A year ago, on this date, I reviewed nearly fifty factors found in the Fruit of the Spirit, and discovered I did not have enough space to complete my outlined thoughts and biblical references related to the subject. This is an important follow up to that Page that listed 49 factors in the Fruit of the Spirit. The theme was related to Christian culture for the personal self, and for education on the practice of the Fruit of the Spirit in Christian life – even to the point of persuasion to influence favorably the secular culture. I am here assuming the Bible verses noted there – even negations implying affirmations. Positive spiritual traits always have their negatives that are attractive to some persons even Christians feeling sincere about their spiritual lives. The negative side, when understood, helps us in the application of the affirmative side – as the law: Thou shalt not bear false witness, is another way of saying: Always tell the truth.
| Fruitful Orientation | Opposite orientation | Example |
| Alertness | Unawareness | Daniel (Dan. 1:5) |
| Attentiveness | Unconcern | Bereans – Acts 17:11-12 |
| Availability | Self-centeredness | Isaiah (Is. 6:8) |
| Boldness | Fearfulness | Paul – Acts 19:8 |
| Cautiousness | Rashness | Gamaliel (Acts 5) |
| Compassion | Indifference | King – Matthew18:23-34 |
| Contentment | Discontent | Absalom |
| Creativity | Destructive | Jesus |
| Decisiveness | Evasion | King Saul |
| Deference | Self oriented | |
| Dependability | Casual | Timothy |
| Determination | Casualness | Paul |
| Diligence | Neglect | |
| Discernment | Judgmentalism | Job and Friends and God |
| Discretion | Simple mindedness | Samson |
| Endurance | Weakness | Demas |
| Enthusiasm | Passive | David (2 Sa. 6:12-19) |
| Faith | Unbelief | Quartet (Mark 2:1-5) |
| Flexibility | Rigidity | Jonathan (1Sa. 20:16-42) |
| Forgiveness | Unforgiving | Joseph (Genesis 50:16-21) |
| Generosity | Selfishness | Disciples (Acts 11:29-30) |
| Gentleness | Harshness | David (2 Sa. 18:5; 22:36) |
| Gratefulness | Ungrateful | Church (Eph. 5:19-20) |
| Hospitality | Loneliness | Lydia (Acts 16:40) |
| Humility | Pride | Ruth (Ruth 1:16-17) |
| Initiative | Unresponsiveness | Prodigal |
| Joyfulness | Sadness | Church (Heb. 10:34; 12:2) |
| Justice | Injustice | Solomon (1 Ki. 3:16-28 |
| Love | Uncaring | John (John 13:23) |
| Loyalty | Abandonment | Jonathan (2 Sa. 1:23) |
| Meekness | Anger | Moses (Num. 12:1-7) |
| Obedience | Willfulness | Moses, Apostle Paul |
| Orderliness | Disorganization | Jesus (Matthew 2:52) |
| Patience | Impatience | Joseph |
| Persuasiveness | Contentiousness | Apollos (Acts 19:24-28) |
| Punctuality | Casual | Fullness of Ttime |
| Resourcefulness | Wastefulness | Baskets of leavings |
| Responsibility | Irresponsibility | Apostles |
| Reverence | Disrespect | Simeon (Luke 2:25-32) |
| Security | Insecurity | King Saul |
| Self-control | Self-indulgence | Jonathan (1Sa. 20:16-42) |
| Sensitivity | Insensivity | Samson |
| Sincerity | Hypocrisy | Remnant (Neh. 8:6) |
| Thoroughness | Escapism | Demas |
| Thriftiness | Extravagance | Nebuchadnezar/Babylon |
| Tolerance | Prejudice | Gamaliel (Acts 5:33-49) |
| Truthfulness | Deception | Abimelech (Gen.20:1-18) |
| Virtue | Impurity | Mary (Luke 1:38-56) |
| Wisdom | Inclinations | Solomon (2 Chr. 9:22) |
Taken together the above factors (and there are more) comprise a Christian culture that can be followed not only within its own tribe of believers, but in any society that is free. It improves the lives of individuals either in private life or in society. It is a pleasant exercise to extract from Scripture other factors belonging to Christian culture. A number of verses might be cited in support of each factor noted above. Many persons and groups referred to in Scripture accent several of the cultural factors so there are repetitions. Scripture is redundant of the major issues related to Christian life. In matters that really matter, Scripture appears committed to accent, even approaching themes from various points of view – as we note especially in the four Gospels in the New Testament and the Samuels and Kings in the Old. (Fill in the blanks above.)
An excellent Bible study would be to build a notebook of pages with each page begun with the title of the words above, and inserting the location, when found, of passages dealing with the theme.* A sentence or a quotation from the passage would make the citation even more useful. To live by the counsel of Scripture would lift any person above common lifestyles. *If my life permits, I will construct an alphabetical Graduate list.
*Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020