We tend to form our faith around people with similar beliefs and actions. We create systematic theologies and codes of religious conduct that limit our interaction with other believers. Once those things are in place, we can become exclusive. There is nothing wrong with gathering around our preferences and unique interpretations of Scripture, but when it comes to demanding that people outside our circle must first meet our approval, we have a problem.

After an astounding list of miracles took place where Jesus fed the five thousand, delivered a demon-possessed boy, and witnessed the events on the Mount of Transfiguration, “His disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest” (Luke 9:46).

Their question revealed that their focus had shifted. They were looking at themselves and their experiences as a reason to exclude those who were not part of what they saw and experienced. It was a classic “them and they” moment. 

Then an interesting conversation occurred between John and Jesus: “John said to Jesus, ‘Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn’t in our group.’ But Jesus said, ‘Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you” (Luke 9:49-50). Jesus responded and provided an answer that took the disciples’ understanding beyond their pride and their attempts at exclusion.

While John and the rest of the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest among them, it was evident they had become sectarian in their faith. When they saw someone performing miracles in Jesus’ name outside their sphere of influence, they tried to stop them, thinking their experience was primary over the experience of others.

The Kingdom of God is so large and expansive that we could not imagine the sphere of its influence. God’s Kingdom extends beyond this world and beyond the limits of time and space as we currently understand them. To limit the revelation of Jesus to our isolated experience of faith is a misstep.

While the early disciples did see the amazing works of Jesus, there was so much more to see and understand. Jesus wanted to expand the disciples’ understanding to include others who were not part of their small group. This can only happen if we are willing to move past our desire to challenge and correct what we do not yet understand.