Last week I wrote about how a church can learn a language for the purpose of collectively sharing the Gospel with people of another tongue. Why should a congregation do such a thing? Because of a little (OK, huge) thing called the Great Commission.
Matthew 28:19. Bible scholars, pastors, grandmas and little kids in Sunday school classes know it by heart. Say it with me, “Therefore go…”
Why is it the things we “know” so well are the things we can so quickly forget and consequently refuse to apply to our lives?
I know my brother loves me. I know this because he shows me in weird boy ways, like giving me dirty looks, calling me names and squeezing me when we hug until I’m choking on his massive pecs. (It’s disgusting, really.) Yet sometimes when he pokes fun at me and shines light on my insecurities, it’s like I forget he loves me and instead assume he wants to viciously rip me apart from the inside out.
Similarly, when I learn something about God or receive a clear directive from His Word, it can be so easy for that very thing to slip my mind. I get caught up in my instant reactions to situations and seek my comfort zone instead of the higher standard to which He’s called me–like, “Therefore go.” Or sometimes, “Stay.”
God currently has me in stay mode. Or maybe I should call it go mode in a different context. Sure, I no longer maintain an international missionary visa, but sharing Jesus’ love and truth is still my calling. And not only mine, but that of every believer.
Since returning from living overseas I’ve been frustrated with the lack of many churches’ involvement with evangelism. Sure, some give to missions offerings, especially this time of year. This is wonderful, but not everything. I could be ignorant, but I haven’t seen much genuine interest, let alone activity, regarding missions. Unless, that is, you call church ministries and programs “missions.”
People have pointed to monetary problems and the current economy for why evangelism has decreased in the local church. We have made the Great Commission conditional. It does not belong to only me and a few thousand other followers of Christ who have surrendered their lives to living in strange lands for the sake of telling people about Jesus. Nor does it solely belong to a parachurch organization that strips local congregations of their duties, as J.D. Greear writes. Instead, it belongs to everyone who claims to be a Christian, and is the joyful duty of the bride of Christ.
Ernest Goodman calls for examples of churches with a Great Commission focus at the core of their existence. Such bodies of Christ are daring to step out of a current, broken system of church that is too afraid or lazy to be different and truly pursue this directive from Scripture.
I recently heard of a church that has agreed to partner with work in Asia for the next 25 years. Is that your church? If not, why not? Let the world know if you’re doing something similar. Tell us how your church’s primary function is to glorify God and share his truth with the world.
This is something we can’t just know–it’s something we can’t forget.
I do not know the entire story behind the church that is committing to 25 years but I like their thinking.
I think we’ve either forgotten the Commission or we’ve re-interpreted it to mean- well, pretty much whatever we want.
There are some churches who are taking it seriously, though. More and more we’re seeing entire congregations find unity and purpose in the Great Commission.
Caleb, I agree that we have become comfortable with the Great Commission coming to mean “pretty much whatever we want.” It would be healthy for all churches and believers to re-examine how each is living this out in comparison with how Christ did throughout the gospels.
“…a church that has agreed to partner with work in Asia for the next 25 years.” Great to hear, but my experience is that most supporting churches a) expect a missionary to last just a couple of years in the field or b) want to “change who they support” every year or two. We need a longer-term outlook in missions, both in Stateside churches and for missionaries–or at least for the work to be continued in a field, not changing focus at will.