I am always amazed at the willingness for people to take verses out of context in order to justify their positions. How often then do they stretch it to the breaking point to another logical fallacy?
Before I launch into what fruit is not, perhaps first I should give you pointers to remind you what bearing fruit is and even more about what fruit is.
Human nature is a funny thing, though. Not only can we misidentify the result, but we can even deceive ourselves about how we got there. Jeremiah had an experience that boggles my mind at times. It truly is difficult to put myself into his shoes and try to see what he saw. However, Jeremiah was quite familiar with how deceitful the human heart is, how destructive that deceit is and how difficult to cure (Jer 17:9).
Indications are that he anticipated the peoples’ reaction, but it still is a head scratcher in so many ways:
17But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.
18But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.
19And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men? (Jeremiah 44:17-19, King James Version)
They could not even see the cause of their problems! How blind they must have been! How deaf!
Yet, how many of us are just like them?
So, what shall we know by their fruits?
16Ye shall know them by their fruits…. (Matthew 7:16, King James Version)
Who are "them"?
15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15, King James Version)
Deceivers, false prophets, false apostles, etc. Notice it is not a form of government.
However, let me speak facetiously now, perhaps even sarcastically. After all, sarcasm really is nothing more than a fallacy taken to its logical conclusion. I am going to use the same type of arguments put forth by “one-man rule” types.
Essentially, I will show using their own reasoning that by their fruits, you shall know them. Therefore, the “one-man rule” is corrupt, evil and ungodly because of its fruits.
Example 1: The baton passes from a pastor general to the next. He was anointed and appointed by God. People rebelled, even though God had chosen His “one-man”. Therefore, any group that splintered off from that group is not following “God’s one man” and is in rebellion.
Example 2: One man rebels against God’s one man. The seeds of rebellion are evident. The fruits are his paranoid decrees that families must shun each other, certain people are allowed to marry, sermon tapes must be destroyed once listened to and his rulership of fear and oppression.
Example 3: Another man rebels against God’s one man. The seeds of his rebellion are also evident. He starts his own church, who later fires him. He then splits away and creates yet a third group, leaving the previous organization holding the bag not only in regards to the church but financially. There is great discord and disunity.
How about some other examples of “one-man rule”?:
- Hitler
- Mussolini
- Idi Amin
- Caesar
- Pharaoh
- Stalin
- Nebuchadnezzar
- Pol Pot
And so on, and so on, and so on.
Main Entry: dic·ta·torPronunciation: ˈdik-ˌtā-tər, dik-ˈFunction: nounEtymology: Latin, from dictareDate: 14th century1 a : a person granted absolute emergency power; especially : one appointed by the senate of ancient Rome b : one holding complete autocratic control c : one ruling absolutely and often oppressively
~ dictator. (2010). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved July 19, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictator
Whether you use the word "fruits" or the word "results," isn't the fruit or result of the appointment of Mr. Tkach as one-man authority over Worldwide Church of God the main reason given for UCG's system of governance? Do not leaders (presidents, board chairmen) of United Church of God often say in their recent letters something like this: We have all seen the results of one-man rule in our former association, which is why we determined to be different when we organized 15 years ago?
Why did UCG form the system of governance it has now? Their answer: they saw the results (or "consequences" or "fruits") of Mr. Tkach's one-man rule and they want to avoid that.
What I am saying is, if you are going to form judgments about the best form of governance based on results, don't just look at Mr. Tkach only. Look also at Mr. Armstrong. And also look at the current results of governance by balloting.
Perhaps a year or a few years from now, some ministers will say of the present UCG, we all saw the sad consequences of government by balloting and we don't want to repeat that.
To study the Bible it's inevitable to have ideas about governance and the leaders. There will be many followers who have a firm belief about the subject on how God rules His people.
I believe when all else may seem to fall short of an ideal form of governance, it's good to start with some basics.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." (Gal 5:22-26)
author@ptgbook.org wrote: "What I am saying is, if you are going to form judgments about the best form of governance based on results, don't just look at Mr. Tkach only. Look also at Mr. Armstrong. And also look at the current results of governance by balloting."
In all sincerity, I hope that people do. I would hate to think that people cannot learn. However, I hope they do so as objectively as possible.
However, you really have to consider whether or not it is the "form" of government that is the problem or not, or is it carnal human nature?
In any event, none of this justifies taking Jesus' words out of context. In this case, in fact, it makes the point for me. It is not the form of government at all but men teaching things not based upon Jesus' words ("false prophets").
@Norbert: The basics you quote are exactly the type of fruits we should be not just looking for in leaders but developing ourselves. If everyone practiced that, then what would be left to divide us?
"However, you really have to consider whether or not it is the 'form' of government that is the problem or not, or is it carnal human nature?"
I think they go together. You can't separate them, because it is partly because of carnal human nature that the existing form of governance was chosen and is retained. It is carnal human nature that motivated the choice of governance that is contrary to the examples and teaching about God's government in the Bible, and it is the form of governance that brings out the worst of human nature right now.