by Rev Steve Nickodemus

Not one of us?

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

John, one of Jesus’ disciples, indignantly told his Master, “Master, we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”  “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”
Luke 9:49-50 New International Version

This is a picture of my dog, Jenny, warily approaching a statue of Bobbie, the Wonder Dog, in Silverton, Oregon.  Jenny is not quite sure… is this a friend or a foe?  Is this Bobbie a threat or a welcomed neighbor?

Within moments, Jenny had given Bobbie a good “sniff over” and decided he was just fine.

Jenny’s behavior reminds me of John the disciple’s behavior with the “threat” of a man who was casting out demons in the name of Jesus.  “I don’t think this man can be trusted, Jesus,” John seems to say.  “He is not one of us!”

How many times do we view leaders of other churches, other than our own, the same way?  As if we were a wary dog staking out his turf, we circle around this “usurper”.  How dare he come and preach God’s Word to these people?  We are the only ones with the “right stuff”.  We are the only ones with the “pure Gospel”.

But that is not how our Lord Jesus responds to this man casting out demons.  Jesus says, “Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Whoever comes in the name of Jesus, proclaiming Him as Lord and Savior, is a friend.  Though he may speak differently or act differently, if he preaches Jesus Christ as Lord, he is our friend, not our foe.  The church is not a place for us to “stake out our turf” but to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord.

To Him be praise!  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado