I literally wrote “LOL” in my Bible. I hesitated for a second, thinking. “Really, Aubrie? You are going to write L.O.L. in the Holy Bible? I mean, is that ok?” I re-read the text, and yep…laughed out loud again. It just seemed like the most appropriate note to make next to this text. Over and over again. Two verses. Laughter.

 

“John said to Jesus, “Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn’t in our group.” L.O.L. right?? “Because he isn’t in our group!”( I have a vivid picture of a teenage girl with an “as if” face.) Please, try to picture this…They are walking a dusty road and John decides to “tattletale” to Jesus, thinking… “Who does that cat think he is? He isn’t with us, he hasn’t been given the authority like we have, He can’t do that, only we can…”

John might have cast a quick knowing glance behind him to the other disciples, like “I got this boys” and “can you believe that? This dude isn’t with us!!” Then Jesus stops. Turns and looks right at John and said, “Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you.” Then keeps walking.

awkward pause. well dang.

In a two shot knockout (two verses) the Holy Spirit so poignantly and specifically pinpoints an issue and deals with it swiftly. so funny. (Not funny in a Ha-Ha sort of way, but funny in a “oh snap” sorta way.)

I don’t laugh because our boy John was corrected. I can imagine that was a bit of a moment for him as the group moves past him. I laugh uncomfortably because I have seen this same sentiment at work in my own life, it’s also in our churches, with our friends, at work and with strangers. This problem of competition and our desire “to be right”, meets its solution in Jesus’ one liner over two thousand years ago, the simple yet direct answer given.

How often do we get caught up in “us vs. them”? We draw lines and set ourselves against our brothers and sisters. We might feel like we have some qualifying characteristic or achievement that someone else doesn’t have? Or maybe we were here first. Or maybe they aren’t doing it our way, so it must be the wrong way. I don’t think I am stretching it when I say the disciples were getting a bit too big for their britches. Three verses earlier we see an equally succinct story about how they were “arguing over which one of them were the greatest” Now, I will give it to them, they had been walking with a miracle-working, awe-inspiring, crowd-drawing, sin-forgiving, Messiah. They had seen things that were overwhelmingly life changing and they were being included and invited into this amazing ministry. It was natural for them to look around and think…”we must be pretty great”

Bless them. Bless us all.

Here’s what this scenario does, it reveals the end goal, (as least it can if we let it.) So, what is the goal? This other man, what was he doing? He was taking back ground, he was using the authority of Jesus, not his own, and he was told to stop, because he wasn’t “in our group.”  Clearly someone was under siege, was being tormented, needed freedom and hope. This person, this soul, was forgotten momentarily because John’s goal in that moment was to contain and protect.

Contain and protect what? I can’t say for John. This question is best answered personally. Are we protecting a position? Some perceived authority? Are we containing what we think is owed to us, or something that has been diligently worked for (leadership, belonging, influence)? Are we threatened? No matter our individual reasoning,  Jesus says…Anyone who is not against you, is for you.

This man was on their side, Jesus’ side. Take inventory. Who is actually on your side?  The body of Christ is expansive, it spans age, ethnicity, experience, socioeconomic status, opinion and culture. It is not contained in a certain style of worship, or bible study or church schedule. Jesus meets us, uses us, and transforms us through many out-of-the-box ways…Who am I to say that I am with Jesus and “they” are not?

What is my goal? To have the corner on the “right”way to do things? To glorify myself and my own abilities? To keep control? To understand everything?

My goal needs to align with the goal of the Most High. His goal was and is always people. Go find the people. Go love the people. Go serve the people. Speak life, share belonging, include and encourage and believe. There are so few “deal breakers”  Do you love Jesus? Do you believe that He is the Son of God, sent to die as a sacrifice for your sins? Do you declare Him Lord of your life?  Have you received His free gift of grace and forgiveness? Hi, welcome to the group! 🙂  Let’s take a cue from Paul…

“It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the good news. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.” Philippians 1:15-18

No competition. No offense taken.  No stress. Is Jesus being lifted High? Yes? Wonderful! Let’s rejoice!

And yes, LOL is a perfectly acceptable way to notate your bible! 🙂

Beholding His Glory together!