He that is not against us is on our part

Mark chapter 9 has a bit of scripture that seems appropriate, relative to the last year or so of politics in the US.

Verse 40: 

For he that is not against us is on our part.

We'll pick up the thread at v. 38, not because what comes before is less useful, but because I want to focus on what's in v. 40. (When you finish reading my opinions, go back and read the whole chapter. Get your own revelation.)

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

For he that is not against us is on our part.

Now, compare this to Peter's reaction to one Simon, who practiced sorcery and thought he could buy his way into the group, from Acts 8, starting around v. 18:

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money

Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

On the one hand, Peter comes down pretty harsh, with "Take your money and die." 

On the other, Simon responds well. I think Peter was justified, even if he might have found a softer response. Or his response might have been precisely what Simon needed.

We don't know the rest of the story. We can hope that Simon learned to pray for himself, and to understand the difference between sorcery and priesthood. (A few important clues to the difference can be found in Mark 9, in the verses I skipped over. Start from the beginning of the chapter and pay special attention at v. 35.) 

I think we can be confident that Peter didn't just turn his back on Simon, since he didn't stop with "Take your money and die!" He explained, "Your motives and intentions are wrong, so you don't belong with us!"

We might use Peter's response to justify rebuffing people who don't fit our preconceptions.

I hope we do not. That does not fit in with what the Bible teaches.

If we are worried about letting the riff-raff in, we can be somewhat reassured by the example shown in Acts 19, of what happens to the riff-raff. (I personally think I have reason to hope that the sons of Sceva also eventually found repentance, but that is between them and the Lord.)

See also Doctrine and Covenants section 64 verse 8 (and the rest of the section):

My disciples, in days of old, sought occasion against one another and forgave not one another in their hearts; and for this evil they were afflicted and sorely chastened.

As Christians, it is not our business to create divisions. The divisions will, unfortunately, naturally occur. 

Our business is to reach out to try to find ways to heal the divisions as we can.