1. Do we show love to others that surpasses that of non-Christians?
2. Do we display a joyfulness greater than Jews who have faced a life of persecution?
3. Can people see a consuming peace that prevails in our lives greater than our Buddhist neighbors?
4. Are we more patient than Jehovah’s Witnesses who continues to go door-to-door with their magazines and message?
5. Are we as kind as the secular humanist who serves the homeless and helpless in his community?
6. Do we live out the righteousness in Christ in a greater way than the Mormons who believe that their salvation is dependent on their good deeds?
7. Are we as faithful to the doctrine and disciplines of our faith as devout Muslims who routinely pray to a graceless god?
8. Do we possess the gentleness of a Hindu pacifist?
9. Do we have more self-control over our minds and our mouths than the followers of the Sihk religion?
One big question: Shouldn’t Christians, who have the Holy Spirit living within us, display the evidence of life-change in a greater way than those who have not the Holy Spirit?
If the world is surpassing the Body of Christ in any of these areas, then we are choosing to walk not in the Spirit, but in the flesh. The world will never take notice of Christ if His people choose not to follow Him.
Galatians 5:22-25 (HCSB)
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.”
(Note- The idea for this post was sparked while contemplating the teaching of Francis Chan in “Forgotten God”, a book I highly recommend.)
Which of the nine characteristics ( “fruit” of the Spirit) do you believe is lacking most in the Body of Christ today? Leave me a comment below.
Shepherding Well 
I think it is righteousness. When our relationship with the Lord is right, and our conscience before Him is clear, than all the other characteristics will result. When we are LIKE Christ, these other things will become more natural. Of course, our righteousness is from Him also, but its exhibition is a choice we make.
Love. I think it’s love. I think that if we loved the way we should, the rest would fall in to place. If we would love like Christ loved. We are nothing witout love. Sadly, I think quite a few of these fruits are missing in the Body of Christ today.
I do not have strong feelings about which fruits we do well or badly or which is most important. I believe we need to start with seeking and truly being filled with the Holy Spirit. I wonder how many really understand or know what that means. If we are not totally under His guidance and lead, we cannot expect to demonstrate any of the fruits clearly. We will find we are being lead by our needs, desires or priorites. It is true Jesus died for our sins, but also that we may have an indwelling of the Spirit, which was not an option for those before Him.
I agree totally with Gail.
I think if you lack one, you lack all… “Fruit” not “fruits”