Mark 9:38-50. The causing of sin?? 27/9/09
(38) "Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." {39} "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, {40} for whoever is not against us is for us. {41} I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. {42} "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. {43} If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. {44} {45} And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. {46} {47} And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, {48} where "'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' {49} Everyone will be salted with fire. {50} "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."
Can there be anything worse than committing sin? Now I know committing a sin these days is no big deal in the eyes of many people; but it is a terrible thing, and something that we still need to take seriously. However, here we are reminded that there is one thing that is far worse than committing a sin; and that is causing someone else to sin: In particular causing a ‘little one’ in the faith, to sin. Now this is something that we do not think about much as we go about our lives; and yet it is a serious issue: a very serious issue, indeed.
Here we are reminded, that we will be held accountable for this; and the consequences are not good. In fact, Jesus says, it would be better for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck than causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin. Now that is pretty serious stuff. That is not just that someone deserves to die for their causing someone to sin, but Jesus is giving the strongest possible reprimand.
By tying a millstone around someone’s neck and drowning them in the sea, means they are not given a proper burial. It then had the connotation that this renders the body forever unclean. So Jesus is indicating the strength of judgement that he has in mind for those that lead others astray. He says, they will be held accountable for causing others to fall into sin. They will be, thrown into hell, where "'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' Serious stuff!
This being the case we need to think very carefully how we live our lives as Christians; recognising that we do have an influence on others. Each one of us, no matter who we are, has an impact on others. By the mere fact that we are Christian, we are an example to others; either for good or bad. Particularly Jesus reminds us that we need to keep in mind what our example and teaching is for the ‘little ones.’ They may be our children or grand-children: they may be the new Christian or those that are struggling in the faith. We must not cause any of them to sin. That is the challenge that Jesus sets before us today.
They, and us all, belong to Christ, each one is important - very important. God wants us all to be a part of his kingdom; and not one is greater or lesser in his eyes. He does not want any one to lose out on being a part of his family for all time. Because in this life the frail and the ‘little ones’ are susceptible and easily lead astray, against these we must be especially careful.
There are so many ways that we can cause others to sin, and some of these we need to consider carefully. First of all, let us think of our children and grand-children.
Not teaching them the faith by word and example is a certainty to cause these little ones to sin. Not bringing them regularly to Divine Service here in God’s house is sure to teach them that God is not important for them. To allow them to play sport and do other things instead of worship, and to do so yourself, is to lead them right up the garden path. To allow them to be selfish, is equally a problem. And this is just some of the simple basics, without getting down to tin tacs.
But then what about the rest of us; and not helping these parents out? Are we prepared to befriend these little ones? Are we willing to put our hand up to teach in Sunday School? Are we careful about the example that we are setting these children in our language and what we do?
Then what about those other ‘little ones’ around about us: the new Christian and those who are weak and struggling? Many of these same things apply. Here, what about the bad advice that we might give them? Particularly with regard to what we say to them about what is important in life. The encouragement we give others with regard to being selfish and self-centred, even when it comes to faith and worship, is terrible these days. Not to mention that the truth is not important.
In all that we say and do, we need to be mindful that we are not leading others to sin. As we can see, it is so easy for each one of us to do this in one way or another. Here, I have only touched the surface of the different ways that we can cause others to fall into sin. With that in mind and also the serious consequences of our doing so, we need to listen to Jesus’ very sobering thoughts on how we are to deal with this problem.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where "'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' You get the idea: get rid of that which is leading you to do these things, at all costs. It is better to be only half a person than to be sent to hell to suffer eternal punishment. Think carefully about this in regard to what is causing you or others to sin.
Here then Jesus goes on and uses the example of salt and its use, to help us come to grips with the importance of the way we as Christians are to live amongst ourselves. Now these days we mainly use salt to add flavour to our meal; but for much of history it had a far more important role to play in life. It was used greatly as a purifying and preserving agent, as well as that of a seasoning food.
This is what we are to be like as God’s people: we are to help purify, preserve and season one another for the wellbeing of all. Instead of leading ourselves and others to sin, we are to help one another with God’s help, to rid ourselves of that which causes us to sin: that which makes us to be a bad and rotten person. Now we know that when we apply salt to a wound it stings sharply, but it does some good. So also in our lives, we don’t like to be reminded of our faults and failings, but it is important that we lovingly do this to one another. Only then are we able to be cleansed and enabled to remain good and useful.
As we apply God’s Word into our lives and our faults and sin, we will be purified and preserved for the ongoing good and wellbeing of God’s Church. As we live with this Word as our cleansing agent and as our ongoing guide for life, we then will have flavour added to life. Others will be able to see and experience the greatness of our God and what he has done for us through our Lord Jesus Christ. Then they too may be purified, preserved and seasoned.
As we ‘have this salt in ourselves, we are then enabled to be at peace with each other,’ It is the Lord Jesus and God’s Word and sacraments that will enable us to lessen and overcome those terrible aspects of our lives that cause us to sin and others to fall into sin. This salt need to be applied amply in our lives so that we not be the cause of sin; and particularly to cause the ‘little ones’ in our lives to sin.
Let us remember that we all, as a result of our baptism, belong to God. He has sent his Son Jesus to die on the cross so that we may be forgiven, cleansed and purified, and he rose again so that we can have the certainty of eternal life. So then let us now make every effort to ensure that we work together to help, support and maintain each other, so that not only can we be at peace with one another, but that we can give a strong and sincere witness to our Lord for all that he has done for us.
