John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone throwing demons out in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.” Jesus replied, “Don’t stop him. No one who does powerful acts in my name can quickly turn around and curse me. Whoever isn’t against us is for us. I assure you that whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will certainly be rewarded. “As for whoever causes these little ones who believe in me to trip and fall into sin, it would be better for them to have a huge stone hung around their necks and to be thrown into the lake. If your hand causes you to fall into sin, chop it off. It’s better for you to enter into life crippled than to go away with two hands into the fire of hell, which can’t be put out. If your foot causes you to fall into sin, chop it off. It’s better for you to enter life lame than to be thrown into hell with two feet. If your eye causes you to fall into sin, tear it out. It’s better for you to enter God’s kingdom with one eye than to be thrown into hell with two. That’s a place where worms don’t die and the fire never goes out. Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? Maintain salt among yourselves and keep peace with each other.” (Mark 9:38-50, CEB)
I always have issues with this verse and it’s parallels, “As for whoever causes these little ones who believe in me to trip and fall into sin, it would be better for them to have a huge stone hung around their necks and to be thrown into the lake.”
In all of my preaching and teaching, if I lead one astray it would be better to have a huge stone tied around my neck and thrown into a lake. I would be better dead than to lead someone astray.
I wonder about this as I engage with people who say that my LGBTQIA2S+ siblings are sinful and not a part of the kingdom because that is how some committee translated words that don’t mean that. I wonder about this as I profess love love all and the rest of this verse talks about cutting off hands, and plucking out eyes. But notice that the hands, feet, and eyes part is about you. Now these yous are all plural, 2nd person plural, but being from Texas that’s All Y’all. But is that about me telling someone else to cut off a hand, foot, or pluck an eye or is it for me to do to myself? And if this is happening why do I not see one-handed people and no-eyed people? We don’t police ourselves and look to do it for others.
And in all honesty, I do not believe I have ever led someone astray by telling people to love like Jesus. Telling people how they are living wrong and not right with God when I am unwilling to police my own life would be leading people astray.
Get your life right with God and let that be your concern.
Love like Jesus.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 