Question 32. What is Christ’s attitude toward any individual or group of believers outside of our own group doing good in his name?

Who in their right mind would think that Jesus Christ would be negative toward any believers doing good in his name? Does Jesus oppose anybody, believer or unbeliever, doing good at anytime? Somehow some of our brethren seem to think that brethren who do not agree with us on certain issues and are not of our party do good for naught and have no right to do so in the name of Christ.

Jesus recognized and commended good where he saw it. In publicans, in prostitutes, in Gentiles as well as Jews. Consider Zacchaeus. Jesus told him, “Today salvation has come to this house.” (Luke 19:9). What did Jesus tell the centurion? “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.” (Matthew 8:10b).

Then the classic example is found in Luke 9. John told Jesus: “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us.’” (49-50).

Later James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven to consume some Samaritans who did not receive Jesus. Jesus rebuked them, saying, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” (Luke 9:55-56). When we look at believers who are not of us with judgmental eyes and even criticize their doing good we are not looking with eyes of love as did Christ.