Leaving Beyond – Grounded In Scripture

“Unity without the gospel is a worthless unity; it is the very unity of hell.” — J.C. Ryle

Mark 9:40 is not a call for Christians to set aside their differences with heretics and cults for the sake of working together for a “greater good.” It is not a call to Ecumenism. The true meaning is unifying of the true brethren and beautiful. Let us not miss that.

Those who want to justify uniting with false religions, heretical sects, and cults often appeal to this verse, claiming that Jesus said, “For the one who is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:40). But in doing so, they lean on a text that some may feel is unclear—though it is not—while ignoring the many clear passages that instruct and command us otherwise.

They argue that as long as anyone—even from another faith—names the name of Christ, then we can work together. But this passage does not justify Ecumenism, nor does it override or excuse disobedience to other clear commands of Scripture.

We are explicitly commanded to separate from false teachers:
• “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).
• “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works” (2 John 10–11).
• “Watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them” (Romans 16:17).

We are commanded to guard the purity of the Gospel:
• “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8).
• “O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you” (1 Timothy 6:20).

There is no cause so great that it warrants distorting the Gospel.

In Mark 9:40, Jesus is not endorsing unity with false teachers. Rather, He is correcting His disciples for their intolerance—rebuking them for failing to recognize that genuine believers outside their immediate circle were still doing the work of God. The passage is a warning against creating an exclusive “inner circle” as though only our group has a monopoly on the truth.

It is not promoting Ecumenism. It encourages unity among brethren as it glorifies God.

We must be wary of those who ignore the clear commands of Scripture and appeal instead to obscure or more difficult texts (this not being one of them, though some may not read the context to understand the intended meaning) to justify what God has already condemned. Always let the clear passages interpret the unclear ones. And beware of those who twist Scripture to excuse disobedience, especially when God has plainly revealed what is acceptable to Him and what is not:
• “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
• “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

When Jesus said, “If they are not against us, they are for us,” are we really to believe that He was teaching us to unite with heretics and cults for the furtherance of the Gospel? Are we to believe that He meant we should not warn that they preach a different Jesus and another gospel, but instead allow them to freely proclaim their false Christ? Would Jesus ever command His people to participate in the perversion of the Gospel by joining hands with those who lead others after another Jesus?

Is that what He meant when He said, “If they are not against us”?

No—this verse is actually a strong argument for unity among true brethren. It is not promoting Ecumenism. One must forsake the context of the passage and the authors intended meaning to read Ecumenism into this passage.

Scripture calls for believer’s to maintain fellowship with the brethren, Gospel-unity, to maintain the purity of the gospel, to expose error, to be separate from those who cause divisions by bringing in false teachings, and to evangelize the lost.

This passage demonstrates that there is no neutrality: we are either for Him or against Him; there is no gray area. If we are “for Him” then we are truly regenerate and we are united in the true Gospel while we have differences in other matters of doctrine. This passage is showing us unity with the brethren; it is not promoting a false unity with cults, heretical sects, or false religions.

Dear saint, test everything against sound doctrine. Especially when what we want to be true seems to contradict the clear and plain teaching of Scripture, we may be tempted to seek out passages that appear to say what we want them to say in an effort to justify our desires. Always read the entire context, and be careful not to bring your bias to the text or try to conform it to what you want it to mean. Scripture has meaning independent of our beliefs, feelings, or desires. The text says what it says and means what it means. Those texts have meaning—God’s meaning—and we do not have the right to bend them for our purposes.

Grace and Peace, y’all.
Soli Deo Gloria

April J. Buchanan