Surprised by Sayings of Jesus
Jesus was prone to make stunningly surprising statements. One example is
He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters Matthew 12:30
It takes some focused meditation for the implications of this remark to sink in. Jesus is pointing out that there is no neutral ground. No gray zone. Rather, it seems, there is a bright line. Either we are
- Building, organizing, teaching, discipling or destroying
- Repairing or allowing the certainty of entropy, decay and loss, to have its full effect.
- Advancing the kingdom, hastening the day or delaying it.
- Part of the solution or part of the problem.
Notice that the opposite is not spoken. It is not, if you are not against me, that is okay with me, or some such construct. Further, we are not the judge of our condition, Jesus is the judge and dispenser of reward. In similar fashion Paul reminds us if God is for us, who can stand against us? But, if we are not gathering with Him, Jesus is not for us, but rather implies that He stands against us. In that case, it does not matter who else might be for us.
However, the paradox is that you and I do not work for God to be accepted by Him. That is religion. Rather it is, I am accepted by God, therefore I obey. That is relationship. What are the implications of this surprising saying for our lives and the time, talent and treasure you and I have to offer the Master?
Consequently, it is our responsibility to be paying careful attention to the choices of our lives. The call is not to hesitate long, but to be actively with Jesus, actively gathering or ... (How should this blog entry end?) ... the Lord looks at us as scattering, that is, working against Him.
Nelson Malwitz, Finishers Project Founder, October 2009