Bonsai Christians

The Bonsai Christians and Churches

Article Written by

Bro. Peter Thomas Olickal, Kerala

There wouldn’t be anyone who had never seen a Bonsai tree or such method of caring and developing tree saplings or any shrub. Bonsai is a method and art of growing ornamental, artificially dwarfed varieties of trees and shrubs in pots. The saplings or trees that grow in the pots are so pleasant and beautiful that each and every person who sees will get wonder and magnetize the person’s whole attention and mind. Those trees are ornamental and artistically dwarfed so every person will love to occupy one and to place it in his or her living room or in the garden. People are ready to pay whatever the cost of such arts or bonsai plants or trees, for he feels proud in owning one and when others see that he owns one of such beautiful tree too. The trees in the pots will show the nature and characteristics of the same species of grown up trees with fruits, flowers, timbers, branches, twigs, cambium, bark, leaves, smell and whatever as the one growing in the fertile soil of fields or forests or lands. In consequence, the bonsai trees and shrubs provide an artistically veneer glance and appearance and attraction towards all who look at them. The bonsai trees or shrubs will last long too as of the land grown trees. Of course such artistic skilled bonsai trees are good to develop for commercial purpose or for passion or for gardening pleasure too.

 Every child of God is redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ according to the great plan of God the Father (1 Pet 1:18, 19). And Bible also says we are raised and seated up with Christ in the Heavenly realms (Eph. 2:5, 6). Why God does save people and bless while we still live in our physical body on Earth? Does God have no ability to save us even after our death? Word of God says that it’s all His Plan of Salvation only. And it also has many objectives of acting, working and gaining many things while we live on Earth to please, work, gain maturity in Christ, walk in His ways, saving other lives for Him, gives his testimony, showing compassion to others, take further His Great Commission, show His love to others, live according to His commandments, to multiply on Earth and many. (2 Pet 3. 18, Eph 3: 17-19, 4:15, 1 Pet 2: 2, Colo 3:16, 1 Tim 4:15, Heb 6:1-2, Jam 1: 2-4, John 15:5). We also have great responsibility to live according to His Word and so to get deserved for His rewards (1 Cor. 3:11-14, Rev. 22:12, Matt 5:12, Phil 3:14, Heb.11:26). It is clear that each and every child of God should grow in Jesus without boundaries and restrictions through The Word of God, the power of the Holy Spirit and doing His will while we live on Earth. It is the thing God the Father demands and desires from each of His child! Such a growth makes us closer and closer to God and thus to more inheritance.

Look at the spiritual growth "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For, if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." It is the real spiritual growth that is pointed through a four dimensional facts (1) increasing in your knowledge and understanding of God's Word, (2) decreasing in your frequency and severity of sin, (3) increasing in your practice of Christ-like qualities, and (4) increasing in your faith and trust in God and the best summary of spiritual growth is becoming more like Jesus Christ (2 Pet 1: 3-8).

Towards this maturity and growth, a Christian is being given The Word of God, The Holy Spirit and of course, the Churches and communions. Church  is “the Church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth” and it is the unique place of the Living God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and where each redeemed child of God gets his/her spiritual food towards maturity in Jesus through the Power of the Holy Spirit and Word of God. Every church and denomination should have the highest priority and responsibility to make each and every child of God who gather and worship the Lord in the church to have the growth we talked in the afore-paragraph. But many denominations and their churches are like the Bonsai Trees only!

Many denominations have their own “bonsai pots”, “bonsai dishes”, “bonsai basins” in which they place believers to mold and make to grow as child of God. These pots are the “Doctrines” or “What we believe” by which they teach, ask to obey, formulate all their “spiritual” ministry/activities, not by the Word of God, which is breathed by God (2 Tim 3:16). And it is the basic for teaching, growth, exercises and molding our life. Moreover it has everything that we need to have personal, mental, spiritual and intellectual growth. It has all principles and precepts of wisdom and knowledge. But many denominations and churches do not teach this infallible and truthful Word of God, instead they make their own “Doctrines” which have many commands, rituals, followings, beliefs and all. With these “doctrines” they trap the Christians and prevent the growth of them towards maturity as of the Bonsai methods and arts.

