’t redeemed on the inside.
And so confusion sets in which works nicely into the enemy’s plan. It’s like dressing up enemy soldiers in friendly uniforms. They can infiltrate without being detected.
So what do we do? Believe the best, and don’t judge but be observant.
2. Weeds injure the roots of real plants and impede growth
People that aren’t redeemed are going to try to tangle you up into all kinds of stuff that won’t help you grow closer to the Lord. So when someone you think is a Christian invites you to do something clearly immoral or hindering to your growth as a Christian, resist don’t become entangled in that things just because someone you trust is saying it. Use the Word and what you know of Jesus’ character as a guide, not the words of another person.
3. Weeds rob the soil of nutrients
Unsaved people will generate all kinds of energy focusing on what they shouldn’t focus on dividing the church, attacking other Christians, diluting the gospel by arguing over doctrine, subverting the church by drawing Christians off into ungodly pursuits. All this takes an even greater amount of energy to ward off.
4. Weeds produce no fruit but plenty of seeds
A non- believer can be known eventually by the fact they produce no change in character that shows they are a Christian. But like weeds, non believers plant many seeds, seeds of mistrust, seeds of iniquity, seeds of apathy that if allowed to take root will harm us.
So spread anti-weed around the yard of your life in the form of the Word that won’t allow seeds to germinate, of prayer that kills the seedlings.
5. Weeds dry up quickly but are always present and return perennially
Even when we think we are weed free know that weeds will return. Make-believers will always be among us, so we must keep up our guard.
So there are a couple of values we need to adopt in light of this patience and careful observance.
Patience – God doesn’t rush to judgment but waits until the fruit shows. We need to wait as well as a general principal. Maybe you want to do great things for God or maybe you’ve just called out to Him in pain and begged for His intervention – and it isn’t coming. Have patience, God may be growing fruit in you.
Careful Observance: I’m not saying that we should examine each other and judge the ones we think are not producing enough fruit and call them “weeds.” But Jesus said you will know them by their fruit. If someone you know is growing in the Lord, it will eventually show. And conversely, if they show no growth over a long period of time, then maybe its time to lovingly encourage them to examine their walk with the Lord to determine why the growth isn’t happening.
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