Not one of us?

“Whoever is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:40)

Mark 9:38-48 (Year B: Trinity+17)

Encountering differences among those with whom we interact...

This passage welds together two stories: one about another exorcist whom the disciples thought was competing with Jesus; the other about the need for discipline and sacrifice in following Jesus. In a way both stories form two sides of the one coin.

In our lives we encounter many people who are different by reason of temperament, religion, politics, ethnic background or other characteristics. The world and human life would be boring otherwise. However, when it comes to religion we can be especially fussy about who we associate with and who we admit to the club. Moreover, religion – contrary to its root meaning in Latin – religare – to bind together – can and does become a source of animosity and division. One of the big surprises of the 21st century is that religion is back contrary to the predictions of many thinkers and sages. It is back with a vengeance and not always in ways that many of us would want or ever expected. Witness the rise of particular fundamentalisms across the globe. Witness the rise of a certain type of self-righteous, compassionless and doctrinaire Christianity that imposes its views on others and condemns and excludes those within the Christian family for allegedly unbiblical or non-orthodox (I believe the term is heterodox!).

Confronted with an exorcist who was doing the same works, so it seemed, as Jesus the disciples wondered what to do about the outsider. There are those who ‘do not follow us’ but seem to share many of our values or some of our ideas and goals. What should be our response? Without hesitation or qualification we should work with others for the common good on those issues and concerns that connect to us regardless of their religion or outlook. Clearly, there are some people and causes we should never work with no matter how incidental areas of commonality may arise. This goes without explanation and it does not need to be spelt out further.

The role of witness...

In the course of my work (my day job!) I encounter a wide range of persons who have no time for organised religion or things associated with religion. Yet, I collaborate and associate with many of these on projects of practical application especially in the area of research and knowledge. I sense that the shared values on social progress are sufficient reason to work with others towards shared goals. Christians need to come out of the closet not by preaching God at people on the street corner or at the coffee break but by being active, engaged, concerned and cooperative in efforts to tackle injustice and make for a better world. In this way a spark of the light that is within us will shine out and, perhaps, others might be drawn to ask ‘Why?’.  Every journey in faith starts with a simple question, a conversation and listening ear. What a privilege!

Climate change and environmental concerns are a good example...

Take the area of climate change and environment. The recent encyclical, Laudato Si, of Pope Francis has identified a major moral challenge which should unite movements, governments and peoples at global level. Yet, we find many Christians denying climate change – in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence. For them, the fact that persons or movements they do not like are championing the cause of the environment is enough reason to be sceptical or negative. Moreover, there are powerful commercial and national interests at work to disrupt and oppose international agreement on carbon emissions. Here is an area where those ‘who are not against us are for us’.  Many are very concerned about the precious gift of life from the first stage of human life. If only the same concern were extended as passionately and as systemically to every stage of human life as we continue to thrash the planet and leave a world that will be scarcely habitable for future generations.

(‘Friends of all; enemies of none’ is associated with John Wesley who founded the Methodist movement.  As a current within the Christian family Methodism has discretely and effectively welcomed many and contributed much to social developments especially in the English-speaking world.)

In welcoming others of different persuasions and backgrounds we welcome Christ in our neighbour. Without realising it we can end up ‘entertaining angels’ (Hebrews 13:2). Every act of kindness no matter how small counts especially when the person next to us is passing through trials. The ‘cup of water’ we have to give is a genuine concern and a practical act of help.

But how can we do this if we are imprisoned by our doubts and our attachments to this or that idea, comfort or material possession? This is where radical discipleship comes in.  Someone edited Mark and added in, apparently, verses 44-46 which are thought not to be in the original text:

And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.

Perhaps, someone did actually cut their foot off!  The point is that whatever part of our thinking or behaviour leads us down paths that are destructive and harmful then we should not hesitate to cut these off.  Some of us of a certain vintage will remember the saying ‘occasions of sin’ in the catechism. Or, indeed, we might remember hearing talks at school or church about the perils of ‘keeping company’. Trust some people to bring sex into it!  The irony in much of this is that inappropriate and evil behaviour on the part of a few among those called to priesthood and the religious life went largely under the carpet while a lot of fuss was made about everything else in this domain.

The role of witness...

Returning to the main story, there is much to lead us astray including in appropriate behaviour and thinking that spoils many a committed relationship. However, we need to open our God-given eyes (assuming we can see at all) and use our hands and feet (assuming we have such faculties) to do good; to avoid evil and to live life to the full the way God intended it to be lived. This brings us back to where the story started – there are many in the world that we need to work with and not against.  Losing some of our own preciousness and insecurity is part of the radical call of Jesus found in the gospels and here in Mark.