John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last — and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
Some people get all wrapped around the axil when it comes to who ends up in relationship with God. For them, only a few chosen people, people chosen in advance by God, only those people can have a relationship with God. The Good News of the Gospel isn’t really for everyone; it is only for those few who are chosen.
Today’s entry will not give you an answer to this theological debate. But I do want to spend a little time thinking about that choosing, not the “who is chosen” but the “chosen for what reason.” What is the purpose for which we were chosen?
This question takes us out of the theoretical realm into the everyday realm. Since we are chosen, how should we then live, to quote Francis Schaeffer. If our theological debates is simply a discussion about an abstract act in the infinite past, then our debate has no power. It is only an intellectual exercise similar to Olympic Gymnastics, who can be the best tumbler.
But the world doesn’t need more tumblers, it needs people who live as Jesus lived. It needs people who love like Jesus loved. It needs people who give up their own desires and meet the needs of other people, setting aside their own agendas.
We see in our text that Jesus tells us that the reason the disciples have been chosen and appointed is to “bear fruit.” What good is an apple tree or an orange tree if it doesn’t give us any fruit. Apple trees and orange trees aren’t even very attractive trees, so if they don’t give fruit, just cut them down and plant a tree that will be more attractive.
We know the fruit of Jesus’ life. His fruit was self-sacrifice. He laid down His life willingly, choosing obedience rather than selfishness. He didn’t do the convenient, He did the inconvenient and uncomfortable. He did what no one else could do. He died a sinless man in the place of sinful men. He died in our place.
But what would that fruit look like in our lives, if we were to accept that we are part of that chosen and appointed people? How would our lives be different?
That is the question that has followed the Christian community down through the ages. Hospitals, schools and universities, medical clinics, halfway houses, soup kitchens, the breaking of bread and the connection of people in a loving and accepting environment. God’s people look and act differently than the world. That is fruit.
What would fruit look like here in the Untied States right now in history? How would the fruit keep from getting crushed by the polarization of almost every issue we face as a people? Is it possible to bring forth fruit now? Jesus’ day was a much simpler day. It was easier then!
I think a greater questions should be, how would the crushed fruit demonstrate the character of Jesus in our world? Take up your cross. Die daily. Save life, loose it, but loose life, save it to eternal life.
Being the crushed fruit is not an easy task, a pleasant task, a task joyfully taken up. The message of the Gospel is not a message of power as the world defines power. It doesn’t move with political action committees, or violent revolutions. The Kingdom moves forward as we emulate Jesus, the One willing to be crushed for us.
Maybe it is time to get ready to be crushed for Jesus sake and the sake of a dying world.
The Arnold Journey 