The Bible uses the analogy of good and bad fruit to distinguish between what believers and nonbelievers will produce in their lives (Matthew 7:17-20). Genuine followers of Christ will produce good fruit (John 15:8). Jesus says if we abide in Him, we will produce fruit that is growing and desirable (John 15:4-5), as we cannot produce any other kind.
But for those not in Him, Jesus likens them to bad trees that can only produce bad fruit (Matthew 7:18). A bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit every now and again; it produces bad fruit every time. Sure, it might look appealing on the outside, but inside it is rotten and sour. If we consume enough of it, what do you imagine will become of our spiritual health?
The Christianity of our day is more about big business than humble simplicity. It’s not new; charlatans producing bad fruit have been raking in cash from unsuspecting believers since the earliest days of the Church (Titus 1:10-11; Jude 11; 2 Corinthians 2:17). Today, the false purveyors of a different gospel have not only perfected the mechanism but have created an entire industry around it that is easy to duplicate and expand anywhere in the world. So-called “churches” with questionable theology (at best) dominate the landscape of Christendom and generate tens of millions of dollars each year with the sales of their music, books, and resources.
There has never been a greater need for discernment in the body of Christ than now. There has also never been such a lack of discernment as there is today. I’m not talking about the discernment ministries that dominate YouTube and find fault with pretty much every other Christian than themselves. No, I mean the genuine discernment of good and bad fruit advocated by the Holy Spirit in scripture (Hebrews 5:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22). We must be careful not to follow those who only say the things we want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Our desire must always be for the plain truth of God’s Word in proper context and without twisting its meaning (2 Peter 3:16).
When Jesus began His ministry, people were flocking to Him (Mark 1:32-34). They thought He was going to usher in a better way of life, heal all their diseases, and take care of their needs (John 6:2). The size of the crowds He was drawing in a time well before the internet, television, or even radio was unheard of. Yet the crowds grew bigger each day until Jesus opened their eyes to understand what it meant to follow Him (John 6:60-66). His popularity evaporated at once. Instead of seeking Him, they now sought to distance themselves from Him. Once they understood it wasn’t about them, they all fell away (John 6:66).
There have been notable and faithful churches that have grown very large over the decades, but they are the rare exception. Christianity will never be popular because it means denying yourself, and few want to do that (Luke 9:23). The larger the ministry, the more diligent we must be in our discernment. If a bad tree cannot produce good fruit, then what does it say about those who are fervent in their consumption of what these ministries are producing? Indulging in a diet of bad fruit will rot your soul. It doesn’t matter how slick the presentation or how enjoyable the music or the teaching is to our ears; it is a poison (Galatians 1:6-9).
The Apostle Paul says, “Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—making the most of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). Run away from those who preach a different gospel than the plain teaching of Scripture (1 Timothy 6:3-5). Stop listening to those who do not adhere to the gospel no matter how much you like what they say or how they say it (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Have nothing to do with them and don’t partake of anything they produce (2 Peter 2:1-3; Jude 12-13, 16-19). Don’t eat bad fruit!