GLEANINGS — July 27, A.D. 2014                                                                                                              Algebra and the Sower

Parable of the Soils might be a better name for the teaching of Jesus usually called the parable of the sower. The parable is recorded in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8, and you are probably familiar with it. A sower goes forth to sow seed in hopes of eventually reaping a crop. The seed falls on different kinds of soils, three of which prove unfruitful, but the good soil yields in time. 

Jesus explained the parable. The seed is the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and the different kinds of soils on which it falls represent different kinds of Gospel hearers. In some cases the seed is snatched away and faith never grows at all. In others a seedling of faith grows up quickly, then withers. In yet another kind of soil, faith seems to grow well but is eventually choked off. The good soil represents hearts that keep faith and bear fruit unto eternal life. 

What we should especially notice in Christ's parable is this: the seed is always the same, regardless of how any of the soils – even the good soil – receive it. And although the sower is His agent, it is God Who gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6,7). This is important to keep in mind as we share the Gospel...as we sow that kingdom seed. 

When doing so, we frequently encounter some version of this response from the unconverted: "How do you know this is true?" Think hard about that question. Does the capacity of a seed to grow into a stalk of grain depend on HOW the sower obtained his bag of seed? Does the spiritual welfare of the one asking us HOW we learned that the Gospel is true depend on our answer? What matters is whether or not someone receives the truth of the Gospel...regardless of HOW the one sharing it learned that it is true! Here's a "math flavored" illustration:

Let's suppose that statement X is true. In other words it is a "given," as those involved with algebra would say.

When presented with statement X, Mr. Green's response is, "I believe X." Mr. Gray also hears but responds, "I don't know if X is true or not." Mr. Brown keys in on the person who utters statement X and asks, "How do you know X is true?" Meanwhile the antagonistic and erring Mr. Blue says, "X is ridiculous, it's false."

Since it is a given that X is true, not only the response of Mr. Brown but ANY of the four responses, including Green's acceptance of it, are *logically* irrelevant to the truth of X!

The real life Greens, Grays, Browns, and Blues – our neighbors – are of course NOT irrelevant (and logic might not be their strong point). They are precious souls.

But in sharing the truth of God the great Giver of the givens of the Gospel, in real life contexts, the focus of discussion should be more on whether or not the claims of Christ are true. How the sharing Christian knows they are true is a secondary matter.

So how does the equipped disciple respond when someone asks "How do you know this is true?" He can share his testimony of how the Holy Spirit worked to bring him to saving knowledge. By the same Spirit Who dwells within him, he can patiently endure antagonism. He can give an answer to challenges, and should ever be learning from the Word to be able to do so more effectively...to give a solid, persuasive reason for the hope that is in him (1 Peter 3:15).

But when all is said and done, the unbeliever must be brought back to the Gospel itself...the unchanging seed. Even if the Christian is ridiculed, finds his uncoverted friend deceived by the world's invalid arguments against the truth, or just emotionally hostile to it, the Christian must remember that he is only a sower. Keep sowing, and leave the results to God.