Go Therefore

The Great Commission is the marching orders for the people of God. It was the foundation for the creation of the Church.  Jesus himself walked with his disciples for nearly three years to prepare them to receive the commission. 

We understand that the words, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them" tells us that the primary command of the Great Commission is making disciples, which involves identification (baptizing) and instruction (teaching).  Taking this further, we realize that the ability to make disciples is something that is taught and not, as the saying goes, caught.  It is an intentional undertaking. The Church was created to proclaim the Great Commission, but the Great Commission was not given to proclaim the Church.  

It then is practical that the Great Commission must be a part of our professional undertakings.  The expression of one's faith in word and deed is central to the core of making disciples in our work life. It gives greater meaning to our work. Being able to do more than integrate our faith into work, but instead to allow our faith to be a goal of our work fulfills Colossians 3:23-24, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ".

In the online social world that we live in in 2020, the opportunity to be seen and heard becomes drastically increased as we realize that our words and deeds can be carried to a global audience.  The risk of success often is found in the emotional triggers that we all have.  To be successful and a humble representation of Jesus has proved impossible for most people. The ability to be recognized as one who produces a great product or gives a compelling message is, in many ways, easier to execute than staying faithful to the call of Christ.

When Jesus stepped into the story of humanity in human form, he provided a path for humanity to follow.  If we watch carefully the path on which he led his disciples, we see less notoriety than fireside chats and more conversation than proclamation. Jesus was well known and did proclaim the Gospel, but at the core of his message was servanthood.  He placed others above himself. 

It seems that humanity has a problem with pride to the point that we become proud of how humble we feel. We take the risk of cheapening the love of God, to simply loving tasks like helping the poor.  If we buy someone lunch behind us in line at the drive-through, we often feel that we have shared the love of Christ, but isn't it more than that. Isn't it meant to be face-to-face, person-to-person, and heart-to-heart?  When Jesus saw the lepers in front of him, he did more than just love them and touch them; he saved them.  Their lives were better, but the life that he was concerned with was the life beyond the moment – going forward.

Our ministry should look like more than love; it should look like the path that Jesus took.  It was dirty, difficult, deeply personal, face-to-face, and heart-to-heart.  He chose people to walk with him who were ugly, beautiful, rich, poor, good, bad, simple, low class, high class, and everything in between.  He didn't offer a whitewashed one size fits all Gospel; he offered his life. That is what discipleship, as presented by the Great Commission, looks like.