9-29-24 “In the Name of Love”

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“In the Name of Love”

I want to start with something funny that I found on an internet site:  A very poor and elderly man applied for membership at a wealthy church. The pastor tried to dissuade him with various evasive remarks. The old man soon realized he wasn’t welcome and finally told the pastor that he would pray about it. After several days, he returned.

“Well,” asked the pastor, “Did the Lord give you a message?”

“Yes, sir, He did,” the old man replied. “He told me it wasn’t any use. ‘I’ve been trying to get into that same church myself for ten years, and they won’t let me in either.’”

A few months ago, a youth came to my office and asked, “Do you think I can come to your church?” I replied, “Of course-Why not?” He said, “Well, I think people may not welcome me.” So, I told him, “God loves everyone, including you. The church is the house of God, and therefore, it’s for everyone. We welcome you!” He said, “Thank you for saying that.”

After that encounter, I prayed deeply for our church, that it would be a safe, comfortable, peaceful, hopeful, and joyous house of God, filled with love. Let’s reflect on our church. How do you feel about it? Do you believe God is here with us?

Let’s reflect: Are we truly opening our minds, hearts, and doors to everyone, as our mission statement declares: “Let’s make disciples for Jesus Christ in all generations with open minds, open hearts, and open doors for the transformation of the world”?  What if Jesus is standing outside our church because we have rejected Him? What if we feel ashamed to welcome the poor, the alcoholic, the drug addict, or those who are emotionally or spiritually sick into our church family? What if our actions are hypocrisy in the sight of God? What if we have done wrong in the name of love?

Today’s scripture begins with the disciple John’s report. He said, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us” (Mark 9:38). The disciples didn’t like others doing good in the name of Jesus because they did not belong to their group. What is their group? It’s Jesus’ followers. In other words, their group is a Christian community, which was a new movement emerging because of Jesus.

The disciples perhaps didn’t hate the good deeds being done; rather, it seems they resented that others were gaining more recognition than they were. Or perhaps the disciples were jealous that others could cast out demons while they had failed to do so. Do you remember that one day when the disciples were unable to cast out a demon from a boy with an evil spirit? Jesus told them, “This kind can come out only by prayer” (Mark 9:29). This happened just before the other person successfully cast out the demons. It might have been jealousy over others accomplishing what they could not.

For whatever reason, they rejected that person and considered it natural, reporting it to Jesus just as they had done. The issue is that they didn’t recognize what they had done wrong. The people were casting out demons in the name of Jesus while the disciples rejected them in His name. They both acted in the name of Jesus. So, who truly did good?

Here is a question: If someone speeds on the highway because they couldn’t see the speed limit sign, does the policeman forgive them without issuing a ticket? I don’t think so. When I visited my friend’s house in Iowa, I had a great time with her. A few weeks later, I received a ticket for a $200 fine for speeding. I was actually driving 40 miles per hour, which felt slow because it was in town. However, according to the fine letter, the speed limit in that area was 25 miles per hour. I truly didn’t know about the speed limit, even though I tried to drive carefully. However, that didn’t waive the fine.

It is the same with sin. Even if we sin unknowingly, we cannot be forgiven without recognition and repentance. Listen carefully! The Pharisees and scribes (teachers of the law) in the early church considered themselves righteous leaders. However, Jesus scolded them strongly, saying, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean” (Matthew 23:27). Forgiveness comes after recognizing our sins and repenting. In the Old Testament, there is a clear passage: “If a member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, he is guilty” (Leviticus 4:27).

However, our God, who is full of love and mercy and who desires to forgive us, always gives us opportunities to repent of our sins. The passage continues, “When he is made aware of the sin he committed, he must bring as his offering for the sin he committed a female goat without blemish. He shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and the sin offering shall be slaughtered at the place of the burnt offering” (Leviticus 4:28-29). In other words, even though you sinned unknowingly, you must pay for your sin. However, as soon as you realize you have sinned, if you come to God and pray for forgiveness, He may forgive you.

It’s acceptable even if you are an addict or have sinned, as long as you repent before God. The word “repentance” means turning away from the sin you committed. “Repentance” implies that you will not repeat the sin again. However, we are all weak, and sometimes our decisions may fail. That’s why we need God’s help. That’s why we need to pray. That’s why we need to belong to a faithful Christian community. Are you a Christian who can hold those in need in your prayers? Is our church one that can embrace and care for those in need without bias?

Today, Jesus says, “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” (Mark 9:41).

The disciples had become outsiders to the Jewish community. They forgot that they had been outsiders until Jesus called them. Jesus accepted them as disciples, friends, and members of a community. As soon as Jesus called them, they came out of their darkness and were able to stand in the light of Jesus Christ. We all might find ourselves feeling weak, last, or powerless at any point in our life journey. This is why we should love and embrace everyone with open minds, just as Jesus did.

Jesus came not to build walls but to break down barriers. He came to establish a kin(g)dom in which every member would be affirmed and cared for. Whatever we do in the name of love means that we are embodying the love of Jesus. As Christians, we are called to be open and receptive to good news wherever we find it.

The Apostle Paul serves as an exemplar for us. When he was imprisoned, others preached Christ out of selfish ambition, supposing they could stir up trouble for Paul. However, Paul said, “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice” (Philippians 1:18-19). We who gather and act in the name of love are a family in Christ, regardless of ethnicity, gender, race, age, political stance, or any other background. The point is that we are Christians, carrying the good news within us to create a better world in the name of love. Thanks be to God. Amen!