Luke 9: Fighting Fundies and Jesus

In Luke 9:49-56, we see the disciples protecting their religious territory and battling for the Kingdom of God.  First, in verses 49-50, John reports to Jesus that he and the other disciples tried to stop a man who was driving out demons in Jesus' name.  How they tried to stop him we are not told.  All we know is that this man wasn't a part of the Twelve.  He hadn't received the commission that the disciples had received earlier in the chapter so in the mind of the disciples he needed to be stopped. After that, in verses 51-56, James and John (the disciples known as the "Sons of Thunder") desire to destroy a Samaritan village that has refused Jesus hospitality.  The Samaritans did not believe that true worship happened at the Temple in Jerusalem.  They worshiped instead at Mount Gerazim.  Thus, they were not willing to help those traveling to what they considered a false temple.  Jesus is told to keep moving along. This enrages John and James who wish to see fire come out of heaven and destroy that Samaritan village as punishment for their sin.

These two incidents show that the spirit of conflict was alive and well in the disciples.  They were ready to battle both with other followers of Jesus and with the world.  In many ways as I read these verses I am reminded of the famous "double separation" of American fundamentalism.  Fundamentalist pastors proudly boast of being divided both from the world and from those parts of the church that don't value their theological commitments.  This double separation of American Fundamentalism is not passive.  It is militant.  It involves not just separation to avoid "spiritual contamination" but also militant retaliation.  Denouncements and calls for judgment are part and parcel of the Fundamentalist rhetoric.  And it's not just the classic Fundamentalists who engage in this behavior.  As we approach the 2012 election, I see more conservative Christian voices invoking the same type of rhetoric and threats.  They draw lines inside the Kingdom of God and they spew harsh judgment against those who in their mind block the forward movement of Jesus.

Note though that Jesus will have none of this among His disciples.  In verse 50, Jesus tells His disciples not to stop the man casting out demons.  He famously says: "whoever is not against you is for you."  And in verse 55, Jesus' response is even stronger.  It says in that verse that He rebuked James and John.  This means that He identified James and John's response as sinful and made it clear it was not to happen again.  Jesus was not pleased by the penchant for boundary drawing among His disciples.  Nor was He thrilled with their desire to rain down judgment on their enemies.

Certainly as Christians we are have to discretion.  We are to differentiate among teachings and movements and ministries.  The problem as I see it in Luke 9 is the militaristic tone that often accompanies our discretion.  We should not be so hard and fast in drawing boundaries between followers of Jesus.  We should not wish God's judgment on our enemies but the mercy of salvation.  One village won't welcome you.  Don't curse them.  Just move on.  Fundamentalism may have it's place.  But the fighting in "Fighting Fundies" is not something Jesus sees room for among His disciples.