This Sunday's Lesson - Inclusivity not Exclusivity

Mark 9:38-41

John said to him, 'Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, 'Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. 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.

Being an ELCA Lutheran, lately the messages are in relation to a decision at the most recent churchwide assembly regarding sanctioning same-sex marriages as well as allowing rostered clergy in committed same-sex relationships to remain rostered clergy. As most can imagine, this issue has sparked a deep controversy and some church are threatening to pull their affiliation or have done so already.

That's not what I thought of when I listened to those Bible verses or the sermon, though. As my Pastor talked about clubs and exclusivity, I thought more about hove Christian Fundamentalists often pain Christianity this way. I've heard a number of times (long before this latest bruhaha that they will cite as another reason for my denomination being akin to being a heretic) that I am not a "real" Christian because I haven't been born-again.

But here you have Jesus telling his disciples not to stop those who are healing others who aren't part of their little group. He doesn't tell them they aren't his "real" followers. He doesn't tell the disciples to go get those people and make sure they are baptized as one of them.

And unlike some of our elected officials, he simply sees it as if they aren't against him then they are for him, rather than the other way around.

For some reason, people seem to feel the need that they have it "right" and everyone who doesn't think as they do has it "wrong". It's that way in religion and politics. And it's a shame because that is what is tearing this country apart right now.

I find it ironic that the same people who proclaim themselves righteous Christians tolerate and encourage lying on the part of politicians and pundits as the means to their end.