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Primitive Christianity Revived, Again

Some seed fell on stony ground

When it comes to seed falling on stony ground Jesus said it all when he explained that the seed falling on stony or rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

Some of the seedlings I started are being grown hydroponically and have massive roots because of the nutrients being fed to them constantly. That's what makes us grow, physically or spiritually. We don't let our children skip their meals or selectively decide what they are going to eat and what they are not going to eat. We basicly force feed them to get them fully grown. Yet we are always making decisions on what we want to eat spiritually often ignoring the light within that wants to lead us to a place or person who can provide the nutrients we need for better root development and a healthier spiritual life. Mystics don't want to sing songs of praise out loud. Pentacostals don't want to spend time in silence waiting on the Spirit. It's like my hydroponic plants' need for the proper PH. Too high or low and they will not produce fruit. They might yellow or just shrivel up. Same with our spiritual lives. There's a proper range for each of us that the Sower knows. Sometimes we need a little more quiet time and sometimes a little more fellowship. Sometimes a little more giving and sometimes a little more receiving. Sometimes we need to sit and listen to a beautiful worship song and yet at other times we need to join a loud crowd of worshipers in song and just get lost in the words and presence of a God who inhabits the praises of His people. Fortunately we know the light dwells within each of us so all we have to do is trust the Light and follow it where it leads. It wants to make sure our roots develop and we are not spiritual victims of stony ground - a heart or community set in its ways that doesn't want to know anything other than what it already knows is true. After all we claim to be a people of continuing revelation and not followers of a creed. Do we live that way or is it just an excuse for not deciding what we actually believe? The true test of belief comes when we are faced with individual crisis of faith and/or integrity. That's when we need those roots.

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Comment by Micah Bales on 4th mo. 18, 2014 at 2:02pm: I appreciate this post.

Comment by Jean Yeager on 4th mo. 19, 2014 at 12:48pm: Ah, brother, a powerful metaphor. But, your post does not refer to the soil. Hydroponics lacks soil. Speak a bit about the soil, the Earth. Is not grounding important? I have been working mightily with the metaphor of the seed as a symbol of devotion. How do you see the seeds?

Comment by James C Schultz on 4th mo. 19, 2014 at 3:05pm: I have been splitting my seedlings into two groups. One for the hydroponics and the other for "grow bags" into which I place homemade potting soil - some compost from the local town, some fertilizer, some peat moss, some lime and some vermiculite. Each with a purpose in encouraging and sustaining my plants' growth. Again it's all about nutrients and ph. Soil or water they need nutrients. I think the parable of the men who built on sand and rock speaks pretty well to the importance of grounding. The parable of the mustard seed of course is probably worth mining for the seed. In this parable I look at the seed as God's grace. His unmerited favor that falls on the just and the unjust. The good soil and the less good soil - the stony soil, the wayside. Like the seed, His grace must be embraced, exposed to the right combination of light and moisture if it's to fully develop. The seed itself contains all it needs to replicate itself. It just needs acceptance. Not resentful acceptance but warm, nurturing acceptance.

Comment by Jean Yeager on 4th mo. 19, 2014 at 4:21pm: My thinking is in line with yours. Jesus looked into nature for his living examples which he used in parables. I have also been considering the seed as as a physical analog for devotion. At the end of last year's garden season we saved our seeds because, as you say, the seed contain all it needs to replicate itself. And, it holds all that within. It is truly devoted to being a good seed, nothing else. At this time of year (generally) we get our seeds started and we plant them. But, then the seed must let go of all that devotion and sacrifice itself in order to become a plant. Change requires that we sacrifice everything to become different. I tried to change a very powerful lifestyle to which I was once very devoted. The process was very painful. A seed has to totally dissolve and break-up in order to be a pant. I think Jesus's death had to break him up in order for the Christ to be able to arise. Thank you for bringing the seed message forward. Blessed Easter to you.

Comment by James C Schultz on 4th mo. 20, 2014 at 5:02pm: Thank you Jean. Same to you.

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