I have been pondering some more thoughts around the Fruit of the Spirit and I have just been unable to express them properly outwardly in my writing. I have a draft article started, and even though I like where it is going, it is not properly expressing my thoughts.

Let me explain:

My thoughts center around the idea how we often get fooled by bad fruit. I am thinking of the mega churches that all of the sudden become the scandal of the week. I am thinking of the churches that teach toxic teachings, yet still seem to thrive. I am thinking of marriages that look great on Facebook and in person yet underlying there are issues out the wazoo that the couple isn’t even aware of – They can’t see they are in survival mode, and are just living, and in less than 3-4 years they will have had a couple kids and be on their way to divorce.

How did this happen?

Here is an example:

A church plant grows into three thousand people and they build a huge building to accommodate them all. Looks like a blessing, right? People are being saved and real Spiritual transformations are happening. The church is still continuing to grow, and God is revealing himself to many within the congregation. Fruit is spilling over and people are using their gifts to praise God, help others, and spread the word. Then all of the sudden it comes out – BAM! Pastor Dave is a pedophile. The people in the church are looking around at each other asking, “How did this happen?” Look at all the Fruit! EXCEPT!!! All the Fruit is not really ALL the Fruit.

Pastor Dave is certainly not the Fruit!

But he has to be right? I mean – he was the leader! WRONG!!!!!!

And if you think that is profound, then the congregation decides to vote on keeping Pastor Dave as their leader because he has repented. OUCH!

I mean WTF – Right? And I am not referring to where is the fish!  Maybe Pastor Dave is the fish, but hey – who am I to judge the fruit….or am I?

I recently wrote about a Pillar of my home church I grew up in named, Edith. You can read about her here: Fun Fridays! – The Face of Jesus If you are following me here at Give Your Story and have read my bio, you now that I was molested by my Youth Pastor in my home church growing up. The bottom line is, that church went through a period of toxic times. At that time, my church was not a SAFE CHURCH. The leadership at that time afforded a pedophile to be present. Somehow, the bad fruit got in the door and somehow it was never sniffed out. Yet our church as far as I knew was doing great – or was it? I had the privilege or under-privilege of actually being old enough to know and understand that our church at that time, looked just like the perfect marriage you see on Facebook, that you are now in complete shock over the recent news they are now divorced. Here is the thing: My home church had really good people in it who had a foundation in Jesus. They were the FRUIT. The ministry at the time was the bad fruit. That is why that church survived a toxic season. Yet how do we decipher this? How do we see the Real Fruit and how do identify the bad fruit?

Today I leaned on AI to express what I wanted to write but just can’t seem to get the proper words for. I apologize for this being a little long but I really want to express this. Without further delay here it is right from CHATGPT:

The Fruit of the Spirit: Understanding True Spiritual Growth

In Christian theology, the Fruit of the Spirit refers to a set of nine attributes that are cultivated in a believer’s life through the presence of the Holy Spirit. These qualities, outlined in Galatians 5:22-23, represent the evidence of spiritual transformation and growth in the life of someone who follows Christ. The passage describes them as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But while these virtues are meant to manifest in the life of every Christian, there is a common misconception about what truly constitutes the Fruit of the Spirit, and how we often mistake worldly achievements or traits for spiritual fruit.

The True Meaning of the Fruit of the Spirit

The Fruit of the Spirit is not something that a person can manufacture or work toward in their own strength. It is the result of a deep, ongoing relationship with God, and is formed in the believer’s life through the power of the Holy Spirit. Just as fruit grows naturally on a tree, the characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit should naturally emerge in the life of a Christian as they walk more closely with Christ. However, this process doesn’t happen overnight. It requires patience, surrender, and cooperation with the Holy Spirit.

At its core, the Fruit of the Spirit is not merely a set of good habits or moral actions. These qualities reflect the nature of Christ Himself. When Christians embody these fruits, they not only grow spiritually but also bring glory to God and serve as a witness to the world of the transformative power of the gospel. The Fruit of the Spirit goes beyond temporary actions; it is a lifestyle rooted in Christ.

