I'm not renowned for having "deep" thoughts, but sometimes something occurs to me that makes me say, "wait a minute..."
Mark 9:38-50
9:38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us."
9:39 But Jesus said, "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.
9:40 Whoever is not against us is for us.
9:41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.
Did anything about that jump out at you? It did to me when I read it and heard it last week at church. Look at verse 40 again. Whoever is not against us is for us. It seems to me that I usually hear that backwards: "Whoever is not for us is against us." When did that get turned around?
I think this is especially misused in Christian communities - the assumption is that if you don't believe exactly what I believe, you are against me, and even more, against God.
But Jesus himself said, "Whoever is not against us is for us."
So... if one version of Christianity says that another one is wrong and going to hell, are they not against them? How does that work?
I guess it's growing up Episcopalian, or having my personal theology heavily shaped by CS Lewis, but I have always thought that whatever version of Christianity suits you is what's best for you. I do recognize that a lot of bad has been done in the name of Christianity. And some people have been very hurt by some expressions of it. But in general, if it feeds you and draws you closer to God, then more power to you.
The problem comes when people start believing that the way *they* find God is the *only* way to God, and that everyone else is going to hell.
But, "Whoever is not against us is for us." I believe that unless active harm is being done (and it all too frequently is), all expressions of Christian faith are equally valid. To a degree I believe this about all religions, not just Christianity - if it is doing good and meeting spiritual needs and not doing harm, then it is a path to God. Which of course leads back to those who are "not against us".
