🍇Ye Shall Know Them By Their Fruits - Where Our Values Lead

​The scripture asks, 'Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?'

​It’s a simple question that tells us everything we need to know about judging a belief system or a way of life: look at the fruits.

​If a worldview whether it’s religious, secular, or purely cynical produces fruits of mockery, verbal cruelty, and intellectual arrogance, it is a corrupt tree. I experienced this in a recent online discussion where the cynicism produced nothing but personal attacks and a complete refusal to acknowledge the most basic human empathy, such as being glad someone was saved from suicide.

​Conversely, when I look at the fruits of my own faith, I see life, peace, and the conviction that every single person is important because God loves them.

​This principle applies everywhere. We see it in the bizarre extremes of vanity culture, where the fruit is self-harm, expensive surgeries, and a desperate pursuit of fleeting value.

​If we want a better, more just, and more humane society, we must demand good fruit from our leaders, our teachers, and ourselves. We must choose paths that lead to love, healing, and respect, not bitterness and destruction. The highest expression of faith is to show grace to those who mock you, recognizing that a better path, a path of peace is always available.