For or Against

So there is this person casting out demons in Jesus' name who does not travel in company with the disciples. The disciples are against what he is doing and try to hinder his work. Jesus wants them to leave him alone. Jesus gives four principles or truths that bear on this matter, by which we might learn how we as Christ-followers should view those who are not as tight in the circle as we are. These four principles include: 1) The For or Against Principle; 2) Doing Leads to Confession Principle; 3) The Cup of Cold Water Principle; 4) The Millstone Principle. Let's take up the first principle today.

Jesus has addressed this first principle prior in Matt.12:22ff when He was accused of casting out a demon by the prince of demons, Beelzebub. On this occasion Jesus spoke about a divided kingdom not being able to stand. It did not seem reasonable to Jesus that Satan would be both for and against demons at the same time. If Satan is for demon-possession, then why would be supplying Jesus with power to cast them out. The same argument pertains in reverse to this man in the current story. If God is for casting out demons, then why is it not reasonable to believe that this man is casting them out by the power and authority of God? And, if that is the case why would others who cast out demons by this same power and authority not seek partnership in this matter with him? In this story it was Jesus' disciples who positioned themselves against this man. There is no evidence that the man saw himself as against them. The question that often makes the difference in our minds in our positioning is whether the other person is "right with God" as we are? If they are, then we can be for them. If they are not we have to be against them. This is not what Jesus was teaching here. Jesus knew that God can and does work through people to accomplish His will and work who are not at that time For him in all things, i.e. who may not even be saved.

There are a range of things Jesus is For, and by association we too should be For. In the world, there are many who are also For these same things. The list in Matt.25 is a good example. Homelessness, prison reform, hunger, health and the like are causes, often called Common Cause, in which both the righteous and unrighteous can partner. Some of these partners are even tackling these causes in the name of Christ. They may or may not be saved, but they are For what Jesus is For. We have some choices in regard to these folks. 1) We can by policy have nothing to do with them while we ourselves ignore these evils in society and stand on the sideline and do nothing. 2) We can ignore them and run programs apart from them, and often in competition to them, that may or may not be effective. 3) Or we can partner with them in the things we agree on, allowing them to know us, see us and our faith, and to possibly get to know the one we serve better. When we do this we show them that where we agree we will agree, and where we do not, we will seek to know them better so that whatever dialog we might be able to have will be between friends and not enemies.

Yesterday I had a conversation with a Lutheran, one who has some position with their denomination. He was telling me the history of social action. In the 1800's and early 1900's social action in addressing injustices and human needs originated with the churches, and government only encouraged their leadership in these matters. Now it is government who takes the lead in addressing the same ills in society, and it is they who are now inviting people of faith into these causes. It has turned upside down. I don't know about you, but I would much rather Jesus get the credit for inspiring people to do good and solve the problems among us, than Washington get the credit, and us being merely junior partners. If we have to have total agreement on all matters pertaining to faith before we can partner with those who are For some of the same things we are For, then we will never partner with anyone, and we will never accomplish very much in tackling the multitude of problems we face. Consider carefully Jesus' principle of For and Against.