The Parable of the Seed: On Hidden Power

Overview

When Christianity is covered in the newspaper or on TV, it’s typically discussed and seen as a cultural or intellectual position. So people tend to talk about Christianity something like this: “Well, you know, there are various points of view on the nature of God, the soul, morality, ethics and the meaning and purpose of life. The Christian position is just one of them.” They try it on the way somebody tries on a dress, looking to see whether it brings out your best parts and hides your worst parts.

It is possible to adopt Christianity only in word. That means to say, “I accept the position. I accept the point of view,t the ideals, the beliefs.” You can do this and yet not have received it as it really is–as a power.

Jesus, without using the word, is saying the same thing here in this parable. He is saying Christianity is a ruling power. It’s not just a set of ideals, such as forgiveness or God’s love. It’s much more than that – it’s a power. Let’s consider two things about this power: Christianity is the power of new life and it is the power of growth.