We know that trials purify our faith. In the words of Job, “When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). The value of gold depends upon its purity. “Gold is purified by means of a smelting process, which utilizes pressure, high heat and chemicals to accomplish the task.”
Trials Purify
The process of smelting involves heating a metal beyond its melting point. Dross or impurities will rise to the surface and can then be skimmed off.
Perhaps that is one of God’s purposes for allowing this global pandemic right now: to purify His body, the Church. Purification sounds harsh, but it is crucial. Without the process of purification, the impurities (worldliness, unfaithfulness, apathy, etc.) remain.
One has to wonder, is God using this time to purify His Church and draw us closer to Him? James 4:8-10 says,
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
To many of us, it feels as though we are being tried beyond our melting points right now. The heat is intense. It feels like it’s going on too long.
Are We Using This Time to Grow Closer to God?
Distractions are currently minimized. Just a few months ago, we were so busy running around, meeting with people, going out to lunch or coffee, setting up play dates, getting our hair cut or nails done, shopping, spending money, entertaining ourselves, planning parties, going to the gym, taking the kids to practice, rehearsal, work, etc.
So much of that busyness has been stripped from our daily lives right now. Is God attempting to get our attention? Have we been ignoring Him? Is the dross of our daily lives being skimmed off? Have we been double-minded? We now have more time. Will we use it to get to know God? To come near to Him?
Will the Church Come Forth as Purer Gold?
Will we perhaps have a purer version of the Church at the end of this trial? That should be our prayer for the global church right now as we face this virus together. “Purify Your Church, Lord Jesus. When this time of trial is over, may Your Church come forth as gold.”
Going to Church Versus Being the Church
“Going to church” has never been easier than it is right now. We can literally stay on the couch in our pajamas and still attend our churches’ worship services. Going to church has never been easier, but “being the church” has perhaps never been harder.
Serving, ministering to each other, and meeting the needs of our church body and community right now require new levels of commitment, creativity, and even courage. Will we become lazier and more apathetic than ever, or will the Church rise up and meet this global pandemic head-on for the glory of God?
The Gardener Prunes
Jesus says this in John 15:1-2, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” Fruit trees need to be pruned to improve tree strength, encourage new shoots, and to remove dead or broken branches. Pruning produces healthier trees and more fruit!
What Is Fruit?
The following thoughts on fruit and pruning from John 15 come from Bruce Wilkinson’s book, Secrets of the Vine. The words “fruit” and “good deeds” in the Bible are used almost interchangeably.
And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful (Titus 3:14, ESV).
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23, ESV).
I’ve asked audiences all over the world how they would describe the level of fruit-bearing among Christians today. Their responses are consistent. They conclude that nearly half of all Christians bear little or no fruit. Another third bears some fruit. Only about five percent bear a lot.
Looking at the Christians you go to church with, do these numbers surprise you? Where do you fit in? If this portrait of God’s people is even remotely true, you can immediately grasp the importance of the teachings from the vineyard.
Bearing fruit is not some unique phenomenon reserved for certain kinds of Christians. It is the destiny of every believer. If Jesus chose us for abundance, expects abundance, and created us to deeply desire it, how can we ever find fulfillment in a half-empty basket? The answer is this: We can’t, and we don’t have to.
What Is Pruning?
“God’s strategy for coaxing a greater harvest out of His branches is not the one you and I would prefer. His plan is to prune, which means to thin, to reduce, to cut off. As unthinkable as it sounds — as contradictory as it is — the Vinedresser’s secret for more is… less”
If this is a topic that interests you, I highly recommend Secrets of the Vine. In it, Wilkinson explains that grapevines love to grow. The vine itself can become so dense that sunlight cannot even penetrate, diminishing fruit production. Pruning must happen for the vine to bear fruit. Not all growth is good growth. Don’t miss this next quote:
For the Christian, rampant growth represents all those preoccupations and priorities in our lives that, while not wrong, are keeping us from more significant ministry for God.
Busyness and activity do not equal spiritual fruit!
Right now, God is eliminating our preoccupations and lesser priorities. The unnecessary has been cut away — at least for now. What will you do with this new opportunity of less distractions, this fresh perspective on life and church?
Don’t miss what God wants to accomplish. Allow Him the right to prune away the unnecessary to allow for abundant fruit! We can either participate with Him or break away from Him. John 15 makes it clear that we need to abide or remain in the vine in order to bear fruit.
How Has God Purified and Pruned the Church Throughout History?
Both purifying and pruning come in the form of trials and hardship. Neither one feels good at the time (like this current pandemic in which we are living). God purifies and prunes both His individual children and His Church as a whole. We know this from examples of the early church in the New Testament:
- Being confronted with sin and guilt led to the birth of the Church (Acts 2:1-41).
- Persecution led to the spread of the gospel and the salvation of many (Acts 11:19-21).
- A severe famine prompted believers to give generously to brothers and sisters in need (Acts 11:27-30).
- False teachers helped clarify the true gospel (Galatians 1:1-10).
- Immorality and the need for church discipline led the church to a greater understanding of God’s call to sanctification and holiness (1 Corinthians 5-6).
We also know this from incidents in more recent church history. The church continues to flourish and grow in areas of the world where Christians are persecuted. Corruption in the church has led to times of reformation. Recently, untold numbers of refugees have come to saving faith as a result of having to flee their homelands (which were closed to the gospel).
Is God purifying and pruning the church right now? It seems obvious that He is, and may He be glorified by the results!
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21).
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Kristi Walker has been a missionary in Berlin, Germany for over 19 years working with CrossWay International Baptist Church. She is the author of three books: Disappointment: A Subtle Path Away from Christ, Convinced: Applying Biblical Principles to Life’s Choices, and Big Picture: 66 Books, 1 Message.
