Cyndi and I have several fruit trees but have yet to enjoy a fruit harvest. Healthy orchards take more care than we’ve had time to give them. Fortunately, our raspberries and blackberries are healthy and doing well. The red raspberries are best when their color is a deep reddish purple. But the blackberries start red and turn deep black at their peak. If we didn’t know the difference between them we might pick the fruit before its time.
Recently, I reflected on a connection between fruit trees, vines, and briars and the health of our nation. A healthy democracy takes work to produce the freedom we hope for.
Jesus often used fruit as a metaphor for gauging whether a person’s actions are consistent with His teachings. We learn a lot about a person’s moral compass from the fruit of their actions.
I’m dismayed by the number of conspiracy theories circulating. Some theories promote bias towards persons of a particular heritage. Others question the integrity of our elections.
Conspiracy theories create division. And they gain traction when influential individuals repost them and mislead the public. Instead of strengthening our nation, their actions weaken our democracy by further dividing us.
Their actions are like bad fruit. Reposting conspiracy theories that divide smells of diseased and rotted fruit. Likewise, using conspiracy theories as grievances to justify one’s self have the odor of spoiled fruit and an unhealthy tree.
A healthy democracy depends on giving voice to every person. Our nation is blessed with millions who responsibly show up at polls or mail in their choices for issues and candidates for each election. Nevertheless, millions of Americans work, raise children, volunteer, and use their time to their limits and have little time to wade through misinformation and conspiracy theories to understand whether issues and candidates are consistent with their values.
A healthy democracy depends on the peaceful transfer of power after the votes are counted and the people’s choices are identified. This has been a trademark of our nation since its inception.
Attorney General Merrick Garland, in a passionate speech he gave this past week, rebuked the use of conspiracy theories to smear the U.S. Justice Department for political gain. Quoting Garland in a Washington Post article, AP Journalist, Alanna Durkin Richer writes, “These attacks have come in the form of conspiracy theories, dangerous falsehoods, efforts to bully and intimidate career public servants by repeatedly and publicly singling them out, and threats of actual violence.”
The fruit of a healthy democracy includes a voice for all citizens. And protection from baseless attacks by public figures.
We’re blessed with dedicated volunteers and public servants working diligently to ensure our elections are fair. And we’re fortunate that few discrepancies are found after challenges to the results are settled. The plethora of challenges following the last election were found to be frivolous, destructive, and void of evidence of irregularities. Instead, we’ve learned the attacks were motivated by individuals simply unwilling to accept the results.
Jesus performed many miracles of healing, and Matthew’s gospel covers most of them. Often, the details are sketchy. But the miracle itself may not be the most important lesson. While each miracle removes walls that interfere with God’s work in our midst, the reactions of witnesses offer mirrors for our own reflections.
Matthew tells us about a couple of times when Jesus healed a man who could not speak. In one story, the man was also blind. In both stories, the crowds watched in amazement. We don’t know if any of them were or became followers. But we know that they saw what happened.
However, Jesus’ antagonists saw things differently, offering conspiracy theories about the source of Jesus’ power. Instead of using the opportunity to unite the people and bring them all closer to God, they offered positions that turned people away from God.
Jesus healed the man so that he was able to talk and see.
Matthew 12:22
In the situation where Jesus gives a man sight and voice, Jesus responds to the conspiracy theory circulated by political influencers. Jesus reminds them that a nation dividing itself into opposing groups soon falls if they’re unable to work together.
Jesus took the conspiracy leaders head-on. “To have good fruit you must have a healthy tree,” Jesus says. “If you have a poor tree, you will have bad fruit.” And adding, “A tree is known by the kind of fruit it bears.”
Indeed, each tree produces good or bad fruit based on its health. And in the same way, Jesus promises our acts will be judged based on who they serve.
You can join us each Sunday in person or online by clicking the button on our website’s homepage – Click here to watch. This button takes you to our YouTube channel. You can find more information about us on our website at FlintAsburyChurch.org.
A reminder that we publish this newsletter that we call the Circuit Rider each week. You can request this publication by email. Send a request to FlintAsburyUMC@gmail.com or let us know when you send a message through our website. We post an archive of past editions on our website under the tab, Connect – choose Newsletters.
Pastor Tommy
Parts of our series are inspired by Andy Andrews. Just Jones: Sometimes a Thing Is Impossible . . . Until It Is Actually Done. Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2020.
Alanna Durkin Richer. “Garland says he won’t let the Justice Department be used as a political weapon.” © Washington Post, September 12, 2024. Retrieved from: link