Gathered or Scattered? (03/15/25)

"He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathers not with Me scatters abroad."  (Matthew 12:30)

The words of our text cause us to examine ourselves; to see our lives in their true perspective. In the Gospel of Mark there is another verse which expresses, in inverse order, the same clear distinction between good and evil. This verse directs us, not so much to an estimation of ourselves, as in estimating the neighbor. There we read: "He that is not against us is on our part."  (Mark 9:40) The disciples had come complaining to the Lord because they had found one who cast out devils in the name of the Lord, but who did not follow Him as they had done. It [must have] seemed to them that a charlatan was profaning the Lord's name; but they were told that this was a man who did the Lord's work, although not in the same manner as the disciples did it. "Forbid him not," the Lord said; "for there is no man which shall do a miracle in My name that can lightly speak evil of Me. For he that is not against us is on our part."  (Mark 9: 38-40)

We read of a similar incident in an earlier text, when Moses rebuked Joshua for complaining of other prophets in the camp by saying: "Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:29). This is to be our [relationship to] others. …We are not to judge of the spiritual state, of the degree of regeneration, or of the will and intention of another. Their way may be different from ours; they may be better or less well informed; but if they are not seeking the destruction of God's kingdom, then they are working on God's side. 

So we may see that the Lord, referring to those outside the church, said: "He that is not against us is on our part"; but that, speaking to the church, He said: "He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathers not with Me scatters abroad." These two verses, the one from Matthew and the other from Mark, and each with its counterpart in Luke, at first appear to be contradictory; but in fact they confirm one another. They both emphasize the absolute distinction between good and evil and between truth and falsity; but one is to be applied to our own lives and the other to the life of the neighbor.  (NCL, 1969 - edited)

SRC Announcements: 03/16/25

SRC Board Meeting (03/16/25)

The next SRC Board meeting is  Sunday, March 16th.  We will be discussing the accounting help we will be receiving from the denomination (starting the week of 3/17).  If there are any other issues you wish to have raised by the Board, please email our Chair: christine_morey@cox.net

Arizona Spiritual Growth Foundation Events

Discussion Group with Sue Carr (03/18/25)

Join us this Tuesday at 1pm in the Chapel for our next video and discussion group.  The topic: Four Stages of Spiritual Awakening.  Join us!

Prayers Rising For...

Those facing ongoing health/wellbeing challenges, including: Valerie Thim, Judith Keane, Joan Finley, and Seid Waddell.  (If you know of any others that should be added to the list, email the pastor: ethan.mccardell@gmail.com) 

BLESSINGS ON YOUR WEEKEND!  

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