Who Are You? – John 15:1-11

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit. John 15:1

A branch that is in-Christ that does not bear fruit? That puzzles me.  And branches that are taken away? That troubles me. Taken away where? Deep concern is my reaction to the answer in verse 6;

He is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them into the fire, and they are burned.

This verse reminds me that, in Christ, there is both kindness and severity. As I reflect on my earthly father who loved me, I recall this same duality, unbalanced however, toward severity. Dad may have wanted to be kind but my behavior made it nearly impossible, necessitating the more severe expression of his love for me.

Behold then the kindness and the severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you will also be cut off. (Rom 11:22)

I am having an epiphany of sorts as I write. It is that my Dad‘s love was more like God’s than I had thought. About God’s love we know …

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. John 15:10

My defiance to Dad’s authority, his instructions and desires estranged me from his love. He loved me but my penchant for trouble demanded severity. I deeply regret, that beyond  arguments, reproofs and silence, I recall no conversation between us. I take responsibility for this and I certainly don’t want history to repeat itself with my heavenly Father. We can avoid that outcome by abiding in him.

What does abiding look like? John 15:10 suggests that abiding might be as straightforward as the doing of obedience. I have tried this and the connection between abiding and obeying is not as direct as it first appeared. The Christian life, at the outset, equipped with fresh zeal, looked to me, as doable – “Yes. I have God’s will and my good intentions, that ought to do it.”

I read my bible, prayed, witnessed and fellowshipped. This seemed to work for a while but I was still haunted with the lack of intimacy this formula was producing. I believed I saw others with more of God than I had. I reasoned this “more of God” could be attained by doubling down on doing. My new regimen became; Read my bible and study it, pray and fast, witness and do it (preferably) in a foreign country, fellowship and … don’t you forget it!

I just knew my “more of God ” was just around the corner. Soon I would be that disciple, worthy of his sacrifice. I wish I could report that I saw my heart as the hamster-wheel of religious activity it was, but I did not. By the time I finally saw it, I was collapsing under the supposed light load Jesus had promised. Somehow, in my wounded heart, I had turned the obedience of discipleship into a religious treadmill that would never – could never stop. My borrowed yet working definition of religion is;

Religion is any system of thought or practice whereby the doing of it causes me to think that I have gained the favor of God.

Once upon a time, I would have heard that raised, severe, father-tone of voice, weighing in with correction. Out of fear I would motivate. Today, I hear …

Beloved, I am persuaded of better things concerning you.” (Heb 6:9)

Abiding is impossible if we are motivated by fear. Having the commandments, willing and failing to do them, then rallying out of vanity and guilt, makes for a branch that needs pruning. Having commands, cowering beneath the assumed displeasure of a a frustrated God, is a form of slavery. The New Testament reveals a promised land where we are given a new identity in Christ, enabling us to live, motivated by love. Being must precede doing or one will inevitably be enslaved by religion and its inferior motivations of fear, guilt and shame.

Abiding is not just obedience to bible commands. It is responding to the person of the Holy Spirit. Abiding, in it’s essence, is anti-religion. It rejects outright that any doing or obeying can in any way enhance the relationship we have with God in Christ. Abiding is simply resting in one’s new nature and identity in Christ. Abiding is not a doctrinal position that one can have strong convictions about. Abiding is a spirit-to-Spirit experience. Abiding cannot be attained through study. It can only be discovered through revelation and encounter.

Father, may we come to the place where we are exhausted with our works and disillusioned with religion. May we acknowledge the impossible nature of the Christian life and transfer our dependency to Jesus, who lives in us, and is the only hope of glory. May we discover the abiding which is accompanied by the asking and receiving of whatever we wish. Thank you that you have loved us just as the Father has loved you. Thank you for inviting us to abide in your love. Thank you that you spoke these words to us that our joy may be full. May we press on in your kindness rather than your severity, for your name’s sake. Amen.

 

 

 

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