Friday, November 06, 2009

If you don't find this convicting, you aren't paying attention

A sobering and convicting post from Dave Black, Making a mockery of the Great Commission, reproduced in its entirety.

Our business as Christians is to make disciples of all nations. That’s what we’re here for. By life or by death, by what we do and do not do, in body and in spirit, our business is to work for the expansion of God’s kingdom on earth.

It is easily possible for us to so focus on our own little communities of faith that we come dangerously close to making a mockery of the Great Commission. Such an attitude is a serious symptom. It reveals a growing disease of the spirit that could become an incurable malignancy. Churches that are in this in-grown state are not concerned about it. There is no doubt about the crisis but our conduct is not rising to the occasion.

Theoretically and theologically we may believe in the Great Commission, but our belief does not motivate much activity. The situation around the world is desperate, but we are not. We drug and dope our consciences and allow things to go on as things have always gone. A sense of urgency for world evangelization is fast disappearing from us.

Demas had to choose between Paul and this world (2 Tim. 4:10), and he chose the world. This is a choice that every Christian, and every church, has to make. In Matthew 9:35-38 we see that Jesus went and went and went to all the cities and villages, teaching, preaching, and healing. Wherever He went He left a trail of blessing. This same Jesus lives in all of us who know Him. This ought to make a difference.

I encourage all of us to go “all out” for Jesus. He deserves it. Let the dead bury the dead. It’s time to plow a straight furrow looking straight ahead.

Ouch. I see myself in too much of that.


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1 comment:

Steve Martin said...

Don't feel too badly.

You do quite a lot to get the gospel message to people.

Just recently you went amongst the Mormons with that aim.

Jesus told us to go and abptize and teach all peoples (ponta ethnae - the whole world).

There are quite a lot of people in our own backyards and in our own families that need to hear it.

Of course, none of us are really good stewards of every opportunity.

And that word of law does condemn us as it condemns us in every aspect of life where we fall short of perfection.