Those Who Are Not Against Us Are On Our Side

-February 11, 2023-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“Now John answered and said, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.’”

(Luke 9:50).

Looking at yesterday’s verse which said in Matthew 12:30, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad,” and today’s verse in Luke 9:50, “…Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side,” there seems to be a contradiction. Upon studying both in context, there is no contradiction at all. In the first passage, Jesus is speaking to and about the Pharisees who were not saved but against Him and the disciples all the way; in today’s portion, Jesus is speaking to the disciples about fellow believers who from other groups.

The annual Army/Navy football game is spirited rivalry that has taken place since 1890. It considered the greatest rivalry in college sports. You are either for Army or Navy. The players, coaches, alumni, and fans are passionate for their school and their branch of the service. But once the cadets graduate and serve our county, they are on the same team, defending our freedom and protecting our nation. They must work together for the betterment of America. They must fight side by side. This same is true of our politicians and leaders. We are either Republicans, Democrats, or Independents, but we are all Americans.

Jesus warns us against sectarianism, which is defined as, “excessive attachment to a particular sect or party, especially in religion.” There are so many denominations, with so many variations, that divide more than unify the church as a whole. St. Augustine of Hippo is attributed to having said, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” We don’t and can’t compromise on the essentials of the Christian faith: the virgin birth of Christ, His death and bodily resurrection, the Bible as the inerrant Word of God, that all are sinners and must be saved through Christ’s blood, that salvation is by grace through faith, the church with Christ as Head and all believers as the members, the second coming of Christ, that heaven awaits those who know Jesus, and there is the divine trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God in three persons.

In all other matters there is liberty. We should remember we are on the same side, preaching the gospel of Christ and serving Him. There is plenty of room for all evangelical churches, pastors, missionaries, various Bible translations, and the like. Those who are saved are our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is always a blessing to meet other Christians who love the Lord. We won’t agree on everything but we are one in Christ and should show love to one another.

Let’s remember, he who is not against us is for us. Paul wrote in Philippians 1:15-18, “Some preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: the former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.”

Have a blessed day in unity, liberty, and love. Stay safe and healthy.

Playing on the same team, fighting for the same cause,

Dean