When We Try to be Exclusive

Scripture:

Mark 9:38   John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” ³⁹ But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. ⁴⁰ Whoever is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

Observation:

Until this time the only people who were ministering in Jesus’ name were those whom he had personally called. The disciples were terribly troubled by someone outside of their group who was casting out demons. Notice that John says, “he was not following us.” The problem is that John didn’t understand the source of power. Jesus had been trying to teach the disciples this lesson because  power only came through prayer and connection to the Source. This wasn’t about following the right group, but about being connected to Jesus. 

The man was casting out demons in Jesus’ name. We have to remember that this Gospel was written long after the event, and even after the death of Peter. This is, more than likely, this was Peter’s recollection which he had told so often in the presence of Mark that it became part of the Gospel record. As the church began to grow and develop they fought about being exclusive, and very specifically, Jew vs. Gentile believers. This was a major problem in Rome. Recalling this incident where Jesus reminded the disciples that he could work far beyond the bounds of their little band would be a gentle reminder for the developing church. 

This story is connected to the previous one where Jesus puts the little child in their midst. Giving a cup of water in the name of Jesus becomes immediately inclusive. It’s all about being connected to Christ. 

Application:

While a teenager, I lived in America. I was amazed at the number of churches that I encountered. In my young mind I tried to make sense of the different places of worship and their beliefs. This was during an era where the church often defined herself against the backdrop of other churches. We were right because….we weren’t like those other people! It created a sense of exclusivity that I think was unhealthy. 

In my adult years I had a completely different experience. My husband and I moved to Moscow, Russia just a few months after the fall of the Soviet Union. Our first visas were still Soviet Union visas as the country, and the others surrounding, moved toward independence. There had been no religious freedom for seventy years and those believers who survived the oppression of the Communist regime had come through great persecution. By word of mouth we made connections with the believers in the city. It was a very small group. One day we were to meet together to talk and to pray. There were less than twenty of us present. A believing Orthodox priest was brought to the meeting, shrouded in a cape and with security guards, for he had stood as a voice against the government and for Christ. The older leaders spoke up and said it was important that we all know one another because someday we might all be in prison together, and we had to know who it was that we could trust. 

A sobering moment. 

It didn’t matter if we were Nazarene, or Baptist, or Lutheran, or Pentecostal, or Orthodox — we were the small handful of leaders of believers who followed Jesus. There was no place for competition, but only a need for genuine support and partnership. At that moment we realized that we were all in this together, doing our work and ministry in Jesus’ name. 

If we try to be exclusive, we will break the powerful bonds that are created when all those working in Jesus’ name link arms together in ministry. The enemy is throwing everything possible in the direction of the church and creating division is the greatest tactic. “Whoever is not against us is for us.” Let’s unite together to give a cup of water to drink in Jesus’ name. 

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for sobering moments. Amen.