“‘A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, or a poor tree good fruit. Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire! So you will recognize them by their fruit. Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord!” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, only those who do what my Father in heaven wants. On that Day, many will say to me, “Lord, Lord! Didn’t we prophesy in your name? Didn’t we expel demons in your name? Didn’t we perform many miracles in your name?” Then I will tell them to their faces, “I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!”’” Matthew 7:18-23
This is one of the important lessons of Yeshua in regards to character. We are taught to judge the quality of the tree by the quality of fruit it produces, not just by the name of the tree or where you found it. If a tree is supposed to be a great apple tree but doesn’t produce any good apples it is not a good apple tree, regardless as to what seller called the tree. The same is true for believers. A true believer is not defined merely by what theological positions they hold or whatever other social groups they are or are not affiliated with, but the kind of character that is found in their life. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, self control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things.” Galatians 5:22-23
Too often we don’t actually judge what is good by the spiritual fruit we see but by where the tree is planted in regards to certain theological positions. So if the location of the tree seems good, we act as if that means the fruit is good too without regard to the quality of the fruit being produced. Instead of looking at the fruit of someone’s life we look at whether or not we support the labels or beliefs the person has. When we don’t primary look at if we can actually see the character of God in someone’s actions but if the person reaffirms a certain profession of faith that we agree with we show we care more about image than actually being like God.
Many well-meaning believers can get things backwards, and some may even go as far as defending a lack of spiritual fruit in one’s life as long as one is promoting faith in the right things. And that is why Yeshua warns that many people who say “Lord Lord” and teach the right things in regard to prophecy and take a stand against evil will be dismissed by God as evil themselves. “Love does not do harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fullness of Torah.” Romans 13:10. The point of good theology is to love like God, not just to be “right” in belief or position. The right practice of theology will lead to true righteousness of heart not just nice outward professions.
