Pruning vs. Discipline
This weekend, our small group watched another installment of Brian Wilkinson's Secrets of the Vine DVD and discussed God's work of pruning his followers. Brooklynne and I had missed the past couple of segments because of our hiking trip, so it took me a while to really catch up mentally, but now that I've had some to meditate on what we were talking about, I wanted to share some thoughts. I hope anyone from the small group who may read this will share a comment--or anyone else for that matter.
For those of you who are not familiar with the series, the DVD is a group of lessons drawn from Jesus's parable of the vine and the vine dresser recorded in John 15:1-17. In the video, Wilkinson seems to draw a distinction between discipline and "pruning." Discipine is the consequence of sin, while pruning is God's reaction to a lack of fruit in our lives, independent of sin. Our group spent a good deal of time talking about recognizing when we are being disciplined (and thus need to confess and repent) and when we're being pruned (and need to follow God's leading to produce more fruit)....
After thinking about it, I guess I feel that this distinction is a little artificial. Isn't sin and lack of fruit the same thing? If we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, what can stop us from producing fruit besides sin? If we follow the metaphore, when the vinedresser prunes away unproductive branches, he cuts off parts that are whithered or aren't receiving or reflecting the life that comes from the vine.
The scriptural example in the study was the story of Joseph. When Joseph refused the advances of Potipher's wife, but still landed in jail, this could be seen as an instance of pruning. Joseph suffered despite his refusal to sin in this situation because God was preparing a place for Joseph in Pharo's household where he could produce greater fruit. But here's the key question--was God simply preparing a way for Joseph into Pharo's house, or was he also reforming Joseph's heart? Here are my arguements for the latter....
1) We shouldn't assume Joseph would have been able to produce more fruit in Pharo's household without growing spiritually. There is no question that Joseph's power was increased, but to say his position in Pharo's house alone gave him more fruitmaking possibilities contradicts much of the Bible's teachings on the relationship between earthly status and goodness (specifically the assertion that there is no relationship--see Matt. 18:1-4, 20:25-28, 1 Cor. 1:26-31, etc.). Are we ready to say that someone of lesser status will never bear fruit equal to their earthly superiors? God must have been working on Joseph's heart as well as his position.
2) No one is sinless (Romans 3:9-18). Even if Joseph seems innocent at this point in the story, surely God was continueing to sanctify him. Joseph certainly didn't deserve jail for sexual sin, but perhaps this humbleing experience was needed for him to learn the mercy which he would show to his brothers. After all, Joseph did exhibit pridefullness earlier in the story (Gen. 37:1-11).
3) God could have raised Joseph to Pharo's house without causing him to suffer. Surely God chose this path for infinite reasons, but we can assume one of these reasons was to prepare Joseph for his future role in an area where he was lacking.
So, I see pruning as reforming areas of our hearts that aren't in line with God's will. If this skewed orientation toward God isn't sin already, then pruning is at least a premptive strike against future sin. Pruning = pre-discipline. Whether we see our situation as pruning or discipline, we need to assess where our hearts and actions fall short of God's intentions for us.
Isn't his name Bruce Wilkinson? Yeah, I am kind of with you on this. I have only glanced at his vine book, but I was not sure that I was too down with it in general. How-to books for how-to be a better Christian are never really high on my list, and I that is the feel I got from his book. Pruning could be disciplinary or it could be tending. I don't think it always has to be one or the other. Glad that you are putting stuff on here again.
Actually Marshall, the book isn't bad. I agree that books about being a better Christian are not helpful if "being a better Christian" means saying the right things, jumping through the right hoops, having the right kind of family, voting the right way, etc. But I think at the heart of what Wilkinson is saying is the idea of being a better Christ follower, which I think is the number one mission for any believer. This endorsement comes with an important qualifier though: it is not the final word on growing in Christ--only a beginning. Stories like that of Joseph are so complex, they resist easy conclusions about God's methods and motives.
Isn't that book the sequel to the Prayer of Jabez?
yes and no. yes it is the next book by that guy, but sequel it is not.
I was just joking ...