The Temptation to Confuse Worldly Achievements with Spiritual Fruit

In today’s world, the line between true spiritual fruit and worldly achievements can sometimes become blurred. People often confuse external success or personality traits with the genuine Fruit of the Spirit. For example, a person might have a natural ability to be kind, or they may excel in leadership, and while these can be positive qualities, they don’t necessarily stem from the Spirit. The difference is subtle but important. Worldly traits or successes are often driven by personal ambition, self-interest, or a desire for approval, whereas the Fruit of the Spirit is born from a humble submission to God’s will.

In our culture, we might mistakenly celebrate traits like confidence, generosity, or outwardly cheerful behavior as the Fruit of the Spirit, even though they may be more rooted in personal effort or self-gratification. Take, for instance, the concept of “success.” It’s easy to equate the achievement of material wealth, career advancement, or social popularity as evidence of spiritual maturity. But these are worldly accomplishments that, while they may be good in certain contexts, do not necessarily reflect the spiritual growth that the Bible talks about. True Fruit of the Spirit is not measured by external markers of success, but by an inner transformation that overflows in how we treat others and our relationship with God.

This confusion can sometimes even lead to spiritual complacency. If a person experiences success in one area of life, they may mistakenly assume they have reached a level of spiritual maturity, overlooking areas where they still need growth. This leads us to an important truth: even when we bear good fruit in some areas, we must remain vigilant and humble, recognizing that the Fruit of the Spirit is not a one-size-fits-all phenomenon.

One Piece of Fruit Doesn’t Cover It All: The Need for Holistic Spiritual Growth

It’s easy to focus on the areas where we may already be excelling, but the reality is that no single piece of fruit covers the full spectrum of spiritual maturity. One person may show extraordinary kindness but struggle with patience. Another may be diligent in their faithfulness to God but lack gentleness in their interactions with others. The Bible teaches that all nine fruits are to be present in the life of a Christian, and while they may grow at different paces, they must all be nurtured.

The Apostle Paul was clear in his description of the Fruit of the Spirit: it is not optional. Each trait is interdependent, and they should work together to form a well-rounded, Spirit-filled life. For example, it’s possible to have moments of self-control but still be lacking in love or joy. We can be patient in certain situations but miss opportunities to express kindness in others. Even those who are naturally good at showing compassion or joy need to remember that spiritual growth is holistic, meaning we must pay attention to every area of our lives, not just the parts that come easily to us.

This can be particularly humbling when we realize that no matter how well we might bear fruit in one area, there is always more growth to pursue. The process of spiritual maturity is ongoing. It’s important not to become prideful or self-sufficient, thinking that because we’ve mastered one area of our lives, we don’t need to continue working on others. For example, a person who demonstrates faithfulness in their spiritual practices might still be struggling with self-control in their emotions or thoughts. The Fruit of the Spirit is comprehensive, and God is continually shaping and refining us in every area of our lives.

The Goal Is Transformation, Not Perfection

The Fruit of the Spirit is the natural result of a transformed life, but it’s important to remember that transformation is a lifelong journey. Spiritual fruit is not a checklist of qualities to be perfected at once but a gradual process of becoming more like Christ. As we grow, we must resist the temptation to confuse worldly achievements with true spiritual growth, and instead focus on nurturing all aspects of the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

At the same time, we must recognize that bearing fruit in one area does not mean we’ve “arrived.” True spiritual maturity requires ongoing self-reflection and the willingness to work on areas of our lives that are still underdeveloped. The Fruit of the Spirit, in its fullness, cannot be achieved by partial growth in some areas—it’s a comprehensive work of the Spirit in every part of who we are. Only when we allow the Holy Spirit to cultivate all nine fruits can we begin to reflect Christ’s image in the fullest sense.

In the end, the goal is not perfection, but transformation—a transformation that continues to unfold as we walk in step with the Spirit, day by day.

end AI

I plan on writing more about this topic. In the meantime, I am about to start reading the book SAFE CHURCH, written by Andrew Bauman. I have a feeling and true Hope, I am going to find answers in this book!