ACC ~ Mark 9 v38 - 41

OVERVIEW:

According to Augustine, this passage teaches that the judgment of God lies heavy upon those who tempt the children of light. As civic virtues may be found apart from the church, so doctrinal corruptions may also be found within the church. Those who do mighty works without full participation in the body of Christ are not to be forbidden. The unbaptized who perform acts of kindness to those who are not yet incorporated into the body of Christ may be more profitable servants than are those in the church who draw others into evil deeds. One may do mighty works in Christ’s name and still possess only a crude, preliminary knowledge of his regenerative power. If the balance between rigor and charity is lost in the administration of discipline, the peace of the church is disturbed and disunity increased. Those who separate themselves from the body of Christ do not need to be corrected on all points but only those that involve separation (AUGUSTINE). God never asks what is impossible. God’s requirement comes in small measures as grace enables, like giving a cup of cold water in the name of Christ (GREGORY OF NYSSA).

9:38a | A Man Casting Out Demons in Your Name

THE MERCIFUL WORKS OF THE UNBAPTIZED

AUGUSTINE: His situation was in some ways parallel to that of one who, while not yet embracing the sacraments of Christ, nevertheless esteems the Christian name so far as even to welcome Christians and accommodate oneself to their service for this very reason and no other—that they are Christians. This is the type of person of whom it was said that he would not lose his reward. [1] This does not mean, however, that such individuals ought prematurely to imagine themselves quite safe and secure simply on account of this kindness which they cherish toward Christians, while at the same time remaining uncleansed by Christ’s baptism, and not thereby incorporated into the unity of his body. Such persons are now already being guided by the mercy of God in such a way that they may also come to receive these loftier gifts, and so depart this present world in safety. Such persons assuredly are more profitable servants even before they become a part of the body of Christ, than those who, while already bearing the Christian name and partaking in the sacraments, recommend courses of action which are only fitted to drag others along with them into eternal punishment. HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS 4.6. [2]

[1] Cf. Mt 10:42; Mk 9:41.

[2] Cetedoc 0273, 4.6.7.401.20; NPNF 1 6:229**.

9:38b | We Forbade Him, Because He Was Not Following Us

THE BREADTH OF CATHOLICITY

AUGUSTINE: There may be something catholic outside the Church catholic. The name of Christ could exist outside the congregation of Christ, as in the case of the man casting out devils in Christ’s name. There may by contrast exist pretenses within the church catholic, as is unquestionably the case of those “who renounce the world [1] in words and not in deeds,” and yet the pretense is not catholic. So as there may be found in the church catholic something which is not catholic, so there may be found something which is catholic outside the church catholic. ON BAPTISM, AGAINST THE DONATISTS 7.39 (76). [2]

[1] In baptism; cf. Rom 12:2; 1 Jn 2:15; 5:4.

[2] Cetedoc 0332, 7.39.77.363.5; NPNF 1 4:508**.

9:39 | Do Not Forbid Him

ENCOURAGING GOOD WORKS DONE IN CHRIST’S NAME

AUGUSTINE: We ought not be disturbed because some who do not belong or do not yet belong to this temple, that is, among whom God does not or does not yet dwell, perform some works of power, as happened to the one who cast out devils in the name of Christ. [1] Although he was not a follower of Christ, Christ ordered that he be allowed to continue because it gave a valuable testimony of his name to many. … The centurion Cornelius also saw the angel that was sent to him to say that his prayers had been heard and his alms accepted, [2] even before he was incorporated into this temple by regeneration. LETTER 187, TO DARDANUS 36. [3]

[1] Cf. Mk 9:38; Lk 9:49.

[2] Cf. Acts 10:3-4.

[3] Cetedoc 0262, 187.57.12.113.20; FC 30:250.

JUDGMENTAL EXCESS

AUGUSTINE: Some who are intent on severe disciplinary principles which admonish us to rebuke the restless, not to give what is holy to dogs, [1] to consider a despiser of the church as a heathen, to cut off from the unified structure of the body the member which causes scandal, [2] so disturb the peace of the church that they try to separate the wheat from the chaff before the proper time. [3] Blinded by this error, they are themselves separated instead from the unity of Christ. FAITH AND WORKS 4.6. [4]

[1] Cf. Mt 7:6; 15:26; Mk 7:27.

[2] Cf. Mt 5:30; 18:8-9; Mk 9:42-48.

[3] Cf. Mt 13:29-30.

[4] Cetedoc 0294, 4.6.41.9; FC 27:227*.

9:40 | He That Is Not Against Us Is for Us

STANDING WITH THE WHOLE CHURCH

AUGUSTINE: Both declarations are true: that “he who is not with me is against me, and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad”; [1] and also the injunction, “Forbid him not; for he that is not against you is for you.” [2] This means that one fittingly shares in the worshiping community insofar as one stands with the whole church, and not against it. Yet those same individuals must be reproached for separating themselves from the church, wherever their gathering inadvertently becomes a scattering. If then one seeks reconciliation with the church, one does not need to receive what one already possesses, [3] but merely needs to be set aright on those points at which one had gone astray. ON BAPTISM, AGAINST THE DONATISTS 1.7 (9). [4]

[1] Mt 12:30; Lk 11:23.

[2] Lk 9:50; cf. Mk 9:39-40.

[3] The rule of faith, the sacred text, the sacraments.

[4] Cetedoc 0332, 1.7.9.155.5; NPNF 1 4:416*. Those who divide and scatter the body of Christ do not need to be corrected on all points but only those that involve separation, which offends against the intrinsic oneness of the church.

RESISTING SENTIMENTS ADVERSE TO PEACE

AUGUSTINE: This is the principle on which the whole church acts, not condemning common sacraments among heretics; for in these they are with us, and they are not against us. [1] But she condemns and forbids division and separation, or any sentiment adverse to peace and truth. For in this respect they are against us, precisely because they are not with us, in the sense that and due to the fact that in not gathering with us, they are consequently scattering. [2] HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS 4. [3]

[1] Cf. Mk 9:39-40; Lk 9:50.

[2] Cf. Mt 12:30; Lk 11:23.

[3] Cetedoc 0273, 4.5.6.400.10; NPNF 1 6:228*.

9:41 | A Cup of Water

SIMPLICITY IN SERVICE

GREGORY OF NYSSA: God never asks his servants to do what is impossible. The love and goodness of his Godhead is revealed as richly available. It is poured out like water upon all. God furnishes to each person according to his will the ability to do something good. None of those seeking to be saved will be lacking in this ability, given by the one who said: “whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward.” [1] ON THE CHRISTIAN MODE OF LIFE 8.1. [2]

[1] Mt 10:42; Mk 9:41.

[2] TLG 2017.024, 8.1.87.21-88.7; FC 58:157*.