"You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." (Mat. 3:7b-10)
There's a rant or three in there for the current hierarchy of most every christian denomination. A tougher nut to crack is what our pastor mentioned on Saturday, which is a more general exhortation which is important for us all. Nice thoughts don't feed bellies and the best of intentions won't keep someone warm at night. This is the core of James' faith/works argument. This is what Christ is going on about in Mat. 7 when he talks about building a house on sand or on bedrock. If you hear and don't do, then the house is built on sand. If you hear and do, then the house will stand.
Don't pontificate platitudes or dictate dogma about what should or should not be done, how people should or shouldn't act or any of that.
Produce the good fruit or meet the axe.
It's that simple.
Do!
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