The Not-so Great Commission?
Matthew 28: 18-20 says: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the
age.”
This is typically known as the “Great Commission” – a call to the
followers of Christ to go and spread His message of salvation. However,
during a conversation at work with a co-worker he doesn’t feel the same
way. He points to the fact that Jesus was talking to a select few, the 11 remaining disciples, so it’s not the purpose of all believers to spread Christ’s message whether it’s through actions or words.
It is the task of those called to missions to do this. For we are only are called to do what we are called to
do. (Which in some sense I do agree with) If God says go and do
this, then we go and do it. If we hear no direct message from God then we sit and
do nothing. Especially since 1 Corinthians
12: 27-30 says:
Now you are the body of
Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has
appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers
of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others,
those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of
tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work
miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all
interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent
way.
Here his argument is that not everyone is called to witness. God has
specific tasks for each of us, otherwise we do not function as a body of
Christ. We all can’t be legs or arms so therefore, everyone isn’t
supposed to witness and spread the word of God.
So to recap:
- As Christians we are all not supposed to spread the word of God.
- If you do not hear a direct message from God, it’s perfectly fine to do nothing.
Now would you agree?
I think Paul says it nicely in Romans 15: 17: Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God.
How does one glorify God? Through the service and representation of oneself to others. If what is done points directly back at God that brings Him glory. To spread the word of God would fall into that category. Whether it’s done by word of mouth or through actions we are witnessing to others when we bring glory to God.
So that brings up the second point on being passive. Can a person bring glory to God if they’re passive? They can’t. How does one have faith in Christ if they are passive? They can’t. Christianity is an extremely active religion. We can’t bring glory to God if we are passive and waiting. True there are times when we seek and discern God’s will on particular things but our faith forces us to be active in our daily life. We can not glorify God if we sit and do nothing. We are always being called to witness as Pastor Ray Stedman has said in one of his messages:
Do you have trouble obeying the Great Commission? I find so
many Christians who are seemingly ineffective in this matter of
being a witness. They hear, over and over, the words of Christ,
“Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature” (Mark 16:15 KJV), and yet they are never able to
witness to anyone. Do you have that trouble obeying the Great
Commission? It is quite possible that you have had that trouble
because you have never realized that the motive that drives us
out to seek the lost is never the imperative of a divine command
– that isn’t enough. That is enough authority, but it isn’t enough
motive, it isn’t enough ability. The motive that drives us out
to seek the lost is not the imperative of a divine command, it
is the impulse of an indwelling presence. It isn’t the world’s
need that calls us out to the regions beyond, it is the love of
Christ which constrains us; that is what Paul says (see 2
Corinthians 5:14). This is the ministry, you see, that is effective,
and that which will indeed make us become witness of his grace.
“We cannot but speak of what God had done for us” Acts
4:20), the early disciples said: “We can’t do anything else
– we have become so filled and captured by what he is to us,
by all the ability that he can give to us, and by all the adequacy
that he is through us to meet every situation that comes to us
– we can’t help saying something about it!” That is the
impulse that makes us witness.
I think there’s a reason as to why the verse is called “The Great Commission.” 
But I guess this is the way the country is headed. Break the rules, whine about it when you get punished and then eventually get your way.
). The 
That leaves me to believe I’m a racist because it just sounded like she was calling for “some action” to happen so that her nomination would be guaranteed. 
Oh yeah, the movie was pretty good too. Entertaining, somewhat accurate from the original story and some nice future plot stuff. 
