Who Decides Who Is Not One Of Us?

Mark 9:38-39 (NIV) – 38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,

There is a strong urge we all have to control valuable resources. We feel like we should even determine who is eventually saved by God. The urge to be the privileged few who others look up-to with admiration.

That urge turns into aggressive jealousy when others get what we have or seem to do better. We get angry because we think all good things should be ours and no one else. We get offended because privilege now belongs to us and others. That urge is a problem we should address.

The disciples of Jesus knew each other. They felt lucky and privileged to belong to Jesus as His disciples. They felt uniquely great. They felt they had the monopoly to use the authority given by Jesus. They felt like privileged insiders and everyone else an outsider.

The Bible records that one day, John and other disciples came across a man casting out demons in the name of Jesus. The was succeeding in casting out demons. This success disturbed John and other disciples. If the man had failed, they would be comfortably glad. After all they felt like they were the only ones who should successfully cast out demons.  

John and other disciples were also concerned that they didn’t know the man. They wondered, how anyone outside their circle, without their permission could succeed in what they thought only belonged to them. They felt like they needed to vet the man and anyone else who wishes to use the name of Jesus.

Without consulting Jesus, they told the man to stop. They took it upon themselves to stop the ministry of that man, because they didn’t know him and he hadn’t sought their permission. They told the man to immediately stop his evangelism, then they abandoned him without directions on what next, and they gladly went to inform Jesus.

John and other disciples probably expected applause from Jesus. They thought they were jealously guarding the ministry and the faith. They thought they were keeping the faith safe from external infiltration. They were proud of themselves. They gladly informed Jesus, hoping for affirmation and approval of their actions against the man casting out demons in the name of Jesus.

Mark 9:38-41 (NIV) – 38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.

Do not stop him! Jesus responded immediately. You don’t know him, but do not stop him. He didn’t seek your permission, but do not stop him. It is not within your power to stop such a person. Do not stop him!

Jesus politely informed the disciples that they cannot know everyone who is on their side. If the man supports us and you don’t know him, don’t worry about not knowing him, just accept him. No one preaching in the name of Jesus needs your permission. Accept him!

It is not in our power to decide who is for us and who is against us. If the person does everything consistent with scripture, we accept the person. If the person contradicts scripture, then obviously he isn’t ours. We do not determine who belongs to us, we welcome everyone even those we do not know, who agree with scriptures without contradiction.

1 Kings 19:14 (NIV) – He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I AM THE ONLY ONE LEFT, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

1 Kings 19:18 (NIV) – Yet I RESERVE SEVEN THOUSAND IN ISRAEL—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

Elijah told God he was the only faithful person remaining in Israel. God told him, he wasn’t the only one. There were seven thousand others that Elijah didn’t know. You are not the only vegetarian. You are not the only prayer warrior. You are not the only one keenly studying Bible end time prophecies. You are not the only one focused on the mission of the church. You are not the only one strictly adhering to church recommended lifestyle. It is not just you and a small group of people you have gathered. God has seven thousand others that you don’t know.

We have no ability nor right to know and determine who is on God’s side. God has seven thousand others, so to speak, that we may never know and who are notoriously faithful to Him. Who belongs to us and who doesn’t is none of our business.

John 10:16 (NIV) – I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

Jesus said that He has people who belong to Him but have not yet joined the group of those who acknowledge Him. Jesus said that at the right time, they will hear His voice and they will come. Out there among the wicked, Jesus says He has people. Among those we condemn as hopelessly lost, there are people who belong to Jesus and are just waiting to hear His voice and they will come. 

They will hear His voice. For now they haven’t heard it. Once they hear the voice of Jesus, they will come. Eventually, the group of believers will be one. It will be one Remnant Church waiting to receive Jesus.

Matthew 13:28-30 (NIV) – 28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 LET BOTH GROW TOGETHER UNTIL THE HARVEST. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

The servants wanted to separate wheat and weeds as soon as possible. The Master told them NOT TO DO IT. First is because they may not be able to tell the wheat from the weeds. Secondly, they may uproot the wheat instead of weeds. Third, the separation will be done during harvest and not now. In short, it is not in your capacity or business to vet who belongs to us. Bear with them until the Master orders the separation.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 (NIV) – 9 I wrote to you in my letter NOT TO ASSOCIATE with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that YOU MUST NOT ASSOCIATE with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. DO NOT EVEN EAT WITH SUCH PEOPLE. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? ARE YOU NOT TO JUDGE THOSE INSIDE? 13 God will judge those outside. “EXPEL THE WICKED PERSON from among you.”

When one of us is outrightly defiant to scriptural standards, we can use those obvious scriptural standards to expel such a person from within our circle. Within our circle where standards from scripture are set and agreed upon, we have authority to use those standards for vetting. 

We have no authority to vet where matters are grey and unclear. That is God’s business. We have no authority to vet those who are not within our circle and seem to support us. That is God’s business.

What we need is the spirit of tolerance and the spirit of wisdom. We should slow down our desire to quickly judge and act. We must interrogate ourselves if the matters is within our jurisdiction. We should acknowledge that God has other people who we do not know. May God grant us patience and wisdom, in Jesus name, Amen!

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