Serve Up The Gospel With The Fruit of the Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25

David L. Brooks wrote an article “Perceptions of religion collide with inner faith” (Toledo Blade. January 29, 2014. P. 9).  Mr. Brooks said that religious people often behave in ways that contrast with the faith they profess to possess and that is why they are often considered to be “judgmental, hypocritical, old fashioned, and out of touch.”  I think he is right to some extent.  We may seem too holy or too busy being martyred to be taken seriously.  Or, worse yet, we may take being right as being more important than being merciful. 

In any case, if we Christians want to shake things up regarding popular opinions of “religious people” then the way to do it is to be the best that Christianity has for us.  When we reek of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, we show the world the love of God and the love of Jesus and that is something that is hard to argue with and hard to resist.

We are called to take the Gospel to the world, and a good way to do that is to serve it up with the fruit of the Spirit.