The Gospel for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost this year is from Mark 9:38-50. This reading contains sayings on several topics, but I would highlight the first part of this passage from Mark 9:38-41. In these verses, John and other disciples are eager to safeguard the work of Jesus. The motives of John and the others are generally good. They want to see true teaching kept free from corruption. They want to avoid the disorder and confusion that can arise among religious movements. John wants to preserve unity, order, and truth among God’s people.
Yet, despite good intentions, John goes too far. He and the others jump to the conclusion that anyone who hasn’t gone through the proper outward channels is wrong. They forget to be open to the many ways in which God can work among human beings. They are too narrow, and in fact, they are probably overly concerned about their own status as “official” disciples.
Thus, our Lord warns John not to hinder the independent disciple. Such a person is “not against us.” In other words, a person who is not part of the official fellowship of the apostles may still serve Christ. A person who has not had the fullest exposure to Christ’s teaching can still share a basic loyalty to Christ and His goals.
This principle does not mean that anything or everything is acceptable. Being open does not mean tolerating every aberration, corruption or false teaching. It does not mean that everyone who claims the name Christian really is a follower of Jesus Christ. In other passages, Jesus warns against false teachers and fake disciples. He points out that there are issues and situations which demand stark choices for Him or against Him.
Nevertheless, Christians need balance. If a person has a basic and sincere commitment to Christ, we must not be unduly negative. While we remain firmly committed to Scripture, Creeds, liturgy, and churches with apostolic faith, we recognize that God can work in many ways.
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