There are many such practices, behaviors, teachings and followings among Christians who are thinking they are advanced and living in developed levels or in such environments. But they have spiritually no zealous and commitments as of the first century Christians or how the Word of God asks us to be. Still there is caste system and behaviors among Christians, though everyone knows that and claims that they are one in Christ Jesus and are redeemed by His blood! Many denominations follow rituals as of gentiles or other religions that are never taught or mentioned in the Bible. These are the vested interested leaders who want power, fame, wealth and control created and taught certain “doctrines” “Bonsai pots/plates” and develops the Children of God as they wish! As an example think about India and Christians that claim the arrival of St. Thomas to India and they are the descendants of the Apostle. If it is correct; think what the propagation of the Great Commission is being fruitful for these many centuries in India? Christianity in India is the “third largest religious group” with an estimated population of 27.8 million followers constituting the 2.4% of the total population of India, which is the second largest populous country in the world. Irrespective of the claim that the Apostle. St. Thomas’ arrival to India and since then to the present; thousands and thousands of missionaries, evangelists and pastors who came to India and worked along with pastors, priests, evangelists and people from India, but even though there came few, 2% only the second largest populous country has Christianity growth. And unlike the first populous neighbor country China, India makes –sure the fundamental Rights to choose and proclaim any religion of one’s choice, but in India there are lakhs of people who come to Church, workshop and take parts in all spiritual activities, but never state that they are Christians for the fear of “caste reservations”. China officially states that there are 26 million Christian followers (International organizations claim, it is not correct there are tens of millions more). It shows the pathetic spirituality and nominal Christian Ministry works in India. In a country which has no Right to claim as Christian until grow above 18 years of age and has multiples of restricts and persecutions, the number of people claim to be Christian grow more, to say their faith and the real Mission works could be seen, there. One could understand that those people count world and its restrictions and persecutions, cannot take their faith in God! But in India, people more mere “reservations” (in most of the cases, they won’t even get anything), officially deny that they are “Christians” (A one who is in Christ)! This is the lack of real and truth of the Bible do not being preached, taught and practiced. This is the best example of “BONSAI CHRISTIANS” who are artistically and skillfully taught and prevented from doing more service to God, but helped them and got rich with thousands of institutions, businesses and income-generating options! Never helped fellow-Christians or spent for the Gospel wok.

Let us look into more facts that India is the second populous country in the world with a population of 135 crores. India’s 32% and 68% population lives in urban and rural areas respectively, About 24 million children, about 4% of their population in India and higher than people living in Delhi, are orphan. Of them, parents of only 0.3% children have died and rest have been abandoned, There are 1.77 million homeless people in India (who have no even tent-house), and there is a shortage of 18.78 million houses in the country, There is 2.7% Christians in India, which has a history of 20 centuries Gospel works (If so the claim is correct, Indian Christians claim the Mission of St. Thomas in India), There are 81million older people in India-11 lakh in Delhi itself. According to an estimate, nearly 40% of senior citizens living with their families are reportedly facing abuse of one kind or another, but only 1 in 6 cases actually comes to light, According to known facts, 18 million old-age people live in single alone under various-ages in depression and fear…, There are 2.2 million known TB persons and 58.85% of new leprosy cases in the world are in India; in recent year 1.27 lakhs new cases of leprosy were reported in India, India has 122 major languages and 1599 other languages/dialects and 31 official languages among them there are languages which still have no script and formal level of grammar as of other languages, there are nearly 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes in India, each related to a specific occupation and most of them still have “caste system” and there are even practice of necromancy and prevalence of superstitious beliefs, rituals and rites; the facts are not quite enough to show that the Christians are not in unity in Christ, but they are being merely “BONSAI” Christians who support their own denominations’ growth, not the growth of individual spirituality and spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. For, the real Christians would help and support others in need, pray for them and work for their salvation! This is the situation the land and country which claims 20 centuries history of “Christianity”.

The Bible is the ultimate book for our faith, growth and maturity, but there are a lot of pastors and denominations who still make their own prophesy, unknown tongue, different ways of beliefs and doctrines that are not at all in biblical base. They do whatever they like to please the people for mere interests of “money” and leave their claims are Biblical and Holy Spirit authored them to do so. Their church believers are also strongly follow the same as of their leaders, pastors and priests blindly, for they are being made as of the Bonsai plants in the hands of such leaders. 

