One of the most memorized passages in scripture is the Great Commission…Matthew 28:19 & 20. Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.
In my upbringing in a Southern Baptist minister’s home, much emphasis was put on this passage as a command for us to spread the Gospel to all broken sinners, and in my young mind that meant anyone outside the church, of different denominations, or who may appear without Jesus (like you can really tell). This was demonstrated to me by holding revivals to the masses at my own church, giving to and praying for missionaries (you know…the one percent of the one percent…you saw pictures and sad videos, but never met them), passing out tracts on choir tours and creating a sensational concert that invoked emotional responses and then leaving feeling good about myself, or holding tight to my small click of fellow Christians and church friends while boldly making our faith known to anyone who might listen. All of this seemed to occur in a very comfortable and protected bubble…somewhat apart from the real world in which we live. Saving lives from a safe distance!
While all of the above mentioned scenarios are not necessarily bad, or without the best and most fruitful intentions, they are NOT the Great Commission. You see, I did not discover what the Great Commission truly meant until the past 4-5 years (I am 41). After a very rebellious and spiritually dead time in my life and marriage, God sent men to pursue me. They listened to me, as opposed to judging me. They walked with me, instead of just getting back with me after reports that prayers had been answered. They invested time in me, instead of scolding me for not attending enough “Church.” They were the church. I was that broken sinner (still am). They cried with me and held me up, instead of looking down on me. They were in the trenches with me, and they showed me the way that I could not see for myself. I felt the love of Jesus.
Later after a career change and a redeemed marriage, God put an opportunity before me to take what I had been given and give it to others. I had been invited to travel to Africa with a team from Grace Klein. I was nervous about leaving my family to travel to a foreign country, and my expectations for our trip were shaped by what I had learned in my youth about spreading the Gospel. We were being sent to serve an up and coming orphanage called Kwathu Home which was located in the inner city of Livingstone, Zambia. Although we became very close to the people and children we were serving, I felt that I was the one being served. This was nothing like what I prepared for or expected. The truth of the matter was that I was no different than these people. There was a very strong lesson that God was teaching me about foreign missions. They don’t need our MONEY! They don’t need our PITY! They definitely don’t need to be “Westernized!” They need our LOVE! We need their LOVE! It’s the LOVE OF JESUS! That LOVE is GLOBAL. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that without LOVE, we and all our acts of kindness and good intentions and benevolence, are nothing.
God does not divinely appoint only those who are the most righteous and who are willing to commit the time or those of us most talented in singing, preaching, or teaching. He does not simply call on those with money to give. He commands us to GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES! This is a multiplying act…steeped in LOVE. It requires us to simply step out of our comfort zone and share the Gospel which has occurred in our lives. I learned that Evangelism is only a small portion of the Great Commission and that we are not commanded to only give a portion of what has been given to us. We are loved fully, so we are TO love fully. Consider now how you can make disciples globally. Consider how you can participate and support the next foreign mission team at Grace Klein Community. I long for the day that I can return to Zambia and the orphanage. I thank Grace Klein for sending me, and I thank God for showing me the whole meaning of His command.
– Gary