“For whoever is not against us is for us.” Mark 9:40

Even as we give attention to the other words of Jesus, so we should heed these too.

In fact, these few Words may be among the most important Words Jesus spoke.

He was not simply addressing His Disciples then, but I believe, He was addressing every generation of believers who followed them.

He was addressing unity among believers!

I read this morning on Facebook, “Some people miss the Message because they are too busy looking for the mistake.”

What mistake are they seeking?

I think that, like the originals in Mark 40, they are seeking — possibly condemning — any variation from their norm.

I almost had an argument the other day about a very minor point. To me it was almost immaterial. To my challenger, it was a mountain.

However, upon reflection, I can understand his point of view. He is called to a group of people who are, almost by definition, legalistic — and very set in their ways.

His calling from God, is to associate with them, and to be almost like them — but not of them.

If he is to win them, he needs to understand them, and so necessarily, needs to show them respect for their style in his worship of Jesus.

On the other hand, I am called to the lost, the addict, the jobless, the vulnerable.

For me to approach my God-given group in his style would be a disaster, just as much a disaster as if I tried to approach his group with my style and theology.

The two just don’t mix, yet the two groups all need to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the hope He offers their group of people.

The trouble with theology, is that it causes us to over-think nearly every aspect of our Faith.

This is why, I believe, Jesus called us to approach The Father ‘as a child’.

None of us has anything near a claim to the whole Truth, although there is much Truth is what we all believe.

There has to be variety in disciples as much as there is diversity in cultures and races.

Actually, I believe we all just need to preach The Gospel and let The Gospel speak for itself — even though we preach it in the style and manner our different audiences will be able to relate to and understand.

My precious brothers and sisters, we need our differences and each other as we unite to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ‘not-yet-believers’ around us in our particular field.

We are each called to a different group — but none of us has the sole arbiter of Truth.

So it behoves us to accept, love, and receive those “who are not against us but are for us.” — even if we don’t agree on every point of their theology.

Isn’t this what Jesus also told us to do?

This Word is from years ago — but valid in the ‘witch-hunt’ of today…..

 

~ Chris G. Bennett

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Chris Bennett came to salvation in 1962 but didn’t begin ministry until 2007 — a late-comer! Now mandated by The LORD to prophesy and open old wells of revival in the U.K., but especially in Wales. He has also operated Healing Rooms, and worked with deliverance teams, all with his wife, Linda. Happily now doing whatever The LORD asks of them! Founder, with wife Linda, of their ministry The Upper Room Encounter.

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