You will know them by their fruits - counter evidence against this Bible verse?

[NguyenKimPhat]

Dear CAF,

 I believe fully that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and every statement within the Bible is the truth.  However, I just don't understand some of the verses.  For example, there is a statement in the bible regarding the ability to truly know the character of a person: "You will know them by their fruits."  I can't remember the exact Bible verse, but I think that this Bible verse is telling Christians that we will be able to see the true virtue of an event or person by the good works (fruits) of that event or person.  But then, look at Fr. Marcial Maciel -- this priest who was the founder of the Legionaries of Christ lead a double life of sexual abuse and sexual immorality; however, his good work (fruit) was the creation of an entire order of priests who preach and proclaim the gospel like Father Jonathan Morris on Fox News.  What about the double life of Ted Haggart?  Even though this Evangelical preacher lead a double life drenched in drugs and sexual immorality, did he not produce good works in his church that gathered millions of members to Christ?

On a very personal note, whenever I hear about the sex scandals within the Church and clergy, my heart drops. If you could hear me speak these words, you would literally hear me sigh; you could literally hear my voice drop. I know that as a good Catholic, I am called to stay strong and faithful to my church and Christ despite the turmoil within the clergy of the Church; but, sometimes it is so hard to swallow the sorrow when I constantly hear about the RAMPANT sex scandals that ROCK the Catholic Church. It is truly saddening to the point that the anger and fear and hurt that I feel from hearing about these sex scandals actually have an actual physical affect on me. It is hard for me to breath when I hear about these sex scandals because it feels truly like a huge weight upon my shoulders — To hear how the priests of my own Catholic faith are fallen — it fills me with so much fear and worry and hurt and confusion. I’m so tired. I’m so tired. I’m so tired. I am so tired.

 

[JRKH]

I will only interject briefly here since I haven’t much time.

Yes it can be hard to “hang in there” with the Church and with faith when we see and hear of the kinds of things you describe. But perseverence and forgiveness must also be hallmarks of the faithful. So please do hang in there and pray hard for our priests.

As for the verse you cited.
The thought that occurred to me is that, some fruiting trees can and will produce good fruit for some time even while a disease is eating away at the tree itself. So while a person may be producing good fruit, there may also be a huge internal struggle going on with that person. Whether their sins (struggles) were repented of and forgiven by God we cannot now know. We can only pray.

Take these worries and place them at the foot of the cross. Commit, or recommit to being the very best you can be and produce the best fruit you are able.

Peace
James

 

[Nita]

Dear CAF,

 I believe fully that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and every statement within the Bible is the truth.  However, I just don't understand some of the verses.  For example, there is a statement in the bible regarding the ability to truly know the character of a person: "You will know them by their fruits."  I can't remember the exact Bible verse, but I think that this Bible verse is telling Christians that we will be able to see the true virtue of an event or person by the good works (fruits) of that event or person.  But then, look at Fr. Marcial Maciel -- this priest who was the founder of the Legionaries of Christ lead a double life of sexual abuse and sexual immorality; however, his good work (fruit) was the creation of an entire order of priests who preach and proclaim the gospel like Father Jonathan Morris on Fox News.  What about the double life of Ted Haggart?  Even though this Evangelical preacher lead a double life drenched in drugs and sexual immorality, did he not produce good works in his church that gathered millions of members to Christ?

On a very personal note, whenever I hear about the sex scandals within the Church and clergy, my heart drops. If you could hear me speak these words, you would literally hear me sigh; you could literally hear my voice drop. I know that as a good Catholic, I am called to stay strong and faithful to my church and Christ despite the turmoil within the clergy of the Church; but, sometimes it is so hard to swallow the sorrow when I constantly hear about the RAMPANT sex scandals that ROCK the Catholic Church. It is truly saddening to the point that the anger and fear and hurt that I feel from hearing about these sex scandals actually have an actual physical affect on me. It is hard for me to breath when I hear about these sex scandals because it feels truly like a huge weight upon my shoulders — To hear how the priests of my own Catholic faith are fallen — it fills me with so much fear and worry and hurt and confusion. I’m so tired. I’m so tired. I’m so tired. I am so tired.

I also feel the weight you speak of when clergy scandals arise. What has helped me is to remember what occurred at the time of the first crucifixion (Our Lord’s).Luke 22:31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 22:32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren.” The “you” in verse 31 is plural. (“You” in verse 32 is singular)
In other words, all His priests, whom He had just ordained, were about to be subjected to a severe tempting by the devil (“sift you like wheat”). And all, except perhaps John, succumbed. For most of them the fall was not permanent; they returned. (We do not know for certain about Judas.)

I think we are again living thru times when the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church, is undergoing a crucifixion. And perhaps, for His good purposes, God has again allowed Satan to “sift” His priests “like wheat”. Hopefully, as with the first 12 “priests”, almost all will repent and return to Our Lord.

I think our prayers are much needed to help priests in the struggle they are going through.
**Have you ever considered that the huge weight you feel may be God’s way of awakening you to a need in His Church; His way of calling you to a ministry of prayer specifically for His priests? **
Prayer is a powerful weapon against Satan and his minions.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Another way to look at it is Judas. Judas was a hand-picked apostle of Jesus Christ, and a horrific sinner and traitor. So by Judas’ fruit, shall we then throw out Christianity? Of course not. Anyone you meet is going to show some sin (unless they are a great saint ). But I think you can see patterns in people’s lives, or even in the life of the Church, that there is a strive for holiness. The sex scandals are horrific, but hardly a “pattern” in the percentages of clergy (incidentally I’ve written with scientific analysis on the infiltrationary nature of some of these crimes). Sticking with Judas, he represents 1 unholy figure out of 12 (that is if you don’t even count Peter, James, or John’s sins or any the other apostles may have committed!). So will the accusers of the Catholic Church turn around and throw out the validity of all the Apostles because of Judas? Of course not. When other Christians point the scandals out, I tell them what I said above, and then invite them to “come join us because we need more holy people such as yourself!”