Mark 9: “Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man 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. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, Mark 9:38-41

40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.” Mark 9:38-41

Christians Only but Not the Only Christians Mark 9:38-41

How do you perceive the church? How do you want the people of Hardin Valley to perceive us? Have you always been happy with the feedback you have received from outsiders about the church?

Passage in Mark 9 Transfiguration – Mark 9:1-13 Nine of the apostles failed to cast a demon out of a young boy – Mark 9:14-32 The apostles argue over who is greatest – Mark 9:33-37 Harmony of disciples desired by Jesus – Mark 9:38-41 Anyone who honors a disciple with even a cup of water will receive his reward – Mark 9:42-50

Mark 9:38-41

What is the problem here? John was being arrogant. He was being exclusive. His attitude was sectarian. This is the same attitude which gave rise to division and denominationalism.

Sectarianism …an attitude which holds that only I – or my friends and the people close to me – can know or learn or teach the truth; it is a position of exclusivism which holds that we are the only ones who could possibly interpret the truth of God correctly and realize its significance for salvation. Rubel Shelley

Destruction of Myths A commonly held myth among Christians is the concept that there was basic uniformity among Christians in the early church. A twin to this myth is the idea that we have restored the church of the New Testament in every detail.

Commonly held myths God’s concept of the church was perfect. The objective of the apostles was to convey God’s concept of the church to believers. The apostles were successful in this objective. While there were congregations of Christians existing in ignorance or defiance [ like those in the congregation at Corinth ], such congregations were the exception rather than the rule.

Overall, the apostles were successful in producing unity in the worldwide Christian community. The end result was a uniformity which made all knowledgeable Christians alike in all religious things. One of the major objectives of the church today is to reproduce the uniformity of the first century church.

The church of the first century was not ideal. No congregation in the New Testament “measured up” to God’s ideals. That is why relationship with God through Jesus Christ is based on the biblical concept of faith in what Jesus does for us and God’s grace. The fact the first century church was not ideal should be evident from the content of the New Testament epistles. Those letters challenged their recipients to understand the focus and conduct in Jesus Christ.

He that is not against us is with us In 1415, John Huss, in Prague, Czechoslovakia, was burned at the stake. John Wickliffe challenged the authority of the Pope Martin Luther, a Catholic Monk, rebelled against papal authority. William Tyndale desired “to see the Bible in the hands of every plowman.”

An effort toward a Restoration of Christ's Church began in 1794 under the leadership of James O'Kelly. In 1801, Abner Jones, a Baptist from Vermont and New Hampshire, broke with the Baptist church and began an independent movement for the purpose of returning to the "old paths."

Today the beat goes on Campbell-Stone Movement? Stone-Campbell Movement?

What is the purpose of all this? An appeal for a humble, grateful heart as opposed to a haughty “I’m right and you are wrong” attitude The attitude of Jesus: “He that is not against us is with us” For us to see ourselves as “Christians only, but not as the only Christians” For everyone to realize there is no neutrality with Jesus.