On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

A question I have never considered before is how these “workers of lawlessness” whom Jesus expels from his presence were ever able to prophesy, cast out demons, and do many mighty works in Jesus’ name? Are they lying? That seems unlikely since they surely know that they cannot get away with that when it comes to Jesus. Were they previously faithful disciples who subsequently fell away? That too seems unlikely in light of Jesus’ absolute “I never knew you.”

Is it possible that they were mistaken? Is it that they in fact did prophesy and cast out demons and perform other miracles but not, as they mistakenly believed, in Jesus’ name? Then by what other power could they perform such feats? At least with regard to casting demons, Jesus argues elsewhere that Satan cannot cast out Satan.

Whatever the case, one thing is for sure. We can easily be deceived into thinking we are doing the Lord’s work when we are in fact doing the opposite – working lawlessness. This is an extremely sobering text! Religion seldom prioritizes what Jesus prioritizes. Christian institutions, however well meaning, can actually distract disciples from true kingdom work rather than direct their focus to Jesus’ agenda. I surely need to read and reread the gospel accounts to keep Jesus’ agenda clearly before my eyes and to be protected from the allure of religiosity and churchianity. Institutions have a way of prioritizing their own survival over selfless service, concern for the poor, and the way of the cross. Perhaps a better way to say it is that Christian institutions tend to privatize the cross. Taking up one’s cross and following Jesus is something for individual disciples to do. It is impractical to expect Christian institutions to do the same. Perhaps this is why Jesus and his disciples thought of and spoke of the church as organism rather than organization, as body rather than bureaucracy. If we are, in fact, the body of Christ, then we have individually AND CORPORATELY already been crucified with Christ and raised to live cruciform lives in the midst of this hostile world.

Father,

I beg you to prevent my being deceived into thinking I am serving Christ when in fact I am only serving myself or serving institutional agendas. Forgive me for those times when such deception has led me astray. Lord Jesus, thank you for warning us with such clarity regarding this ever-present danger and for even more clearly outlining your agenda for your own ministry as well as for ours. Holy Spirit, make me immediately responsive to your convicting work and immediately repentant upon any misstep. For I do not want such deception to take hold in me and complicate repentance and true service.

AMEN