Luke #83

Luke 9:49-56

"A Word About Tolerance"

(Luke 9:46-56 NASB) And an argument arose among them as to which of them might be the greatest. {47} But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, {48} and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for he who is least among you, this is the one who is great." John's response to Christ's words is found in Luke 9:49 which is our text for this lesson.

"And John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons IN YOUR NAME; and we tried to hinder him BECAUSE HE DOES NOT FOLLOW ALONG WITH US." {50} But Jesus said to him, "DO NOT HINDER HIM; FOR HE WHO IS NOT AGAINST YOU IS FOR YOU."

John and the others had encountered an Exorcist, a man who was actually casting out demons in Jesus name. This reminds me of the Seven Sons of Sceva who tried to cast out Demons in Jesus name but got the surprise of their lives. Look with me to Acts 19:13-16.

"But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, ATTEMPTED to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches." {14} And seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. {15} And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I RECOGNIZE JESUS, AND I KNOW ABOUT PAUL, BUT WHO ARE YOU?" {16} And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Now what was the difference between these seven men and the one in our text for today. The difference was conversion. The man John encountered was saved by faith in Jesus while the seven in this passage were not. The seven were USING JESUS&rsquo NAME as a tool or a magic incantation. The man in our text was actually ACCOMPLISHING EXORCISMS IN THE NAME OF JESUS. Let me try to explain the difference.

One can take Jesus&rsquo name to his lips physically and speak it, for instance, at the close of a prayer and yet not pray in Jesus name. One can come into the church and use Jesus&rsquo name in hymns, conversations, recitations and prayers and still go away having done nothing in Jesus name. Much of what we see on Christian television is done "In Jesus Name", so they say but In reality it is not true. For what they do and say is not true to the Scriptures and, therefore, does not honor God or His Christ.

To do something in Jesus&rsquo name one must first be saved. In addition one must have the Honor, Glory and praise of God the Father, Son and God the Holy Spirit as his goal or he has done nothing in Jesus&rsquo name. To do something in Jesus&rsquo name is to do it for the same reasons and to the same end that Jesus would do it. He did all things to the glory of God the Father. His meat and drink was to do the will of God. This is what He lived and died for. To say you are doing, praying, speaking in Jesus name is to declare that you are doing what He would do, saying what He would say, praying what He would pray all with the same motivation, the glory of God.

The seven sons of Sceva, thought, as many do today, that Christianity was a formula of some kind, something external that could be adopted and practiced by anyone who would use the right words and do the right things. They discovered differently. They had no power over or protection from the forces of evil, because they were not the children of God by faith in Jesus. True religion and the power that accompanies it begins on the inside and works its way outward.

The man encountered by John and the rest of the Apostles was the real thing. He was a true believer. He had faith in Jesus as the promised Messiah. Based upon his faith in Jesus and with God's glory in mind he was actively seeking the destruction of Satan's kingdom and the establishment of God's. However, it seems he had no knowledge of the Apostles and did not follow them or practice his faith exactly like they did. Or, maybe, he did know about them and simply chose to go his own way, a different, but acceptable way as he followed, served Jesus, and worked in His Name.

Note the reason John gives for trying to stop this man from casting out demons. "We tried to hinder, (stop), him BECAUSE HE DOES NOT FOLLOW ALONG WITH US." Apparently the attempt did not work, the man kept right on working for Jesus as he saw fit. He obviously believed that WHAT he was doing and the WAY he was doing it was right, good and pleasing to God. Jesus declared, indeed commanded, "DO NOT HINDER HIM FOR HE WHO IS NOT AGAINST YOU IS FOR YOU."

There is a similar incident recorded in the Old Testament. I do not have time to fill you in on the context. You can read that on your own. What I want you to notice is Moses' reaction to those who asked him to stop two men who were not doing things like they were usually done.

