The problem with "fruitfulness"

Many UMC members and leaders these days are using the buzzword of fruitfulness. For a number of reasons fruitfulness is attractive language to a church that is in numeric decline. It also has strong biblical support, it is said that we should bear fruit. 

The problem with the emphasis of fruitfulness is that it is results oriented. If we have a tree in the back yard that is not bearing fruit, then we cut the thing down. Because what good is a fruit bearing tree if it bears no fruit?

Likewise, the assumption goes, what good is a fruit bearing church that bears no fruit?

Rather than having an emphasis on fruitfulness, perhaps we could have an emphasis on faithfulness. 

Sometimes a tree will not bear fruit because it is barren. This does not mean the tree is unfaithful (see the story of Sarah who was barren but faithful).

Focusing on faithfulness also is supported in the scriptures. In fact, we are called to be faithful and it is God through the power of the Holy Spirit produces fruit. If we are focused on bearing fruit than are we taking the role of the Holy Spirit? 

Finally, fruitfulness is another word that I tend to associate with the extrovert in all of us. The past two posts has touched on the need to bring balance to the over-valuing being extroverted in our understanding of our faith. I tend to assume that the image of bearing fruit (fruitfulness) is a verb associated with being extroverted. I mean fruit is an outward appearance on the tree.

No one can see the roots that provide for the fruit. Roots are not sexy. Roots are not fun to talk about. Roots are dirty and roots are unseen. Yet, the introvert side of us all might rather talk about the quality of our roots rather than the production of fruit. 

If we tend to our roots we may not be fruitful, but we are faithful.

Five Practices for the intorverted

The last post touched on the idea that the five practices the UMC has embraced that mark 'fruitfulness' seem to imply fruitfulness is dependent upon being an extrovert. While I am not here to disagree with the specific practice I would push back and say the qualifier of the original five practice are heavy on the extrovert scale. 

Bishop Schnase, the author of the five practices, comments that the important aspect of the five practices are in fact the qualifiers and they are interchangeable with the practices. 

Do you see the influence of the extrovert here? The important aspects of the five practices are the qualifiers: Radical, Passionate, Intentional, Risk Taking, Extravagant. 

And so, in an effort to subvert the extrovert-centric emphasis on the five practices, I would submit that the qualifiers be broadened to encompass the introvert in all of us. And in doing so I would submit that the most important part to the five practices are in fact not the qualifier but the actual practice. When the practice is the most important then we are then allowed to insert different qualifiers - some that are more introvert friendly. 

So I submit for consideration the introvert-friendly five practices:

• Thoughtful Hospitality
• Contemplative Worship
• Consistant Faith Development
• Reflective Mission and Service
• Compassionate Generosity

Extrovert culture and the 5 practices

Currently I am reading a book called Quiet, which takes a look at how much current culture places a premium on being extroverted and at he same time belittles being introverted. (See comic to right).

One example that is given in the book is that of the Evangelical expression of the Church. Here is just a quick quote:

“The evangelical culture ties together faithfulness with extroversion,” McHugh explained. “The emphasis is on community, on participating in more and more programs and events, on meeting more and more people. It’s a constant tension for many introverts that they’re not living that out."

Not only does the church place a premium on being an extrovert by desiring sermons that are driven by delivery than content, but also in more subtle ways. For instance, we call the commandment of Jesus to go and make disciples as the "great commission". But the fact of the matter is Jesus had a number of commandments (love, pray, feed, visit, etc.). No where in the New Testament is the commandment to make disciples called more important (or great) than other commandments of Jesus. 

It might be argued that the influence of the extrovert culture puts the values on the different commandments. And in an extroverted world, there is nothing greater than going out and meet others and persuade them to join your cause.

The UMC has 5 "fruitful practices" that we are asked to guide our churches to live out:

• Radical Hospitality
• Passionate worship
• Intentional Faith Development
• Risk-taking mission/service
• Extravagant Generosity

It seems to me that at least 4 of the 5 practices require an extroverted posture. 

Not only are these 5 practices the practices that lead to fruitfulness, it is implied that other practices are less important. Or perhaps even more tragically  other practices do not lead to fruitfulness at all. 

And so, I would submit to you to consider 5 practices for the introvert and leave your thoughts in the comments section. My next post will throw out my thoughts on another possible set of fruitful practices for our introverted sides.