Yes let us not be the causing of sin in our community, but allow the salt of God’s Word and Sacraments to help us go forward as God’s people, to give glory to our Lord Jesus Christ, in all that we say and do. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
(38) "Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." {39} "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, {40} for whoever is not against us is for us. {41} I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. {42} "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. {43} If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. {44} {45} And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. {46} {47} And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, {48} where "'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' {49} Everyone will be salted with fire. {50} "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."
Can there be anything worse than committing sin? Now I know committing a sin these days is no big deal in the eyes of many people; but it is a terrible thing, and something that we still need to take seriously. However, here we are reminded that there is one thing that is far worse than committing a sin; and that is causing someone else to sin: In particular causing a ‘little one’ in the faith, to sin. Now this is something that we do not think about much as we go about our lives; and yet it is a serious issue: a very serious issue, indeed.
Here we are reminded, that we will be held accountable for this; and the consequences are not good. In fact, Jesus says, it would be better for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck than causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin. Now that is pretty serious stuff. That is not just that someone deserves to die for their causing someone to sin, but Jesus is giving the strongest possible reprimand.
By tying a millstone around someone’s neck and drowning them in the sea, means they are not given a proper burial. It then had the connotation that this renders the body forever unclean. So Jesus is indicating the strength of judgement that he has in mind for those that lead others astray. He says, they will be held accountable for causing others to fall into sin. They will be, thrown into hell, where "'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' Serious stuff!
This being the case we need to think very carefully how we live our lives as Christians; recognising that we do have an influence on others. Each one of us, no matter who we are, has an impact on others. By the mere fact that we are Christian, we are an example to others; either for good or bad. Particularly Jesus reminds us that we need to keep in mind what our example and teaching is for the ‘little ones.’ They may be our children or grand-children: they may be the new Christian or those that are struggling in the faith. We must not cause any of them to sin. That is the challenge that Jesus sets before us today.
They, and us all, belong to Christ, each one is important - very important. God wants us all to be a part of his kingdom; and not one is greater or lesser in his eyes. He does not want any one to lose out on being a part of his family for all time. Because in this life the frail and the ‘little ones’ are susceptible and easily lead astray, against these we must be especially careful.
There are so many ways that we can cause others to sin, and some of these we need to consider carefully. First of all, let us think of our children and grand-children.
Not teaching them the faith by word and example is a certainty to cause these little ones to sin. Not bringing them regularly to Divine Service here in God’s house is sure to teach them that God is not important for them. To allow them to play sport and do other things instead of worship, and to do so yourself, is to lead them right up the garden path. To allow them to be selfish, is equally a problem. And this is just some of the simple basics, without getting down to tin tacs.
But then what about the rest of us; and not helping these parents out? Are we prepared to befriend these little ones? Are we willing to put our hand up to teach in Sunday School? Are we careful about the example that we are setting these children in our language and what we do?
Then what about those other ‘little ones’ around about us: the new Christian and those who are weak and struggling? Many of these same things apply. Here, what about the bad advice that we might give them? Particularly with regard to what we say to them about what is important in life. The encouragement we give others with regard to being selfish and self-centred, even when it comes to faith and worship, is terrible these days. Not to mention that the truth is not important.
In all that we say and do, we need to be mindful that we are not leading others to sin. As we can see, it is so easy for each one of us to do this in one way or another. Here, I have only touched the surface of the different ways that we can cause others to fall into sin. With that in mind and also the serious consequences of our doing so, we need to listen to Jesus’ very sobering thoughts on how we are to deal with this problem.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where "'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' You get the idea: get rid of that which is leading you to do these things, at all costs. It is better to be only half a person than to be sent to hell to suffer eternal punishment. Think carefully about this in regard to what is causing you or others to sin.
Here then Jesus goes on and uses the example of salt and its use, to help us come to grips with the importance of the way we as Christians are to live amongst ourselves. Now these days we mainly use salt to add flavour to our meal; but for much of history it had a far more important role to play in life. It was used greatly as a purifying and preserving agent, as well as that of a seasoning food.
This is what we are to be like as God’s people: we are to help purify, preserve and season one another for the wellbeing of all. Instead of leading ourselves and others to sin, we are to help one another with God’s help, to rid ourselves of that which causes us to sin: that which makes us to be a bad and rotten person. Now we know that when we apply salt to a wound it stings sharply, but it does some good. So also in our lives, we don’t like to be reminded of our faults and failings, but it is important that we lovingly do this to one another. Only then are we able to be cleansed and enabled to remain good and useful.
As we apply God’s Word into our lives and our faults and sin, we will be purified and preserved for the ongoing good and wellbeing of God’s Church. As we live with this Word as our cleansing agent and as our ongoing guide for life, we then will have flavour added to life. Others will be able to see and experience the greatness of our God and what he has done for us through our Lord Jesus Christ. Then they too may be purified, preserved and seasoned.
As we ‘have this salt in ourselves, we are then enabled to be at peace with each other,’ It is the Lord Jesus and God’s Word and sacraments that will enable us to lessen and overcome those terrible aspects of our lives that cause us to sin and others to fall into sin. This salt need to be applied amply in our lives so that we not be the cause of sin; and particularly to cause the ‘little ones’ in our lives to sin.
Let us remember that we all, as a result of our baptism, belong to God. He has sent his Son Jesus to die on the cross so that we may be forgiven, cleansed and purified, and he rose again so that we can have the certainty of eternal life. So then let us now make every effort to ensure that we work together to help, support and maintain each other, so that not only can we be at peace with one another, but that we can give a strong and sincere witness to our Lord for all that he has done for us.
Yes let us not be the causing of sin in our community, but allow the salt of God’s Word and Sacraments to help us go forward as God’s people, to give glory to our Lord Jesus Christ, in all that we say and do. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
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