I want to share a few thoughts on something we call “fast-food” (you couldn’t see me doing it but I want to emphasize my literal air quotes as I write this). Did you know that most of our favorite fast-food chains have average drive-thru times of somewhere in the ballpark of 4 minutes? Of course results may vary. But I know from first-hand experience how these companies drill their target times into their employees’ heads, especially during the times of peak traffic. However, when you consider where our favorite foods come from, the illusion of the “fast” in “fast food” becomes obvious. As much as I’d like it to be so, there is no such thing as a magic Taco Bell tree that can grow fully formed burritos on demand. It may not bear much resemblance to the original agricultural products but your burrito used to be something real. For it to be produced some rancher raised the beef, a farmer grew some lettuce and… you get the idea.
Anyone who has ever tried gardening knows how it can be a painstakingly slow process. I know I had some little sprouts on my back deck this spring that didn’t seem like they were going anywhere for weeks before they finally got big enough to go in the ground. Cultivating produce takes time and yet… we are attracted to this allure of FAST FOOD. And this extends to our culture and even our churches if we’re being honest. It often looks like easy fixes, quick growth strategies and big spectacular things in order to attract attention. And our human nature often wants these seemingly magic remedies to problems we see.
The root of this struggle… is patience…
I happen to think there is a reason why Jesus uses farming or gardening so often in his parables to talk about how the kingdom works. It’s not only the fact that his audience could relate to the agricultural lifestyle. But it’s because it requires patience, work and dedication to the process. And Jesus’ kingdom is like this…
John 15:1-8 (ESV)
1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
This first thing to notice is how Jesus is talking about the idea of Abiding. This is so much more than simply going somewhere. The greek word is μὲνω which means “to dwell” and there is a strong sense of permanence associated with it. It’s the same word Jesus uses when he is talking about the father dwelling in him in the previous chapter, John 14. To “abide” is to make your residence somewhere. It’s not unlike the commitment you would make to buy a house. My wife and I bought a house over two years ago and we quickly found out that we were committing to care for and provide maintenance to our place. And it definitely takes some learning, some hard work and quite a bit of patience…
WE ARE NOT SAVED BY WORKS. But you’re fooling yourself if you think you’re not in for some work, and commitment to the process, if you want to stay connected to Jesus.
Jesus even goes so far as to say, “apart from me you can do nothing.” That is why so many of our efforts, apart from whatever he is doing in the kingdom, unravel and fall apart. We have to watch out for times when we make church and missions about anything other than Christ. These other things are like so-called “Fast Food.” They look good and easy, but they have way less nourishment.
We also need to hear what this scripture says about pruning, of which there are two types:
- Every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes. – This is where Jesus puts things in our lives in order to sanctify us. And if you have been through this then you know that it can often be a painful process. But in these times we surely have an opportunity to respond and be made to look more like him. Consider this passage:
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness
James 1:2-3
He wants to produce this steadfastness in us so we can be strong individual believers and desire him more than anything else.
- Every branch that won’t bear fruit he takes away – This is where God prunes community. He removes things or even people that are unproductive towards the kingdom He is building. Think about how he says apart from me you can do nothing. If a stick isn’t taking in nourishment from a tree trunk they become weak and often get blown across the yard whenever a heavy wind comes. Dead sticks on the ground are never gonna produce fruit again.
However, I do believe with God it is possible to be grafted back in. That of course, is only by the grace of God offered freely to us. And I have seen this happen. All of us, in fact, need to be reattached to the tree. But for anyone seeking to abide, He will do it!
I think we need to get serious about dwelling in Jesus because both kinds of pruning are happening on a large scale. And it’s only going to increase.
With the ramping up of social media and cultural pressures on the church right now, I don’t really see any other way for the church to improve outside of a time of massive pruning. For several years I have had this sense that God is getting ready for something. I don’t want this to sound harsh, but he’s clearing out some of those sticks to prune the church down. He wants a church on earth that is sold out for Him. But this too is going to be a slow and painful type of process. There is a reason why Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, describes love and the first word he uses is “patient.” It’s because Patience is central to God and how He works.
I Thank God That He is so patient with us
Every day that he waits on us to turn back to him… is HIS Mercy
He is certainly no less patient with me than He is with someone we would consider to be the most vile sinner. And I know I have made God wait, just because of my human nature. But God continues to cultivate those who will abide in Him.
Abiding is the key to healthy, garden-type of growth and not a manufactured fast-food burrito type of growth…
So ask yourself this question… How will you Abide?
Rediscovering Worship 