Not Against Us

We should quickly celebrate when others do that which grows the Faith in the world! Being so protective of our "tribe" that we are blind to others is never healthy.

Tribalism has become so unhealthy in our modern age that we are now making up “tribes” to belong to because we are so confused about who we are as a people. But that isn’t anything new. Tribalism has been unhealthy since we started choosing sides and reducing our identity to either our genetic roots or family ties. All of history is filled with atrocities done in the name of either protecting our tribe or attacking another tribe!

But there are some real treasures in our different communities, and we humans were made to be in communion, so it’s a mistake to throw out the baby with the bathwater.

Different human cultures have unique aspects that enrich us with beauty and insight. All cultures have commonalities that deserve to be celebrated, just as every culture has illnesses that need to be confessed and healed.

So, how do we learn to discern (this is quickly becoming one of my favorite sayings) between healthy joy in our family ties and unhealthy tribalism that degenerates into racism, insecure arrogance, or even violence? It all begins with seeing our distinctiveness as a gift and an invitation to share!

Look at our Gospel Lesson this morning in Mark 9:33-41:

At that time, Jesus and his disciples came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” John said to him, “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward.”

The disciples of the Lord come across a man casting out demons in the name of the Lord, and they stop him because he isn’t part of their group!

When they told the Lord, He corrected them with wisdom, saying that anyone doing good in the name of the Lord can’t then turn around and speak evil of the Lord.

In other words, there are the beginnings of communion here. Don’t snuff that out! The whole point of the Lord’s ministry is to build, grow, and foster communion.

Now, before you go too far on the other side of this wisdom and suggest the Lord is teaching that anything goes, they are OK as long as any group claims to follow the Lord. Nothing could be further from the truth taught here.

No, the Lord isn’t suggesting that this beginning of communion is the end of the journey, but it is a beginning.

It’s like suggesting that a kindergartener is the same as a wise teacher. Yes, both are persons, but there is still a development that has to occur for there to be any chance these two persons can communicate well. We should never confuse the launching pad for the finish line!

Our current societal chaos has exposed the sick side of tribalism, but we can’t dismiss the close ties that bind us. We must be humble and gracious enough to oversee our attitudes and ask God to help us discern when things are getting sick. Then, we have to be humble enough to repent!

St. Ignatius is one of the very early heroes of our Orthodox Christian Faith. When Trajan was emperor, he was martyred for his Faith in Christ in 107. St. Ignatius was fed to the lions in the arena, and his fellow Christians lovingly gathered his bones and returned to Antioch, where the saint had been the bishop. St. Ignatius learned the Faith from the Apostle John, the Lord’s disciple. St. Ignatius wrote several epistles that we have today that record how Christians were to live, love, and believe. He is called “The God-Bearer” because of his devotion to Christ and his holy life, which he leaves as an example for us to embrace and celebrate.

Today, where are those places in your life that are enemies of communion and dialogue? Where are the illnesses in your “tribe?” What fears of the “stranger” lurk in your heart that keep you from seeing all people created in God’s image and meant to be in communion with you? To be sure, we always need discernment, but we can never allow the beauty of God’s original intention for us all to escape or be lost to our fears, our prejudices, or our ignorance. We were made to be in communion like the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is in communion. Being a Normal Orthodox Christian means everyone is welcomed and belongs in our “new” Tribe!

P.S. As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the Apostles, O inspired of God, you found discipline to be a means of ascent to divine vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of truth, you also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Ignatius. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

Fr. Barnabas Powell is the parish priest at Sts. Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene Greek Orthodox Church in Cumming, GA. He is also the founder of Faith Encouraged Ministries and produces the Faith Encouraged Daily Devotional on Substack. Watch the Faith Encouraged YouTube Channel here - https://www.youtube.com/@FaithEncouragedTV