Do Not Forbid . . .

There seems to be a lot of judgment within the body of Christ between different denominations, churches and even within churches themselves. The kind of judgment I am referring to here is judgment based upon differences of opinion. Where someone states that someone cannot be a Christian or follower of Christ for differences of opinion, differing interpretations of scripture, etc.

However, I am reminded of Jesus words to his disciples:

38 Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is on our side. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. (Mark 9:38-41)

I think so many times we, as believers, are quick to disassociate with each other or label someone as a heretic or apostate based upon our opinion of them when we don’t have all of the facts. I think of folks who say that well-known personalities are not Christian for any number of reasons. But in fact their “opinion” comes without due diligence. It is based upon something they have heard from a third party like the media or a friend, but in reality they’ve probably never even held a conversation with the subject of their criticism.

I can’t judge whether any of you are right or wrong before the Lord, because I am not personally involved in any of your lives. But my hope in being here is that we can deal with issues, and learn from mistakes made. Our own, and each other’s.

I will say that having personally suffered under the heavy hand of someone in leadership, it has made me re-evaluate my own heart. Most times finding that I was just as guilty (on some level) as the one who wronged me toward someone else.

Hopefully, I am a stronger man for my experience. And hopefully I will not make the same mistake when in similar situations, because except for the grace of God there go I.

It saddens me to see the disunity in the body of Christ at large. We all think that we have the correct way of thinking. That we alone possess God's plan for reaching the lost, when in reality we've simply placed God in a box. We've tied His hands by stating what He will and will not use and do.

I wonder how He feels about our haste to forbid those (who call themselves by His name) from accomplishing God's will simply because they don't follow us?