I think we all know what the mission is, don’t we. It is the Great Commission. However, have we ever really taken a good look at what the Great Commission is? Because I think if there was a clearer understanding of what the mission was, we would take the nations in short order by mobilizing the reserves to the battle field. Here it is:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20a, NASB)
Now let’s unwrap this a bit. Let’s start with the first word, “go.” It does not say “sit and wait,” but rather GO! This is not something meant to be confined to the four walls of a building. It does not say to invite folks for Sunday service so they can hear an altar call. It does not say be a nice person and wait for someone to ask you how to be saved. It says GO!
Next, it says what we are to do: that is make disciples. It does not say to get folks to say a magic prayer (conversion). It does not say to get people to give you intellectual assent or guilt or fear them into saying a prayer with you. It does not say to invite them to church and hope that years of attendance will disciple them. The marching orders are to make disciples.
Next it says where to start: baptizing them. No mention of a baptism class or an ordained minister. No waiting for the next scheduled baptism at the local church. No waiting until the ice thaws (try the bathtub). Go out there and baptize them immediately, which was the New Testament practice.
Implicit with the command of baptism, is repentance. Because water baptism is called a “baptism of repentance.” No repentance, no salvation: period. Do not participate in making false converts—that is, folks who claim the name of Christ, yet deny Him with their lives. This does not glorify God. In fact, make it difficult to be saved. If they are serious, they will sacrifice all for the Pearl of Great Worth. They must count the cost.
Insist on full repentance. Have them renounce the devil and his works, publicly. Also ask them to sign the blank piece of paper, surrendering all to God. You see, everyone says a prayer saying they will make Christ Lord of their life, but fail to understand what that means. Make it very clear for them.
Now, the final marching order: teach them to observe all Christ’s commands. First of all, this presumes that the mentor is obedient him/herself. This task is not relegated to pastors and teachers of a discipleship class (that’s an oxymoron if I have ever seen one). This is for ALL believers. I know that some of you are saying “I’m not an evangelist or pastor, that’s for them” or ‘these commands were addressed to the Apostles only.” Well, most of Christ’s teachings and all the Epistles were addressed to others. They still apply to all of us!
Now the important takeaway here is that the central mission of the Church is the Great Commission—that is to make obedient, repentant, disciples—radically transformed lives. These disciples are in turn responsible for doing the same (since they obey His commands, and His command is to make disciples). All other ministries must be understood in the context of the mission. We serve the poor and minister to needs as part of the mission, not independent of it. We even fellowship to mutually edify one another—to engage on the mission (1 Corinthians 14:26). Gifted leaders are there simply to mobilize the saints for the mission (Ephesians 4:11-12). It’s all about the mission. And the Sunday spectacular is NOT the mission. In fact, everything else is secondary.
Now notice what it says in Ephesians 4:11-12. The mission workers are ALL saints. It is not paid ministers or simply the “gifted.” We are all soldiers on the mission. Now if we break the mission down to its base component, it is simply one radically transformed saint investing their life in an individual such that they impart the vision and mission to another, radically transforming them, one at a time. Then the newly radically transformed disciple does the same. When done correctly, an unstoppable succession of radically transformed people ensues.
Now for you ministry leaders. I know what you are thinking. You know the mission and have taught it, but can’t get the reserves mobilized to active duty. My question for you is: are you on the mission? I am not talking about teaching and preaching. I mean, do you have a disciple, that you personally led to Christ that you are personally discipling into obedience through sharing your life. Transformed lives are not made intellectually. They are imparted by the Spirit through much personal investment. Therefore, you can’t simply teach people to be on the mission; you must show them. You must personally impart the Kingdom vision and model the mission to develop disciples that reproduce.
I have much more to unwrap, but we’ll stop here.
Next post: multiplication versus addition.
Lord, I pray that you will mobilize multitudes to get on the mission. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Marc Carrier
www.valuesdrivenfamily.com