The reality of life is that people implicitly assess Christian ministry through visible fruit, institutional momentum, relational success, and perceived stability.

Even when they explicitly deny that—they do it.

Even Christians who highly value the Bible do it. Because, as much as people may say that faithfulness is measured by the Bible: when pressure is on, relationships are tense, and things seem unclear, it is hard to hold your nerve. We naturally default to a “Gamaliel test” (Acts 5:33-42)—to watch and wait. And if visible success comes, something must be true. But if visible success fails to materialise, it just proves you were right to be cautious.

This kind of test is in the Bible, but it is not biblical. Gamaliel’s test is cynical. It was not applied by a man trusting in God’s promises, but in his own eyes and reason—just as Eve used her eyes and reason to assess the truthfulness of God’s Word about the tree in Genesis 3.

This test and (supposed) wisdom of waiting to see visible fruit is a tyranny, because it sets you in direct opposition to the true way God works. Here is how Paul describes real, true, authentic ministry:

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. (2 Corinthians 4:7-12)

Paul wrote this in the midst of another battle over the legitimacy of his ministry against ministers of glory who kept criticising him: Paul didn’t produce enough fruit, wasn’t funded properly, didn’t have the obvious institutional backing they did. His whole life Paul lived with these criticisms. Even Acts ends with Paul still non-stipendiary, working out of his own home, operating in a self-funded capacity.

But the real battle Paul faced was not to produce enough fruit to validate his ministry—it was to avoid being sucked into the mindset that he had to.

Because the moment Paul did that, the moment he started chasing fruit as a justification of his faithfulness, then he would have negated the entire ministry he dedicated his life to building.

God is always bringing fruit when the Word is preached. He is always doing something when his doctrine is explained. He is always producing life when his Sacraments are given. But he doesn’t do this in a way that shows visible fruit that validates the one sowing the seed. He keeps and holds his servants in weakness: unimpressive and dependent purely upon his Word. Death is at work in them, even as life is at work in those they serve.

Whoever you are reading this, whether a pastor preaching every week, or a person sharing the Gospel with friends and family each day, hear the command and encouragement Paul gives you 2 Corinthians 4: you are free from the tyranny of visible fruit.

Yes, others will constantly evaluate you against a visible standard you have zero control over. But those people are neither the master you serve, nor the judge you’ll face.

As for you: being afflicted, persecuted and struck down are not signs that God is against you, or that you are unfaithful or doing something wrong. If anything—the opposite. Because when you have nothing, it is then you know God’s means of grace are everything—this is exactly why Paul boasted in his weakness (2 Corinthians 11:30; 12:5, 9).

That’s why this week, when asked how I and my church were doing, I wrote this:

“I am a weak man. A weak pastor. And we are a weak church. That’s all I offer. And again this week I have reasons to know and feel my weakness.

…But I am proud of this.”

Come along in person in Manchester any Sunday or join us online from anywhere any Wednesday and embrace being weak with us.