The Orchard Of Christ

It’s significant:  Pentecost is not a private affair, but a communal happening.  Why bible scholars estimate over 120 persons gathered, not ‘solo’ – but with an amazing sense of community. Why Acts 2:1 tells us that “when…Pentecost came, [the Apostles and their companions] were all together.”  (Acts 2:1)  And when the Holy Spirit arrived – Acts 2:4 notes “…all of [those gathered] were filled…”  (Acts 2:4).   Though a lot of us lean toward ‘solo Christianity’ – Pentecost leans toward ‘Christianity together.’ 

Growing up one of my favorite TV shows was the Lone Ranger.  Boy I loved the Lone Ranger:  his gray outfit -- his black mask -- his silver bullets.  But most of all I loved the Lone Ranger’s horse, also named Silver, and his famous call-out in her direction: “Hi-Ho, Silver!”   But the Lone Ranger also ‘called out’ to some else.  Remember?  His trusty sidekick Tonto.  And so the Lone Ranger wasn’t actually alone after all!  Why even the Lone Ranger needed Tonto!   Just as the Lone Ranger needed Tonto, every person needs a Tonto. Every person needs community; every person needs the church!

There are many representations of church, the most popular being the church as the body of Christ (Romans 12:1-8, 1 Corthinians 12:12-31; Ephesians 4:1-16.)  But a lesser known representation is the church as an orchard.   Paul suggests this representation as he speaks of spirit-fruit in Galatians 5.  And what behavior is to mark God’s people, the church?  It’s “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) – which results in multiple outcomes, including the outcome suggested by Paul in Galatians 6:2 – the lifting of heavy loads or burdens.   Why if you know the Spirit, Paul inters, you:  “Carry each others burdens…” (Galatians 6:2)  Literally in the Greek the image here is of a military march, with each solider in formation, single file – carrying backpacks.  But not just their own backpack -- they’re also lifting the backpack of the person in front of them! 

Isn’t that a great image of the church?  Inspired by the Holy Spirit – we lift the load, the burden of those around us – beginning with those in the orchard of Christ!