“John answered, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your Name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.'” Luke 9:49,50
Devotional Thought For The Day
There are two seemingly contradictory sets of instructions in Holy Scripture as regards our relationships with other Christians who are not exactly “following with us,” those who have chosen to follow a different “way” in regard to faith and teaching, and also in regard to moral behavior. The one set of instructions urges us to admonish and separate from those who refuse to repent and realign themselves with the Word of God, the Bible, the truth from God’s own mouth [see Matt. 18:17; Rom. 16:17; Tit. 3:10,11; 2 Thess. 3:14]. The other set, like the instructions in these verses, admonishes us to not judge people’s hearts, and to not consider those from whom we are instructed to separate as completely evil and enemies [in Matt. 18:17 Jesus does NOT tell us to judge such a brother as a “heathen and a tax-collector,” but rather to treat him as such to bring about his repentance; and in 2 Thess. 3:15 Paul warns us: “Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.”]. That keeping these two emphases in mind and applying them properly and in a balanced, loving, and positive way is quite difficult is a gross understatement, and our many failures to appropriately love and minister to those in such circumstances requires our humble and heartfelt repentance.
Separation is painful and gives the appearance of judgmentalism and even sectarianism. It has also been sorrowfully noted that such divisions within the church give the enemy opportunity to cast aspersion and doubt on all of Christianity. We sometimes take such criticisms to heart, as if they are valid – failing to note that there is not a single monolithic religion in the entire world, and that virtually every religious group has experienced internecine strife and violence, even fratricidal warfare and murder. Sadly, this is true even of Christianity – which should make every Christian all the more eager to grasp, internalize, and conform to what God’s Word actually instructs. The outcome of John’s way of thinking – that we have the authority and right to stop others, may lead to the belief that if they do not obey us we are free to do whatever is necessary to stop them, that this end will justify any means. This is obviously a damnable and demonic playground which has yielded great and abominable horrors even within the church.
Separation, however, is essential – and a great good. Where error, whether doctrinal or moral, is allowed to continue undistinguished and uncondemned, such error takes over and breeds even worse errors and distortions – until there is little or nothing left of Christianity, God’s Word, and an accurate understanding of Who God, the only True and Living God, actually is. Such travesty and disaster has actually fallen upon groups of Christians who have impenitently and insensibly persisted in unscriptural and anti-scriptural paths. It certainly is no act of love not to warn – as sternly and harshly as Scripture instructs, including disfellowshipping and excommunicating those who stubbornly persist in such errors, especially those who are teaching and leading. To not warn appropriately and vigorously is to give tacit approval – which not only emboldens those enmeshed in the danger, but also confuses those on the outside who may be considering Christianity. So the myopic “warm fuzzy fellowship with all” agenda is also a damnable and demonic playground of the devil which has yielded great travesty and tragic consequences for Christians and churches.
Though the instructions in Scripture seem paradoxical, there is no need for us to resolve the big picture issues, or to fully discern and comprehend how things can be worked out optimally. We have the two concerns which must be balanced and carried out faithfully – leaving the outcome in God’s hand. He knows best the dynamics at play, and what best facilitates His plan and agenda for mankind and the church, taking all factors into consideration. We are called to love His Word, to love truth, and to conform to His Way, which includes proper love for all others [including times when harshness and judgment of doctrine and behavior is required to call people to repentance]. All is to be done with utter humility, recognizing that we have the same needs for admonition, correction, and instruction – if we are to remain in the truth of God’s Word, the full joy of God’s gracious love, and a truly good, decent, and God-pleasing way of life. The good news in all of this is that even when things are not optimal, when there isn’t full and complete agreement and harmony, God is still able to be working good in and through others. So Jesus encourages us: “the one who is not against you is for you,” and this should give us great joy and comfort!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, simplicity and single-mindedness often seems the most faithful and good way to be, and when faced with what appears complex and paradoxical we often choose one set of instructions or the other and fail to grasp and exercise the true way of love. Help us to patiently grasp the full set of loving instructions that You have given us, and to simply conform to Your Word – leaving all things in Your hands. In this way we ask that You preserve us from sin and from the angst which the deceiver foments in our hearts and minds. Give us compassionate and loving hearts and strong and clear minds, that we truly fulfill Your loving will. Amen.