Without taking away from the seriousness of the issue, this is of course not what that verse is about whatsoever. Just read through the later sections of Mark 9 for context is that the disciples told Jesus:

Mark 9:38-41

“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.”

And then immediately Jesus gives a stern warning about causing those who believe in him to stumble. Clearly the sayings in verse 42 and following are connected directly to the exchange in verses 38-41. The disciples were hyper sensitive about anyone who were not on "their" team in terms of having the inside scoop of direct teaching and discipleship from Jesus. So in the disciples' minds, if others were attempting to practice a faith in Jesus without having all their facts right and all their ducks in a row like the, uh, righteous disciples, then they must be stopped.

This was repulsive behavior to Jesus. The first problem is the disciples were more concerned about their standing as superior disciples than actually helping out a fellow trying his best to live for Jesus. He was casting out demons somewhere in the wilderness, their reaction should have been to offer him some water as a simple act of concern and charity, instead of reprimanding him.

The second problem is more spiritual. The disciples' behavior showed they assumed a strong dividing line about who is "in" and who is "out" in terms of a saving faith. This is the specific point Jesus is addressing with the sayings about causing to stumble and millstones. If someone has but a mustard seed, even weak faith in Jesus, without having all their facts right etc, then they are a child of God the Father. If another Christian comes along and "Causes them to stumble" which clearly means causes them to doubt their faith and thus doubt that God is truly their Father, THAT is the person who is in the greatest danger of divine judgment.

This is by far the most shocking and severe threat of divine judgment Jesus gave in the Gospels, and it was directed towards his own disciples of all people. Jesus was NOT warning his disciples against child abuse. He obviously wants them to check their hearts and get this specific issue straight about judging who are really God's children and who are not, or the consequences would be dire. There is no one God despises more than those who convince God's children they are actually not God's children, and they are not beloved. God is jealous for his people, he will not let someone get off scot free who is doing this to vulnerable "children" in the faith.

Without taking away from the seriousness of the issue, this is of course not what that verse is about whatsoever. Just read through the later sections of Mark 9 for context is that the disciples told Jesus:

Mark 9:38-41

“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.”

And then immediately Jesus gives a stern warning about causing those who believe in him to stumble. Clearly the sayings in verse 42 and following are connected directly to the exchange in verses 38-41. The disciples were hyper sensitive about anyone who were not on "their" team in terms having the inside scoop of direct teaching and discipleship from Jesus. So in the disciples' minds, if others were attempting to practice a faith in Jesus without having all their facts right and all their ducks in a row like the, uh, righteous disciples, then they must be stopped.

This was repulsive behavior to Jesus. The first problem is the disciples were more concerned about their standing as superior disciples than actually helping out a fellow trying his best to live for Jesus. He was casting out demons somewhere in the wilderness, their reaction should have been to offer him some water as a simple act of concern and charity, instead of reprimanding him.

The second problem is more spiritual. The disciples' behavior showed they assumed a strong dividing line about who is "in" and who is "out" in terms of a saving faith. This is the specific point Jesus is addressing with the sayings about causing to stumble and millstones. If someone has but a mustard seed, even weak faith in Jesus, without having all their facts right etc, then they are a child of God the Father. If another Christian comes along and "Causes them to stumble" which clearly means causes them to doubt their faith and thus doubt that God is truly their Father, THAT is the person who is in the greatest danger of divine judgment.

This is by far the most shocking and severe threat of divine judgment Jesus gave in the Gospels, and it was directed towards his own disciples of all people. Jesus was NOT warning his disciples against child abuse. He obviously wants them to check their hearts and get this specific issue straight about judging who are really God's children and who are not, or the consequences would be dire. There is no one God despises more than those who convince God's children they are actually not God's children, and they are not beloved. God is jealous for his people, he will not let someone get off scot free who is doing this to vulnerable "children" in the faith.

Without taking away from the seriousness of the issue, this is of course not what that verse is about whatsoever. Just read through the later sections of Mark 9 for context is that the disciples told Jesus:

Mark 9:38-41

“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.”

And then immediately Jesus gives a stern warning about causing those who believe in him to stumble. Clearly the sayings in verse 42 and following are connected directly to the exchange in verses 38-41. The disciples were hyper sensitive about anyone who were not on "their" team in terms having the inside scoop of direct teaching and discipleship from Jesus. So in the disciples' minds, if others were attempting to practice a faith in Jesus without having all their facts right and all their ducks in a row like the, uh, righteous disciples, then they must be stopped.

This was repulsive behavior to Jesus. The first problem is the disciples were more concerned about their standing as superior disciples than actually helping out a fellow trying his best to live for Jesus. He was casting out demons somewhere in the wilderness, their reaction should have been to offer him some water as a simple act of concern and charity, instead of reprimanding him.

The second problem is more spiritual. The disciples' behavior showed they assumed a strong dividing line about who is "in" and who is "out" in terms of a saving faith. This is the specific point Jesus is addressing with the sayings about causing to stumble and millstones. If someone has but a mustard seed, even weak faith in Jesus, without having all their facts right etc, then they are a child of God the Father. If another Christian comes along and "Causes them to stumble" which clearly means causes them to doubt their faith and thus doubt that God is truly their Father, THAT is the person who is in the greatest danger of divine judgment.

This is by far the most shocking and severe threat of divine judgment Jesus gave in the Gospels, and it was directed towards his own disciples of all people. He obviously wants them to check their hearts and get this issue straight or the consequences are dire. There is no one God despises more than those who convince God's children they are actually not God's children, and they are not beloved. God is jealous for his people, he will not let someone get off scot free who is doing this to vulnerable "children" in the faith.

Without taking away from the seriousness of the issue, this is of course not what that verse is about whatsoever. Just read through the later sections of Mark 9 for context is that the disciples told Jesus:

Mark 9:38-41

“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.”

And then immediately Jesus gives a stern warning about causing those who believe in him to stumble. Clearly the sayings in verse 42 and following are connected directly to the exchange in verses 38-41. The disciples were hyper sensitive about anyone who were not on "their" team in terms having the inside scoop of direct teaching and discipleship from Jesus. So in the disciples' minds, if others were attempting to practice a faith in Jesus without having all their facts right and all their ducks in a row like the, uh, righteous disciples, then they must be stopped.

This was repulsive behavior to Jesus. The first problem is the disciples were more concerned about their standing as superior disciples than actually helping out a fellow trying his best to live for Jesus. He was casting out demons somewhere in the wilderness, their reaction should have been to offer him some water as a simple act of concern and charity, instead of reprimanding him.

The second problem is more spiritual. The disciples' behavior showed they assumed a strong dividing line about who is "in" and who is "out" in terms of a saving faith. This is the specific point Jesus is addressing with the sayings about causing to stumble and millstones. If someone has but a mustard seed, even weak faith in Jesus, without having all their facts right etc, then they are a child of God the Father. If another Christian comes along and "Causes them to stumble" which clearly means causes them to doubt their faith and thus doubt that God is truly their Father, THAT is the person who is in the greatest danger of divine judgment.

This is by far the most shocking and severe threat of divine judgment Jesus gave in the Gospels, and it was directed his own disciples of all people. He obviously wants them to check their hearts and get this issue straight or the consequences are dire. There is no one God despises more than those who convince God's children they are actually not God's children, and they are not beloved. God is jealous for his people, he will not let someone get off scot free who is doing this to vulnerable "children" in the faith.