From the Book, Rules For Life: According To Jesus

28. Do not Oppose Brethren 

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.”

“Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.  If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.”

Mark 9:38-40

There’s a proverb that skirts this issue as well:

Do not slander a slave to his master, or he will curse you and you will be found guilty.

Proverbs 30:10, NASB

When I read all of this, I am reminded of the skirmishes and wars between different factions of Christianity over the centuries. At times, Christians have behaved as badly as Muslims, who kill each other over a dispute of their views.

Of course, when John (the apostle) made this comment the Faith was in its infancy and all of the various sects had not broken out yet. Maybe Jesus hadn’t yet informed him about discipleship and how believers can jump right in and become active in sharing the faith right away. After all, we don’t need years of training to go out and share with others the Good News. You can start right away.

Today, we still have differences in opinion and doctrine within the faith. Perhaps what we need to realize above all is what the Lord just told John and never get in the way of someone else’s ministry. 

It has become a problem in some circles within the Church that if a group is not doing things exactly the way we think that they should be done that we begin to try to discredit them altogether. This should never be. 

The only time that anyone in the faith should criticize others is for the really egregious sins of false teaching that the apostles dealt with. And it’s always been there.

Before we jump on our high horses and start throwing accusations around, we should use a very simple test to see whether it’s worth the argument (which makes Christ look divided to unbelievers—and unappealing). 

1. Does the teaching violate the basic tenets of the faith? (Salvation, the character of God, the validity of the Word, and other such foundational matters.) (See Gal. 1:6-9)

2. Does it teach a violation of morality? (2 Peter 2:1-3)

3. Is it biblical? Anything that is not biblical must be tossed. 

4. What’s the fruit of the teaching or activity? Any ministry that pulls people away from God or sound biblical teaching is harmful and destructive to people’s faith. 

5. Is it true or false? When a person claims to be a prophet, they are not allowed to make mistakes. One false prediction means that none of their words can be trusted.

I’m not a fan of divisions in the Church. I feel that the Bride has too quickly allowed herself to fall apart over the most trivial things.  I’d like to see us all take this teaching of Jesus to heart and see that “not against us is for us” (Period)

Previous – Settle Disputes Between Believers | Next – Remember Me

Sections in this study:
Introduction
1: Repent
2: Be Born Again
3: Place God First
4: Love and Serve One Another
5: Live By Faith
6: Forgive Others
7: Remain in Jesus
8: Live Righteously Before Men
9: Avoid Bad Influences
10: Stay On The Narrow Path
11: Do Not Return Evil With Evil
12: Give More Than Is Demanded
13: Love Your Enemies
14: Check Your Motives
15: Pray Simply
16: Do Not Worry
17: Store Up Treasures In Heaven
18: Do Not Be Judgmental
19: Guard what is Sacred
20: Care For Those In Distress
21: Do Not Swear Oaths
22: Watch out for false prophets
23: Exercise Spiritual Power
24: Have Childlike Faith
25: Do Not Exalt Yourself
26: Settle Disputes Quickly
27: Settle Disputes Between Believers
28: Do not Oppose Brethren
29: Remember Me
30: Be Merciful
31: Make Disciples
32: Be Ready
33: Obey Jesus’ Commands
Closing Comments