Sunday, September 30, 2018

Stumbling Blocks and Millstones

This Sunday's Gospel reading from Mark 9:38-50 is usually used by revisionist preachers to justify ecumenical activities (as long as they don't include groups like ACNA). There is much more to this selection from Mark that usually gets ignored by revisionists. Let's see if you can guess which parts might be problematic to some,

"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 should prove to be a stumbling block to revisionist preachers because in it Jesus talks about millstones being tied around their necks and about them being tossed into the sea or being thrown into hell if they fail to cut out their revisionist teachings.

Since revisionists do not take the Gospel literally, they will never give up their teachings, even as their denominations go to Gehenna, sinking from the weight of those millstones.

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