First, look at their fruit. Is it good? Is it healthy? Is he or she helping or hurting people? Production is more important than pedigree. The fruit is more important than the name of the orchard. If the person is bearing fruit, be grateful! A good tree cannot produce bad fruit (Matt 7:17-18), so be thankful that God is at work in other groups than yours.
But also look at the faith. In whose name is the work done? Jesus accepted the work of the man who cast out demons because it was done in the name of Christ (Mark 9:38-39). What does it mean to do something in the name of Jesus? It means you are under the authority of and empowered by that name.
If I go to a car dealership and say I want a free car, the salespeople are going to laugh at me. If, however, I go with a letter written and signed by the owner of the dealership granting me a free car, then I drive off in a free car. Why? Because I am there under the authority of and am empowered by the owner.
The Master says examine the person's faith. If he or she has faith in Jesus and is empowered by God, grace says that's enough. This is an important point. There are some who do not work in God's name.
But there are believers in many different heritages who cast their hope in God's firstborn Son and put their faith in the cross of Christ. If they, like you, are trusting him to carry them to the Father's castle, don't you share a common Savior? If their trust, like yours, is in the all-sufficient sacrifice of Christ, aren't you covered with the same grace?
You mean they don't have to be in my group? No
They don't have to share my background? They don't.
They don't have to see everything the way I do? Does anyone?
By: Max Lucado
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