I Worshipped God

“Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

“Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.” Mark 9:38-41

For the last two Sundays, I worshipped God away from my home congregation. At both locations, the people present worshipped the same God that I did. Both services were different than what I am used to. They worshipped in a different style. Both services were uplifting and totally glorifying our God. Both emphasised that baptism into Jesus was essential for one to start their journey with the Christ. One group had a strong missional outreach to their community. Blacks and whites, close and loving each other and praising God. The other group had loaves of bread in the entrance for any who had need to pick up, while the preacher’s message was about being a servant in the name and attitude of Jesus.

However, they were not “one of us”. I am sorry that I have “breathed threats against the brothers”. I have been guilty of throwing  stones, when I was guilty. I have looked for the speck in their eye when I have had the plank in mine. The same Pharisaical attitude that Jesus condemned is one that I have shown. There is no comfort that many have followed the same pattern. On the last day, I will not be judged by what group I was in, but by only if I gave “a cup of water” in the sweet name of Jesus.