 

 Let us have a Comparison of Bonsai Trees and Christians or Christianity:

Bonsai Features	Few Christians and Christianity Nowadays
Bonsai trees have a special tray or pot or dish to grow plants	Such Christians also have a special “Tray” of “Doctrines” specially designed by leaders to grow Christians/Believers (Real Christians have only one tray to Grow; The Bible)
The trees are prevented their growth artistically and skillfully	The believers who are to grow as Bible says are prevented artistically for the benefits of the leaders following their own doctrines.
If on the soil with natural fertilizers, water and pesticides, the trees will grow big, but are dwarfed to attract others with the dwarf-nature.	If taught and mold on the soil of the Word God, they might have become beneficial for the perishing souls and had spiritual growth.
The Bonsai trees have fruit, flower, stem, branches and all the characteristics as of grown-up big tree, but in a pot only.	Yes such Christians have two or three fruits by which they attract others and claim that they are real Christians/denominations. Always try to remain “good” and “Scriptural” or “Biblical” with the few fruits out the numerous Christian Life-Fruits. They are in the hands and pots of Leaders only.
If out on soil or in the forest, it will grow with more branches, leaves, fruits and flowers and the trees and branches will be beneficial for birds to perch, human beings and for ecological balancing too.	There is no use and benefits for others, spreading of Gospel, Lord’s work, no compassion & help for others in need, caste discriminations, selfishness and many. There are many Christians who are worse than other gentiles in moral and spiritual levels.
Bonsai trees are commercially good, but not in the level of benefits in many ways as of other trees which are outside.	Such Christians and groups are commercially and financially very good, but not in spiritually. They have big commercial businesses, political affiliations, colleges, schools, hospitals, medical colleges and saving of billions, but believers are in extreme poverty in both spiritually and personal life too.
Bonsai trees has no its own freedom of acquiring water, light, fertilizers etc. for growth. What we give it takes for when we allow it has photosynthesis and all.	These groups of Christians have no own reading of Bible and studies, they get what the leaders/pastors give and their growth is within such teachings only. And so no growth as Christ and Bible envisages. Many biblical truths are manipulated and wrongly given to people for spiritual food.
Bonsai trees are good feasts to eyes. They are merely developed for the same only.	Many denominations develop their believers and churches for merely to show to others for financial benefits, to showcase strength, to do manual works and to support them only, not to support the Great Commission and make the believers to grown as Jesus.
Bonsai trees have roots that are up to the bottom of the pots, no deep growth with firmness in the soil as of the trees that in soil, mountains, rocks and in forests. And when the roots extended out beyond the edges of the pots or dishes, they are pruned or trimmed and thus made sure they grow inside the pots.	Really, when somebody who finds the mistakes and raise questions, they are muted in many ways, even by killings too. Church histories show this fact very clearly that many great men of God were persecuted and killed even by the so-called churches and leaders. They never allow real truth seekers to have deep rooted growth on the commands and facts of the Bible.
The bonsai developers sell such plants and trees for money when somebody comes to buy them.	These people also sell their believers and churches when somebody comes with a new denomination or type of faith with money and the leaders get richer and grow selfishly. Such denominations use the poor, low-social, backward caste, colour levels of the believers for money and project-grants.

We are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ becoming the greatest position of Children of God and walk through the lights of Word of God and the Power of Holy Spirit. See where we are, a true child of God, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.…” (Colo.3:1-2). And,” And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph.2.6). Hence we are obliged to obey the one who redeemed us through His only begotten son’s blood and atonement on the cross of Calvary! Not to lay ourselves for the worldly pleasures, powers and selfishness of denominational leaders or groups. If doing so, we are not pleasing our God, our rewards are not secured and we will be put to shame, our spiritual growth will be as of the Bonsai trees; showing one of two fruits, pleasing to others, being in bondage, remaining channel for others’ “benefits”. Jesus calls us by knocking at our doors; let us come out from the “Doctrinal” “pots” of the Christian Bonsai growth. Apostle Paul says and condemns that we are redeemed by the Grace in Jesus Christ and we became new, not by works, but by faith; then why we look back to do as of the gentiles or other religious people do for salvation as of by works we get salvation (Gal. 3,4, chapters, Colo.2:16-19).

 And God gave us His prophecy and whatever He wants us to get from Him and whatever  we need to do, we will get and everything – His Word; the Bible! And since it is being available in your own mother tongue or vernacular language, why don’t you hesitate to read it by yourself and be freed to grow spiritually? Jesus promised and sent the Companion – Holy Spirit to guide us and to help us to grow in Christ Jesus, then why do you still depend on leaders and selfish pastors? We need to come out to Biblical truth and grow as God the Father desires us to grow. Hence May the Lord guide and help all of us to come out from the “Bonsai pots” of denominations and selfishness to real “Pot – Word of God” and grow spiritually as God wishes in the days to come. For, the Psalm says that the real Christian or the child of God is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—  whatever they do prospers (Read Ps. 1:3). Let us grow in Christ Jesus with many branches, leaves, fruits and flowers for the Lord who gave His blood for us! Amen!!