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Friday 2 September 2022

Weeds vs Wheat

Image: Unsplash

I do not see how the largeness of a ministry is any clear evidence of the spirit of God at work. Nature and the Bible agree that weeds grow faster than wheat. They spring up, and give the appearance of growth, but really they are imposters in the garden. 

I get that a lot of criticism of large ministries is jealousy on behalf of some people. I understand that the larger your influence the more flak you will get, and a lot of it will not be fair. But there is no way that size can be considered, by itself, proof of the blessing of God. 

Arianism, a heresy, spread faster in Europe, especially among the Germans, than orthodox Christianity. Weeds can grow very fast, and make a field look green, and yet not show any fruit of the Spirit. 

It looks to me that Jesus was clear to warn us about this: 

“24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn”’” (Matt. 13:24-30).

Don't misunderstand me, I want my church to grow, and I want every good church to grow, and I believe good churches will grow. But growth is not in itself proof that the Holy Spirit is at work. I think we are clearly warned not to fall into such a worldly assessment. 

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