(Numbers 11:23-29 NASB) And the LORD said to Moses, "Is the LORD'S power limited? Now you shall see whether My word will come true for you or not." {24} So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD. Also, he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and stationed them around the tent. {25} Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him; and He took of the Spirit who was upon him and placed Him upon the seventy elders. And it came about that when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do it again. {26} But TWO MEN had remained in the camp; the name of one was ELDAD and the name of the other MEDAD. And the Spirit (who goes where it wants to and none can predict or restrain it) rested upon them (now they were among those who had been registered, but had not gone out to the tent), and they prophesied IN THE CAMP. (Instead of at the tent like the rest.) {27} So a young man ran and told Moses and said, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying IN THE CAMP. (That is, they are not here like the rest but over there. They should be here with the rest of us if they are going to prophesy.) " {28} Then Joshua the son of Nun, the attendant of Moses from his youth, answered and said, "Moses, my lord, RESTRAIN them."(Make them stop!) {29} But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD'S people were prophets, that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!" Moses said, in essence, the same thing Jesus said, "Do not hinder them for he who is not against you is for you."

Jesus did not counsel the Apostles to go and do what this man was doing in the same way he was doing it. Nor did He instruct them to insist that this man conform to the ways and practices of the Apostles. Rather, He said, leave him alone, he is working for Me. He is not My enemy, therefore, he is not your enemy just because he marches to the beat of a different drummer IN THINGS NOT ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION. Things not clearly revealed. Things there might be a legitimate difference of opinion on.

So, what's the point? What does any of this have to do with us?

The lesson Jesus teaches here has to do with receiving all of God's saved children as Brothers and Sisters in Christ. It is a warning against believing that we are exclusively correct in all things. It is a lesson that calls upon us to be tolerant of other CHRISTIAN people, and Denominations that are TRULY CHRISTIAN but do not follow along with us in everything. Here Christ calls us away from the critical judgement of our fellow Christian in things not essential to Salvation. Christ does not demand we conform to another's questionable beliefs or practices neither does He demand we embrace him. What He does say is that we are not to despise each other or hinder the work of TRUE CHRISTIANS.

We've already established that this man was a Christian. What does that mean? It means that he was born again by the grace and mercy of God through faith alone in Jesus Christ. It means he had been convicted of his sins against God and had cried out for forgiveness and salvation through Christ. That makes him my Brother no matter what Denomination he is involved with. Now the text takes us to a consideration of his work for the Kingdom of God. We are told that he cast out demons in Jesus Name. I won't go into a new explanation of what that means. Suffice it to say he lived out and practiced his faith with God's glory as his goal. But he did not live out and practice his faith exactly like the Apostles did. Initially they didn't know what to think about this and tried to shut him down.

Did he worship? I have no doubt that he did but it appears that he did not worship in the same place the Apostles worshiped or in the same way. Yet, Christ says don't get in his way, he is your ally simply because he is not your enemy. He is working for Me in his own way, therefore, he is your helper and friend. Maybe the Apostles were Baptists and this man was a Presbyterian. Maybe he still held to Old Testament ideas concerning the Sabbath while the Apostles were free in their hearts to play softball on Sunday afternoon.

If you were to go to each ones respective worship services you would likely find major differences in the way the service is conducted. In one place you might find a very lighthearted casual atmosphere while in the other a very formal, reverent and quite one. Our Brother Nobel Vater, from Puerto Rico, was offended during his visit here by the casual atmosphere in our church. He commented on our eating and drinking during the services and on women wearing shorts in the Sanctuary. Yet, he looks upon us as Brothers and Sisters engaged in the same work. He would not be comfortable worshiping here.

There are so many differences between churches they cannot be counted. In one church the songs they sing are from the Psalter exclusively while in another they use an overhead projector and just sing choruses, theologically correct perhaps, but just choruses.

One illustration that brings the application of today's lesson home to the people of this church has to do with alter calls. In most Baptist Churches you will find an extended alter call at the end of each service. It consists of an appeal for men, women, boys and girls to come to the front of the building to receive Christ as Savior, rededicate ones life to Christ, or present ones self for Baptism. In our church you will find no alter call. Why?

We do not do alter calls because there is no example of an alter call in the Bible or instruction to practice anything even similar to it. Search for a lifetime if your wish, you will never find the requirement that a person move from the back of an auditorium to the front in order to be saved. Rather, convicted, miserable sinners are called upon to go to Christ, look to Christ, run to Christ, come to Christ, believe in Christ. Likewise Christian people who need to rededicate their lives to God meaning, get things right with the Father, are to go to God through Christ. But where in the building is Christ located? Everywhere, of course. Where in the world is Christ located? He is Everywhere. The Biblical command to sinners is to believe in Him now, right where you are, whether in a Church building or in the park. Today is the day of Salvation and of rededication. The place is wherever you happen to be when God calls you to faith or convicts you as a Christian.

