MARKAN MEDITATIONS

Meditations in the Gospel of St.Mark

St. Mark 9:38-41

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THESE THREE verses superficially appear to be very easy and straight forward, but when we stop to think about what Jesus says, the issue goes much deeper than we supposed. The question of who is for Jesus and who is against Jesus is not always so easy to decide, and so care must be taken in applying these words of Jesus. It is plain that someone who is casting out devils is making war on Satan and evil. Such a person is acting for Jesus. However the issue is not always quite so clear.

The words of Jesus here have something very important and cogent to say against denominational exclusiveness. There are some who will call everyone who does not hold to every detail of their doctrinal belief as against Jesus and not a Christian, in spite of the fact that they may be proclaiming the pure Gospel of Christ, and being used by God to save souls. Others are willing to write off churches which are in fellowship with a denomination that holds erroneous doctrine, and say they must be against Christ, for by association they are upholding false doctrine. There is no regard for the testimony of such congregations, nor the evident blessing of God upon the ministry there. Others will write off Christians with real faith in Christ, simply because they do not share some particular belief they deem to be too important for any to disagree with them. All these and others like them are condemned by Jesus in his words here, and are warned how wrong such exclusiveness is.

Beliefs that one group holds dear should not be the reason to reject others who may disagree with them simply for that disagreement. The question is, are they for Christ or not. We can be for Christ and hold the essential Gospel of God, but disagree on many issues that others hold sacred. The point is whether a person or a fellowship is truly fighting for Jesus, proclaiming the Gospel truly and clearly, and doing good and fighting against evil.

The question is concerning what is working for Christ, and what is being against Christ. In Galatia there were people who sincerely believed they were Christian and doing the work of Jesus, but because they taught doctrine that overthrew and contradicted the pure Gospel of Salvation Paul had been taught from God, Paul opposed them and sought to overthrow their teaching and stop them from teaching it. When doctrine is being taught that is plainly contradicting the saving teaching concerning Christ's work for us, then that teaching and those who proclaim it must be opposed because by such action they show themselves to be plainly against Christ, in spite of anything they may say to the contrary.

Care must be taken, however. Just because we have to oppose some teaching which perverts the Gospel, we must be careful we do not put an umbrella of disapproval on everything these people may do. When we see good, it is for Christ, and it must be encouraged and commended.

All this does not mean that a fellowship, a denomination or a person, must not hold and propagate some belief which they believe to be important, as long as they do not unchurch those who disagree with them simply on the grounds they do not share this particular view or belief. There are many aspects of Bible teaching on which there are many differences of opinion, but because they are not soul threatening, they can be disagreed over as long as they do not cause other true believers to be rejected and condemned.

There is no doubt that these words of Jesus here present difficult decisions. The question we need to keep at the forefront of our minds is, 'what is being for Jesus' and 'what is being against Jesus'. This question must be faithfully addressed in all situations, together with facing honestly the fact that we may be mistaken in our judgements.