“Do Not Stop The Anonymous Christian!”

“Do Not Stop The Anonymous Christian!”(Mk.9:38-41).
“‘Teacher,’ said John, ‘we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.’ ‘Do not stop him,’ Jesus said. ‘For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.'”
It was the theologian Karl Rahner who first popularised the term, “anonymous Christian.” According to Rahner, “the term ‘anonymous Christians’ refers only to those who do not consciously oppose their conscience and the opportunity for free human self-actualization bestowed by the creator and made explicit in Christ.”
The nameless man in today’s text is a typical example of an anonymous Christian. He was driving out demons in Jesus’ name, but he was not one of them.
John and his other colleagues represent the fanatics that we are!
The truth we do not want to publicise is that it is Christ who saves. It is not the Church that saves! The Church is the body of Christ, where her fellowship enables the brethren to hold one another’s hand in true brotherhood.
The Kingdom of God/heaven is the intersection between two circles. One circle represents the Church, while the other one represents the world at large, constituting those who have not directly identified with the Church. Among those people who have not identified with the Church are those who obey and live the gospel of Christ. Ironically, there are also those who are in the church, identifying membership with Christ by churchianity but denying Christ by not obeying and living the gospel.
Well, Jesus’ response to the overzealous who dare stop those who live Christ-like lives without Church membership is simple: “Do not stop him. No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us.”
As a matter of fact, if anyone who gives you a cup of water, knowing that “you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.”
Dear friend, those of us within the fold should work upon ourselves to ensure we are safe in the hands of Jesus, the Christ. While we encourage the others to join the fold, we should not become overzealous by stopping them if they are living the gospel – without joining the fellowship. They are anonymous Christians.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, imbue us with your spirit of tolerance so that we can encourage and not discourage others. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
27/03/2025.