In today's first reading, some of the people of Israel grow concerned when some perceived "outsiders" are speaking in the name of God. Joshua is alarmed. "Moses, my lord, stop them," he says to Moses.

Moses refuses. "Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets!" he replies.

In today's Gospel reading, the disciples of Christ are chagrined because someone outside their company is performing ministry in Jesus' name. "Do not prevent him," Jesus instructs. "For whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward."

They say that any publicity is good publicity. I don't know if that's entirely true when it comes to religion. The scandals and scoundrels that have afflicted the Christian faith throughout history have not served us well. Unfortunately, not everyone who claims to act in the name of God is truly doing so. Some are, however, and we are warned against setting ourselves, or anyone else, as judges.

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin," Jesus continues, "it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea."

It would appear that Jesus and Moses agree that there is more risk than potential reward in restricting someone's religious practice based on their membership in a particular group. They seem to be comfortable allowing the uncertified to speak in God's name than to run the risk of squelching the Holy Spirit.

While it might make those of us who have invested in the proper certifications uncomfortable to see others performing the same functions without the blessing of the hierarchy, it seems pretty clear from today's readings that it is something we should not be in a hurry to ban or deny.

It is easy for any institution to become more concerned with its own internal operations than with its original mission. Christian churches and ministries are no exception. Policing ourselves is not to be the primary focus of followers of Jesus Christ. We should be far more concerned with meeting the spiritual and physical needs of our communities, and welcome all who will help us in these ministries.

There are all kinds of people claiming to speak for God in our world. On the world stage, religious ideologies fuel wars and insurgencies. On the national stage, social issues are debated using religious language. In our local communities, religious pluralism is a reality that can bring either division or in some cases wonderful unity.

Today's readings point to the potential for unity --- the potential for anyone who claims to act or speak in God's name to be or to become a true servant of God.

"Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets!" Wouldn't it be wonderful, Moses suggests, if everyone was open to and instructed by the Spirit of God? The answer, of course, is "yes." But it would also probably be pretty confusing, too.

The Spirit is the same, but people are different, and God has a frustrating habit of exploding our expectations by working through unexpected characters in unexpected ways. Our challenge is to embrace the love of God when we experience it, and to not pre-judge any person as a potential source of God's loving presence.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa.