Galatians 5: Weeds and the Tale of Two Gardens

My wife tells me that our life is the tale of two gardens. In each situation and with every choice, the question is which garden will respond most vigorously. One of these is full of desires out of control. The other is full of the desires under the Spirit of God's control. Or as Paul puts it, one shows itself through "sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like." (Gal. 5:19b-21a) In the other garden, we have "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Gal. 5:22b-23a) Each is the natural product of one part of our nature when restraints are removed: our original life without God and our revitalized life with God.

So what is the difference? Jesus taught that there are things that choke out the healthy garden: thorns (or weeds), which are "...the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." (Mark 4:19) So, what can we learn from weeds:

1. Weeds are a plant out of place. My wife says this often. Many weeds are actually desirable plants: quick growing, easy to maintain and beautiful foliage and flowers. But put that plant in the wrong place, it can be invasive, pervasive and destructive. That is true with our desires: many are the good gifts from God's promoted to an unhealthy position of prominence in our lives. When they are over-important, they are toxic, causing us to use or abuse others. 
2. Weeds are best controlled by encouraging healthy plants. In the area around my home, star thistle is an annoying, prickly, spindly plant that penetrates gloves, grows easily and is resistant to most types of typical herbicides. According to the pamphlet produced by the local horticulture experts, the best way to control star thistle is to replace it with desirable plants. We cannot just kill a bad habit--we must replace it with a good habit. I find that my toxic thoughts are tenacious. It is remarkable how long I want to hold on to them. That is why Paul encouraged "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Not just accidentally drift over to these things, but intentionally think about them-planting the furrows of your mind with the healthy, beneficial thoughts.
3. Weeds sprout more quickly than healthy plants. That's one of the reasons they are weeds. Tear out your garden down to bare dirt and don't water, prepare the soil or fertilize. Which plants show up first? Nice, healthy fruits, flowers and vegetables? No! Weeds do. Our self-desires is often the first to respond, while the Spirit-nurtured desires sprouts more gradually. Like in any garden, we must watch out so that they are not the "first responders" That's why John had to remind his friends, "Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward." (2 John 1:8)

The good news for Jesus' followers is the promise of the life-giving presence of the Spirit. The natural, expected result of the Spirit's renewed life in us is the good fruit. Many of my prayers ask for just that. Jesus said, "A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit." (Matt. 7:17) Spirit, let your flourishing produce it's good fruit in me and reduce the weeds to ash.

Church Introductions to Jesus

This question was presented to me while I was having coffee with a pastor friend of mine. For him, it has been the meat of his wrestling with God over the course of a few pastorates. As people become less familiar with the language and culture of the Bible, the church and the Christian faith, how do churches facilitate the process in keeping with the mandate to make disciples?

When we speak of making disciples, we both refer not just to the initial apprenticing to Jesus (conversion), but the lifelong apprenticeship (discipleship). The means that we use for the latter may obstruct those interested in the former. Further, what is the role of Sunday morning in this? I didn't have a good answer for him.

But I was reminded of a book that we had both read (Vertical Church) where the author, James MacDonald insists that the church must focus on what is available nowhere else. So I followed that thought and see where it led me. I've come up with three:

1. The Presence of God. God is unique, and wholly other. The church strives to invite people to meet God, with all the emotions that can bring. Paul says, But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in ... they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” (1 Cor. 14:24a, 25b). His presence is solely at his discretion and that is what make's it unique. It cannot be manufactured. The genuine sense of his presence, the conviction of his Spirit and the miraculous cannot conjured up and therefore act as pointers to a God who is not like us but is with us.
2. The Power of God's Word. The words of God are unique. They are life-changing, heaven-initiated revelation. These words are the authority on which the truth-claims of the faith are based. Paul says, "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.." (Eph. 3:10)  People were hungry for this (Matt. 7:28)
3. The People of God. The love expressed with the community of God's people is unique. Jesus testified: By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:35) 

Jesus often drew crowds. The early church drew crowds (Acts 2:47). These crowds came because they hungered for the presence of God, the power of God's word and new identity as His people.