us and them

Mark 9:38-50 is the lectionary Gospel text for next Sunday, September 26.

They wanted to create a division - us vs. them.  Someone was doing something good in Jesus' name but was not among THEIR group, not "one of us."  Jesus shut that down.  Here, unlike in another context of those who are assumed to be "of among us," Jesus said, "Whoever is not against is for us." If they are living the Agape Love of the Kingdom, they are with the program.

Then, Jesus talked about not being a stumbling block to the young.  Do not pollute their minds and hearts with your biases and prejudices.  Let them remain innocent of such contrived differences that make you feel superior to or entitled above someone else.  Do not put your hatreds in their hearts and minds and do not give them an example of judging others, with your unfaithful rationalizations and justifications.  Believe in Jesus and Jesus' Way.  The Kingdom is beyond "you and yours."  Jesus' Way includes, lifts up and loves all.  Teach them that.

In fact, whatever it is within you that causes you to think that way, get rid of it.  It is causing you to sin.  Separate yourself from it, even though you may be VERY attached to it, and even if you believe that it is something you need to survive in the world.  It is better to go through life without it, even hindered in the eyes of the world, of empire, than to lose the real life God provides in Jesus - life in the Kingdom.  Get rid of those things that would keep you from the Kingdom of God in Jesus and Jesus' Way.

Because you will be purified - NOT in the way that the world teaches, or the fundamentalists - the purity you will find is one in motive and in Agape Love - the purity of assuming trust and living a guileless existence, even a purposefully healing existence with those in the world around you.  Lifting others up, advocating for them, working on their behalf, being their power and voice, standing with them and transforming the world in which they live to be more just, equitable and loving.  THAT is the purity taught, commanded and modeled by Jesus.  THAT is Jesus' Way.

There is no us vs. them.  WE are children of God, ALL of us.  Are we going to see that and teach our children that and LIVE our responsibility to one another as sisters and brothers, or are we going to continue to live the insidiously evil values of empire that divide, delude and destroy others?  Will we follow Jesus or empire?  What will it be?

Pastor Jamie