Because They Are Not of Us
By Vernon Hurst
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As the passing years provide me increased opportunity to observe the struggle of men to make Christianity work in our time I become more astonished at the amazing parallel between Gentiles in their attempt to apply the gospel to themselves and ancient Judaism in its efforts to make the law a living factor at the time of Christ's appearance among men. The passage cited shows that those closest to God's arrangement applicable to their day constituted themselves its greatest hindrance by their efforts to translate it into a working plan. They not only interpreted God's will in such a manner as to remove the necessity of their own entrance into the kingdom of heaven but in such a way as to discourage those who actually sought entrance.
It is obvious that they demonstrated an outstanding measure of "missionary zeal." They were willing to traverse "sea and land" to make a single convert. Having made one, however, their zeal transformed itself into a vicious and determined effort to make him over in their own image even equipping him to outdo them in obstructing others in their desire to reach God without adopting their attitude.
An objective analysis of the basis for the attitude of the lawyers and Pharisees in that day will reveal the very human trait of making one's own standard the basis for judging others, which is so prevalent among the legalists in our day. I was reared in a religious atmosphere where intolerance was considered a virtue and tolerance a grave sin. It took me years to learn that this characteristic is ever striving to make itself a factor wherever men seek to engage in evangelistic effort. Even while Jesus walked with his disciples the ugly shadow of human pride fell squarely across their path. Satan used that attitude in an attempt to turn them into a narrow bigoted party under the very observation of the Master.
In Mark 9:33 Jesus interrupted with a question a conversation among his disciples in which they sought to establish their relative importance in the kingdom. He explained to them that true importance is achieved, not by seeking places of highest rank, but by making one's self a stepping stone over which others may climb. It was in the very echo of this teaching designed to epitomize the virtue of humility that John, missing the point entirely, revealed the thinking of the disciples--that Christ intended them to be an exclusive party which alone dared to do good in his name. Listen:
"John said to him, 'Master, we saw a man driving out devils in your name, and as he was not one of us, we tried to stop him.' Jesus said, 'Do not stop him; no one who does a work of divine power in my name will be able in the same breath to speak evil of me.'"
John did not demonstrate any remarkable difference from other men. He was a descendant of a long line of progenitors who had deeply resented the thought of God being the God of anyone who did not bear the stamp of their own likeness. When they exclaimed, "The Lord is our God," they boasted their belief that he was theirs exclusively. John had many counterparts in the past; he has many today. It is no unusual thing for men to attempt to possess God, to seek to direct the channel of his love and mercy.
The desire for recognition causes man
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Most students must agree that Christianity is thus far a failure in so far as its relationship to the world as a whole is concerned. I do not mean that the plan involved is a failure, but man's use of that plan is a failure. That it was designed for the world, every intelligent creature in every nation, cannot be denied. That its adherents have kept it from the world because of a selfish desire to be exclusive is equally undeniable. Here is the jagged rock which stands at the outlet of the harbor leading to the high seas of success. Thus far every attempt to promote the cause of Christ on an international scale has foundered upon this rock.
My conscience insists that there are basic principles of honesty revealed in God's Word which demand that while considering the harm done to other religious movements by the desire to be exclusive, I should look at what it has done to the one in which my lot has been cast. I do this with every intention of reacting with love to whatever attitude others may manifest to what I say. Two thoughts occur to me here: (1) "The Church of Christ" has become one of the fastest growing modern religious groups with a zeal for propagating their philosophy which has led them over sea and land in an effort to make converts; (2) Having made such converts they seek to imbue each heart with the belief that "we alone are able to serve God acceptably." Seek to justify it, hate me for saying it, but you cannot deny that it is true.
One of the saddest pages of contemporary religious history records that a movement conceived in the great minds of great men--a movement designed to unite into one mighty concerted effort all who believe on Christ through the words of the apostles--has become one of the most striking examples extant of religious strife and division. It has degenerated into a religious movement which, like John, seeks to establish its claim to divine approval and blessing by boasting, "We saw men doing your work and because they were not of us we did our best to stop them." May God have mercy on our souls!