And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
–Mark 9:20-24
There are a lot of churches today that, frankly, are very difficult to join. You have to go through a bunch of classes, pass a theology exam, and be interviewed by ten committees before they’ll consider you a member!
Now I understand the motive behind much of this is to ensure their congregation has good doctrine. But as I look at the New Testament pattern for being received into fellowship, I find that people were accepted regardless of their spiritual status, even if they scarcely believed!
When Jesus encountered the man in today’s passage whose son was demonized, he didn’t require the man to have his theology all worked out. Jesus used that scintilla of faith to heal the boy. A little bit of faith was enough, even when some unbelief was still present!
The church of Jesus Christ is to minister to people at the point of their need. It’s not a sacred society for snubbing sinners. It exists to help the hurting and aid the broken. Be the church God intends by inviting all people to know Christ and receiving them into fellowship when they express faith!
ACCEPT ALL WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST AND INVITE THEM INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH THE BODY.
