By Our Fruit We Are Known

"So then, by their fruit you will recognize them."
Matthew 7:20

Anyone can call themselves a Christian. It might be a box they check on a form or an association they make because of where they're from. It can be a label saying who someone isn't (say, a Hindu) as much as saying who someone is. This isn't confusing for Christ. He knows those who are His. He is the Good Shepherd, and He knows His sheep.

But it can be confusing for the world. The world takes the name "Christian" at face value. If you say that's what you are, then that's what you must be. If it's a "Christian" who storms into an abortion clinic shooting people, then that's what Christians do. Let's slap a label on it, condemn it, ridicule it, and move on to the next news story.

Within minutes of the Planned Parenthood shooting in my own city, social media was abuzz with speculations about the kind of person who must be behind it. White male? Check. In his fifties? Yes. Politically dogmatic? Very. Christian? Yep. He used to spout off Bible verses and tell people he was a Christian. That seals the deal. He must've been one of those hate-filled Christian lunatics.

The Bible tells us we'll be known by our actions. Jesus told His followers to watch out for false prophets, "ferocious wolves" dressed like sheep. He said they could be recognized by their fruit, by their life's actions. "Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit." And what if a bad tree wants to call itself something else? Doesn't matter to God. He knows His own, and He says that every tree that does not bear good fruit will be "cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matthew 7).

Hateful, mentally deranged killers are evil. They are not of God. He does not recognize them, even if they want to use His name for themselves. He is a God of justice, and without true repentance, their actions will be met with His wrath.

True Christians, those whose lives are about surrender and obedience to Christ, will be known by their good fruit. They'll be known by how they love, how they speak, how they act, how they serve.

This criteria isn't just reserved for murderers. I need to take heed, too. Does the fruit in my life indicate that I belong to Jesus? Just because I'm not shooting people--or even just cussing them out--doesn't mean my fruit is pure and good. Am I loving others who are hard to love? Am I speaking words of life and truth? Am I honest? Trustworthy? Filled with hope? Do I give selflessly of myself? Am I humble? Am I willing to surrender my own need for control and trust Him alone?

Sometimes it takes a while for bad fruit to smell bad. I need to be diligent in regularly assessing the fruit of my life. I need to be sure that I'm bearing Christ's name in a way that honors and pleases Him. I don't ever want to be a Christian in name only. I want to be the real deal. Please, God, let me be recognized as yours by the good fruit my life produces.