Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Politics and Religion
Different Christianity Different Fruit, Part 3

Different Christianity Different Fruit, Part 3

Last updated on: April 25, 2024 at 9:49 am by Herb Montgomery

Different Christianity Different Fruit, Part 3 2024-04-25T09:49:27-04:00 Herb Montgomery

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

As we wrap up our consideration of how different kinds of Christianity produce different kinds of fruit, again, I live in Appalachia. We have different kinds of Christianity here in these hollers. One kind is the evangelical, fundamentalist brand of Christianity, produces one kind of fruit in our communities. Another inclusive, progressive kind of Christianity is intentional about producing a different kind of fruit.

Welcome Readers! Please subscribe to Social Jesus Here.

(Read this series from the beginning at Part 1 and Part 2.)

The fruit that certain kinds of Christianity we have here is to harm trans kids and other LGBTQ people; to remove the bodily autonomy and health care rights women have in society and treat women as second-class members in their faith communities while giving men more privileged leadership positions. Other harmful fruits grown in this kind of soil include bigotry and harm toward immigrants, even in the face of the wisdom found in the Hebrew Scriptures to “do no wrong or violence to the foreigner” (Jeremiah 22:3). This community also elects leaders who work to remove funding that helps the poor and unemployed. How could this align with the Jesus found in their gospel stories? That Jesus preached “good news to the poor” and taught those who have more than they need to care about and share with those who have less.

There are also progressive kinds of Christians in Appalachia whose fruit is feeding the poor, speaking out and working for the healthcare rights and choices of women, the rights of LGBTQ folk and more. These kinds of Christianity want free school lunches for students knowing that many students live in counties where food is scarce. These kinds of Christianity want healthcare for all. These kinds of Christian communities are the ones that keep me from giving up on Christianity in its entirety here in Appalachia. They demonstrate that there is a way to interpret the Jesus of the Jesus story that produces fruit that is in harmony with the ethics we read of in the Jesus story.

Another example is from a post I shared seven years ago now. Back in 2017, I shared a post from the good folks over at Queer Theology on Facebook on the fruit of affirming theology. It’s a great example of the principle we are considering this week. The fruit of anti-LGBTQ theology is depression, despair, suicide, fractured families, loss of faith, bullying and harassment, while the fruit of affirming theology is a return to faith, healing of relationships, vibrance and resurgence in church life. I think of Christian LGBTQ communities I’ve had the blessing of ministering to and fellowshipping with over the years and how these communities have repeatedly borne out demonstrated faith and dedication to following Jesus. And I will be forever indebted to the beautiful version of Jesus these communities introduced me to over a decade ago now.

Christianity has often found itself at a crossroads when it comes to social engagement. Too often, historically, we have found ourselves on the death-dealing side of social issues and only making life-giving changes when the society outside of our faith communities pressures us to embrace its wisdom. We are at one of those cross-roads today, again.

I don’t understand how so many Christians can support unChristlike, anti-sermon-on-the-mount policies, values, and politicians. I’m at a loss to explain it. Our choices will produce fruit. And by that fruit generations will assess whether Christianity has anything life-giving to offer. In Matthew, Jesus warns the elite and powerful class of his day (who were complicit in the harm of the vulnerable in his own society) of producing fruit that was out of harmony with a world that is safe, just, compassionate for everyone. Those words apply to Christianity, today, too: “I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.” (Matthew 21:43). Today, it is no secret that many kinds of Christianity are failing to produce the kind of fruit that makes this world a better place, fruit that is in harmony with the teachings of Jesus and the Jesus story. In fact they are producing thorns and thistles, instead. They are obstructing the kind of world their Jesus sought to create. We must be careful and intentional here. Otherwise, we will find ourselves fighting against the very people and movements who are bearing life-giving fruit. We can, if we choose, be a part of building a world that is just and safe for everyone. It will require change for some types of Christianity. And this change, in the end, will be worth all the effort it takes.

Are you receiving all of RHM’s free resources each week?

Begin each day being inspired toward love, compassion, action, and justice. Free

Sign-Up at:

https://renewedheartministries.com/

General Christian

Politics and Religion

About Herb Montgomery

Herb Montgomery, director of Renewed Heart Ministries, is an author and adult religious re-educator helping Christians explore the intersection of their faith with love, compassion, action, and societal justice. You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post

April 24, 2024

Different Christianity Different Fruit, Part 2

Next Post

April 30, 2024 Love and Social Justice, Part 1

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Ableism Abolition Advent Anti Semitism Christianity Christmas Climate Justice Criminal Justice Democracy Disability Justice Distributive Justice Easter Economic Justice Environmental Justice Equity Feminism Government Immigration Justice Indigenous Justice Interfaith Law and Order LGBTQ Affirmation Liberation Theology Migrant Justice Myth of Redemptive Suffering Nonviolence Prayer Racial Justice Reparation Resistance Resurrection Social Gospel Social Justice Survival Uncategorized Womanism

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What happened when Jesus broke five loaves and two fish for a crowd?

Select your answer to see how you score.

People went hungry There were leftovers A rainstorm started Only five were fed