URC Daily Devotion Monday 20 January 2025
St Luke 9: 49 – 50
John answered, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you.’
Reflection
What a short, punchy reading today: words of Jesus advocating the virtues of generosity and an open-mind. It’s acceptable for those regarded as ‘other’ to call upon his name. If they can restore health and balance to distressed people then leave them be.
What a rallying cry for inclusivity. There should be no more ‘us’ and ‘them’.
How well I remember the first lunchtime on my first day ever at the Scottish Episcopal Institute (where I undertook some of my training for URC ministry alongside the Scottish College). I’d dared to suggest that denominations might be an affront to Jesus. Surely we were all ‘humble learners in the school of Christ.’(1)
To feel comfortable in diverse worship situations is a sure way to arouse suspicion. “You’re denominationally unstable!”, exclaimed the tutor. Other people have said “You’re like someone with odd socks on. How can you readily take part in Anglican worship*?” (*alongside URC services and, earlier, Quaker meetings).
I’m all for odd socks. I also think it’s better to be ‘out’ than ‘in’ if conformity means betraying one’s core values and hard-earned life experience.
Our faith journeys are not necessarily linear. We learn and change.
And yet…. Many churches, including the URC, exercise great care in selecting and educating ministers, whether lay preachers, community workers or ministers of some other kind. There is a healthy tension between our dissenting tradition (‘all may be led by the Spirit…’ ) and well founded guidelines, rules some find smacking of control freakery.
Without a pastoral heart and selfless desire to serve, worship leaders and healers could do harm as well as good. They may have broken away from another group, never saying their farewells with gratitude. They may carry grudges and discontent. We must exercise great discernment.
One rule of thumb is to ask, is this one, claiming to act in the name of Jesus, able to listen deeply as well as to speak?
Prayer
A wise old bird sat in an oak,
the more he saw the less he spoke.
The more he spoke the less he heard.
Why can’t we all be like that wise old bird?
Jesus, give us wisdom whenever we minister.
May our discernment also be shrewd and prayerful.
Teach us when to say ‘no’ as well as saying ‘yes’.
(1) Edgar G. Dunstan, section 1.2, Quaker Faith and Practice