Polydenominationalism

This morning as we watched several flocks of geese fly overhead, I was asked, "Why don't they all fly together in one big flock?" I speculated that a large number of smaller groups might give the species as a whole a better chance of success given the possibility that a bad leader might cause the flock to get lost. Losing a small group would not be as bad as extinction.

Today's preacher spoke of his faith journey from one of the smaller denominations of Christianity to his current position of retired Episcopal priest, and he tied this in with the Gospel reading from today.

John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.
‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell, And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
‘For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.’ Mark 9:38-50
 

I guess that polydenominationalism may not be such a bad thing after all (as long as those denominations are full in it for Christ). Unfortunately, there will be some flocks that wind up being misled or picked off by predators, and they will never make it to the promised land.

I wondered what changing one little word in Mark 9:38 would do for this reading,

+KJS said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

Oh yeah, polydenominationalism is okay as long as those geese over there don't look too much like yourself.