Mark 9:38-50
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.If you think about it the biggest contributors to strife are the differences between people. In many ways this time and place has the same focal points on differences as every time and place. Despite this our nation is struggling perhaps in ways it has never struggled before.
There are new battles in the United States perhaps more contentious than at anytime in the past.
The philosophical battle of people's rights verses the wisdom of moral restraint. Are all things acceptable, is it wise to open the flood gates to obscenity at all levels. In Britain these changes have escalated the decline of the family. Add to that a social government that makes it easy to have income without the responsibility of holding a job. And then add in the post-Christian era that Europe has entered. The unintended results are significant increases in illegitimacy and domestic violence. Pandora's Box is wide open and no one seems to have the will to try to reverse it.
Strife between religious beliefs has always been a major contributor to wars. The battles not just between religions but even denominations or sects within a religion have lead to wars. In the United States we have been fortunate that our freedom of religion has protection. We haven't had wars over religion or physical persecution because of religion. The thought such things are possible are so remote to us yet there are martyrs in other parts of the world that are imprisoned, tortured and killed because of their beliefs.
As we look at the reading from Mark today we really see three separate ideas that all tie into the thoughts just mentioned; unity, stumbling blocks, and purpose.
In the opening verses the disciples encounter a man that is driving out demons in the name of Jesus. They try to stop him because he is not one of them. We don't really have a good indication what the disciples are thinking when they say the man is not one of them. Is it only that he is not in their group? Is it that the disciples perceive that only they have some special status? Is it that they don't like the way in which he speaks or looks or acts? We don't really know, and perhaps with twelve of them it may be all of those reasons and more.
What we do know is that Jesus has an entirely different view of the situation. Jesus tells them not to stop the man actually implying more than just this one man. If the man does miracles in the name of Jesus is he going to be able immediately speak against Jesus? That man or any other would not be able speak against Jesus after healing in His name. Not only is this true but in turn because of his actions on behalf of Jesus he will not lose his reward.
As we get wrapped up in the status of religion and denominations we have to keep in mind that Jesus is teaching unity. If the local Baptists or Methodists do good works should we derail their efforts because they are not Lutheran? Of course not, Lutheran doctrine is clear. All who trust in Jesus in as Savoir and believe in the Trinity are Christian brothers and sisters regardless of denominational differences. We are in unity in doing the work our Lord has set before us.
Jesus then speaks about punishment for causing a child to sin and that we should maim ourselves if a part of our body causes us to sin. Is that really what He means?
We are in the middle of several readings where Jesus talks about children as precious to Him, a contrast to the view of children in the first century. Although Jesus is using children as His object lessons we can see that He is also talking about the childlike faith of people of all ages. The meekness of childlike faith in essence is the understanding that there is one with ultimate power over you. We should never do anything that would dissuade the faith anyone has in Jesus as Savior to all.
Does Jesus really want us to maim ourselves? In reality if we were to remove the body parts that cause us to sin we would need to cut out our hearts. Since we wouldn't get far without a heart maybe the true meaning here is that we need to be aware of what makes us stumble and we need to be aware of our actions that make others stumble. Jesus is saying that it is a terrible thing to make others stumble and fall away from the childlike faith in Him.
In unity with others we need to be careful that our differences do not cause us and others to fall away. We need to avoid stumbling blocks that impede the sharing of the Gospel.
That leads us to the closing verses about salt. Salt is something we all need for our bodies. It seasons our foods. Salt has a purpose.
Think about people that you know that are unhappy, or self-destructive, or even disruptive in the lives of others. If you peal back all the layers do you find a purpose at their core? I am pretty certain the answer is no, unless the person is truly evil.
Jesus is urging us to be salty, to have purpose. If we just meander aimlessly what good is that to anyone? If we hide behind walls for an hour or two a week then never act on the lessons gleaned from scripture what good is that to us or the world around us. We all have something to contribute but we need a purpose to guide us in making the contributions.
What do we see in the community around us? We see poverty, we see self-destructive behaviors, we see elderly in assisted living some totally abandoned by their families, and we see affluence some that has no other purpose than their own personal comfort. What we see are opportunities to share the Gospel with hurting and confused people.
We have some much focused churches and community organizations trying to make a difference among the needy in our community. Jesus is telling us to ask the tough questions of ourselves and our congregation. What is my purpose? Is it the message of the cross? What do I have to contribute; time, talents, dollars? What am I willing to contribute?
Jesus knows our hearts and our abilities. We only fail when we think our contribution is too little to make a difference and thus don't act at all.
Jesus has given us a purpose to act in unity with others and not let our differences throw stumbling blocks in the way of others.
Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.
In the name of our risen Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
