Maybe we' ve failed an entire generation of tomorrow's great business leaders by not preparing them to for the working world. After all, their generation learned from us. But I still think there's some hope out. According to Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg who recently said in an interview, “raw talent and a positive attitude matter more than credentials.”
I think that’s why Jesus never gave up on or fired his disciples, who let's face it weren’t the brightest students in their class. Despite their inabilities to do anything right, their hearts were in the right place. And they always showed up ready to go – even when they had no idea what they were doing. As we will see in Mark's gospel, such enthusiasm has its strengths. But it also has some pitfalls we need to be aware of. John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name,[a] and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.” 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. Whoever is not against us is for us. 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.
Imagine being part of an exclusive group. You’re the experts, the chosen ones who understand something no one else does. Then, you find out someone else is doing the same thing you're doing.
What would you do if you discovered someone was copying what you were doing without your permission? Send them a cease and desist letter? Or maybe join forces, combing your talent and knowledge to do greater things? This is what the disciples were faced with. They thought they were the only ones authorized to cast out demons in Jesus’s name. They felt special, privileged. But when they discovered others could do the same thing, they got upset. Like Ron Adams wrote, it’s as if they wanted to “copyright their actions on behalf of the gospel. Rather than being glad that there is at least one other person out there fighting the good fight, they get all possessive.” Their upset reminds me of the story of a Congregational minister who finds himself at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter greets him saying, “It’s nice to another faithful soul joining us… we have prepared Room 24 for your eternal stay. But please do me a favor and be very, very quiet when you pass Room 8.” When the minister asks why, St. Peter says, “The Baptists are in Room 8. They think they’re the only ones here.” The disciples thought they had exclusive rights to Jesus and his power. They didn’t seem to realize they belong to God. Not the other way around. Jesus will go on to describe their “us versus them” mentality as stumbling blocks barriers to our faith that need to be removed before they cause eternal damage. Jesus knows that viewing outsiders as threats not only leads to more exclusion and conflict, but it also keeps people from discovering or growing closer to God. And what is more dangerous? Allowing someone to do something good for the good of the world? Or to block someone from finding their faith? Once again, the Twelve completely miss the point of Jesus’ mission - to bring God’s salvation to the world. And they still don’t have a clue what discipleship is all about: to share that good news and God’s redemptive love with everyone. Just as Jesus erased the line between heaven and earth, he calls us to erase the lines between “us” and “them.” This isn’t a zero-sum game. God’s grace is unimaginably vast, available to all who seek it. No church, doctrine, or individual gets to dictate who God loves. And that’s a good thing. A few days ago, a friend shared a post that stated, “Our goal isn’t to bring people to Christianity, the goal is to bring people to love. If that’s through Christianity, fine. If it’s another religion or no religion at all, fine. What the world needs is love, not more people professing right belief.” This got me thinking, when does our faith, our belief, become a stumbling block for others? I think the answer comes to us the moment we stop loving God, loving others, and serving both. Jesus tells us to love and not reject; to welcome the other, not separate ourselves from them. If someone is doing good in his name—even if they’re not part of the group—let them. It’s better to have them doing good than doing harm or speaking negatively about God. Jesus constantly challenges us to look inward, at our own hearts and intentions, instead of judging others. He knows we all have something inside that keeps us from faithfully living out our Christ likeness. Peter had denial. Thomas had doubt. James and John had ego problems. And where do I even begin with Judas? Maybe you’re carrying a childhood trauma, a regret, or fear that is holding you back from embracing your faith and living out God’s will. I know I’ve spent too much of my life comparing myself to others, which has only left me feeling “less than” and full of doubt. The weight of that cross gets harder and harder to bear. I can’t do it alone. No one can. Just as a surgeon can’t operate on themselves, I lean on Jesus for help. Through him, I have discovered and experienced the very heart of God, whose steadfast love and mercy transforms our pain and struggles into everlasting life. Which is precisely why I think God gives it away to everyone who wants it because each and everyone of us needs it. As a follower of Jesus, my only job is to remove the things that cause me, and others, to stray off from being with God. I don’t get to decide who can and cannot do good in Jesus’ name. It's not like he needs bodyguards to protect him. Or bouncers to select from a line of people who can receive his grace and who gets left out in the cold. When we act like gatekeepers, all we’re doing is building walls around God instead of becoming bridges that lead others to him. How quickly the Twelve forgot what Jesus taught them about who belongs to God’s family. He said, “Anyone who does the will of my Father is my brother, sister, and mother.” Anyone and everyone—regardless of background or experience— is invited to the heavenly feast. So why put barriers in someone’s way? Jesus doesn’t need more Christians. He needs more faithful people who will love like he loves, forgives like he does. He invites us to participate in the kingdom of heaven, right now; to bring God’s love and light into every space we enter, starting in that space within ourselves. Raul Sandoval reminds us, “We don’t need to be the most resourced or educated; we just need to have a heart and go for the kingdom stuff… that God uses to transform people and communities.” In other words, Jesus doesn’t need perfect people. He just needs us to show up : to be like him, to follow his ways, and to engage with the world in his name. The Twelve weren’t the most polished or professional, but they had faith, and showed up long after Jesus was gone. They were faithful and committed, and that’s what truly matters. I hope you remember this as you go out into the world, you don’t need to have it all together; you just need a small drop of faith and a big open heart. So, let’s kick open the doors of our hearts, removing any obstacles—including our own biases and judgments—that keep others from experiencing God’s glory. As I have learned over the years, when I get myself out of my own way I begin to see the true power of what God can do through my imperfections; showering the world in love. The way I see it, if God can love you and me, then God can love anyone. And who am I, or who are we as a church, to stand in the way of God? Work Cited: Adapted from Don’t Be Trippin’ Dude, (9-26-2021). Adams, Ron. Lectionary for the Week. The Christian Century, September 23, 2024. (accessed on Sept. 26, 2024). Rosa Royle, Orianna. Bosses are firing Gen Z grads just months after hiring them. Fortune, Sep 26, 2024 (accessed on sept 26, 2024).
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