If this is true then where in the world did the practice of giving alter calls come from? First, it came from not understanding what the Bible teaches about the condition of fallen men and women. The Bible teaches that they are dead in sin and cannot go to God. Then again the alter call came from not understanding that salvation is accomplished in sinners by God without their help or cooperation. Salvation is by faith through grace and THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES lest any man should boast, (Eph. 2:1-10). In short, alter calls sprang from bad theology. They were invented by an evangelist named Charles Finney about one hundred years ago. They have no Biblical or Apostolic origin. Therefore, I cannot with good conscience practice alter calls. I did many years ago before I had much knowledge of the Bible, but I cannot do so any longer. However, I delight in preaching the good news that God saves hell deserving sinners by faith in Jesus Christ. I delight in giving Biblical invitations. I delight in calling men, women, boys and girls to faith in Jesus for salvation. I delight in sending all who hear my voice to Christ and to Him alone for all they could possibly need. I delight in telling all who will listen to run in faith to Him right now, right where you are.

So, what does this say about churches that use alter calls? Well it says they need to be more careful with the scriptures. It says they need to put aside the traditions of men and give the proper place to the Scriptures. It says they need to make the word of God their only rule of faith and practice. It says they need some time to mature. It does not say that people and churches that use the alter call are not Christian. It is likely that most Baptist Churches that use the alter call have the foundational truths of the Gospel in place. SO FAR AS THAT IS TRUE, THEY ARE TRULY CHRISTIAN and serve to further the kingdom of God and, at least in preaching the Gospel, they bring glory to Him. Jesus says to us "Do not hinder them for if they are not against you they are for you." He doesn't require us to establish fellowship with them or to adopt their practices. Rather, we are to leave each other to God. He will sort it all out.

I believe our text says something about the value of Denominations and how they came to be. All TRUE CHRISTIANS serve the same Christ, the same God and read the same Bible. However, in things not essential to salvation but which are essential to peace in our respective consciences, we differ. I cannot worship in good conscience as they do and they cannot worship in good conscience as I do, so, we gravitate away from them and they from us to those of like mind and practice. Thus a Denomination is born. Looked at in this way, Denominations are very good things for they allow people of differing opinions and at various stages of maturity a place to worship and grow in peace. Further, so far as TRULY CHRISTIAN Denominations seek God's glory they serve each other and Christ at the same time. This is true even if we have no physical fellowship with one another because of our differences.

What conclusions must we draw from this discussion? Am I counseling that we embrace every one who calls themselves Christian? I answer no to that. The Later Day Saints call themselves Christian but it is not true, for they believe they are saved by what they do or do not do. That is a religion of works and no where near Christianity. Roman Catholicism claims it is Christian however, it is not. They do not believe that SALVATION COMES BY THE EXERCISE OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE PLUS NOTHING. They believe salvation comes by Baptism and other so called sacraments which belief removes them from the Christian realm. So, no, I am not advocating the embracing of everything that calls itself Christian.

What I am saying is that we must guard against developing a party spirit. We must never think ourselves exclusive, alone or above TRUE CHRISTIANS who disagree with us on nonessential religious issues. We must tolerate, leave alone and refuse to speak ill of churches and people who are, at the core of their beliefs and practices, TRULY CHRISTIAN BY THE BIBLE's DEFINITION.

Whether it be an individual or a church, if they are seeking to destroy the kingdom of the devil by the promotion of the kingdom of God and that for the Glory of God, they are our friends. Do they rush forward in ignorance? Perhaps they do but that does not make them, our enemy. We don't have to agree with their methods or use them ourselves. We don't have to have fellowship with them if it pricks our conscience to do so. But we must not hinder them. Let us refuse to be dogmatic about things the Bible is either unclear on or does not address at all.

Beloved, we must be willing to die for things essential to the Christian faith. We must draw a line in the sand and say to our closest loved ones, "I cannot and will not proceed one step further than this". But, we must never be guilty of hindering or criticizing TRUE CHRISTIANS whose practice is different than ours.

(LUKE 9:50 NASB) BUT JESUS SAID TO HIM, "DO NOT HINDER HIM; FOR HE WHO IS NOT AGAINST YOU IS FOR YOU."

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