Luke 9:37-62
"Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us." "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you." (9:49-50 NIV)
Wow, Christianity isn't even a religion yet, and we already have denominational snobbery!
How many times have you been guilty of this:
"I don't like that preacher on TV. He smiles too much."
"I can't stand that church on the corner. They have a rock band instead of a choir."
"I hate the way they lead their services. All that kneeling drives me crazy!"
We are blessed with a multitude of churches in North America. No matter your age, culture, lifestyle, or musical taste, you can find a home church that fits you to a "t".
But often times, we don't see this for the blessing it is. We see those "other" churches or preachers as doing something wrong. Because they don't preach or sing or pray in a certain way, we feel their message must be wrong too. We refuse to see Jesus in what they are doing.
Jesus is asking His disciples to see beyond their own group. He realizes that the future of the church comes from a variety of people taking up the Gospel message and spreading it to different people in different ways.
Challenge: Visit a church of a different denomination this Sunday. Despite a different worship style, what things do they have in common with your home church?
Tomorrow's reading: Luke 10:1-24
(Today's post written by Allison Lynn.)
posted by Allison Lynn @ 8:35 AM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
HI ALL: I studied these verses.
But, I didn't relate 'them', to myself, that's an small admittance, but an, 'big error'.
Oddly, enough I had quite an guilty conscience about this fact!
I write such long, email's, and here, 'comment's', in reading them later...I have not near the patience required to finish.
I'm now questioning inside, and wondering out loud...is this an form of, 'spiritual snobbery'.
As you alluded to, in citing some other sort instances. It's something, I have quite disdain for.
As an young boy, my mother used to say, You can't sit there, that pew is being saved for another person. How do you know, I asked her?
She, Grace, [mom] an humble lady, responded..."The lady told me I was sitting in her pew!"
Maybe, that was the beginning's of my, 'snobbery'. If, their is an iota of truth in that, then I'd best think about it more, then cut it short, then pray about, an lot.
Otherwise, my difficulty will all come back, [7x's], worse than before. But, the friend's won't return at all.
Earlier, at onset, you talked of giving 'something up', for Lent. Frankly, I thought that was silly, old fashioned.
But, you have given me more, 'food-manna', for thought, and action.
We shall see, but not, 'more'.
Thank You: + k
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