Matthew 7:15-20 – 7/18/2026
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.
Matthew 7:15-16 (NRSVue)
Christianity is not one thing. There are many Christianities, some of which bear only superficial resemblance to one another. It’s one thing to commit to following Jesus; it’s quite another thing to decide which “version” or understanding of Jesus and his teachings to go about following. That is why I claim, with a few caveats, that ecclesiology is first theology. In other words, the first step in understanding what it is to follow Jesus is to know which church(s) to find community in.
Following Jesus and practicing Christianity is not a solo activity. By necessity, these must be done in a community with other followers. The two constitutive rites of Christianity, the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, must be done with others and cannot be done alone. Unfortunately, it’s not simply a matter of finding other Christians. One group of Christians will say that following Christ is one thing, and another group will tell you it’s another and that the first way is antithetical to the teachings of Jesus.
My present context in the USA in 2026 provides an example that gets at what I mean here. My church teaches and tries to live a gospel where all are welcome, no matter their sexuality or relationship status. It holds that exploitation is wrong and that everyone deserves food and shelter. It seeks peace over war and international fellowship and solidarity over Capital and nationalism. Other churches, churches that claim with the same certitude that they too are following Jesus and his teachings, preach and practice a gospel that teaches that these things are wrong. These “Gospels” say that some sexualities are an abomination and that accepting them is false teaching. They hold that capitalist exploitation is the way God intended for resources to be distributed and that God blesses the USA with special favoritism, while some other countries are outside God’s favor.
How then are we to know which church has it “right” or rather with which church to participate in Word, Sacrament, and Service? Do we accept the love of queer people? Do we accept women as church leaders? Does Christian nationalism express or contradict the Gospel? Each Christian and church will claim that their way is the correct understanding of Jesus and his teachings, but in their opposition to one another, they cannot both be. It comes down to competing interpretations and hermeneutical frameworks, which themselves are grounded in pre-conscious values and background perspectives. Jesus says in today’s reading that the answer to knowing who to follow and who to be in fellowship with is by their “fruit.” The content of teachings is one thing, but what those teachings bring about is where we can discern where that fruit came from, good teaching or bad.
Even here we are left with a choice, which fruit is good? Which fruit is not fruit at all? Even here there will be disagreement, and so we are left with no sure way to know. All we have is the conviction of our choice and our hope that this choice is guided toward the good. To follow Jesus, the real Jesus and his teachings, is a leap of faith that cannot be grounded in certainty, neither the epistemic certainty that leads to knowledge of the truth or moral certainty that knows which teachings lead to a good life that treats others well and forms lasting, loving community.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for 7/18/2026:
Isaiah 44:18-20
Matthew 7:15-20
Psalm 86:11-17
Reflections of a Dionysian Lutheran, comments on the daily readings of the Revised Common Lectionary by Justin Marquis
Dionysus on a Bike 
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