Hi everybody,
Just returned from two days in Denmark on a conference that can be best described as “How to Grow the Kingdom of God”. While most of what was said and taught is nothing new, it is important to be reminded of the goal and mission of the church, namely to make disciples and prepare people for the soon return of Christ. We so easily become distracted by the things of the world that we forget our true purpose and calling on this earth. It is my firm belief that God can use you to bring others into His kingdom. Why would God tell us to engage in this thing we call evangelism if it were not so?
I am reminded of the wise words of an elderly pastor that the calling of God is also the enabling of God (we are not alone). I believe that God wants to use all of us to bring people to Himself. The book of Proverbs says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). The Bible also tells us, “Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who turn many to righteousness will shine like stars forever” (Daniel 12:3). In other words the rewards of helping to lead somebody into a living dynamic relationship with Christ is without a doubt the most rewarding and meaningful thing any human being can do –both for the person leading and the person receiving the message. The bottom line is a relationship with God makes a difference! But do we really believe this?
Let's start with the question of who is called to go into all the world and preach the gospel? Answer: You are! We are! Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20). In fact in the original Greek language, these words are addressed to everyone. Not just pastors, evangelists, and missionaries, but everyone: businessmen, housewives, students, shop keepers, manual labourers . . . everyone. No one is exempted.
Also, in the original language, this is a command. Jesus is not saying, “if you can find time in your busy schedule, as a personal favor to me, would you mind going into all the world and preaching the gospel?” No, the text is written in the imperative. As our Savior, Lord, and leader of the church Jesus is telling us to “Go!” We call this commandment “The Great Commission” and not the “Great suggestion” as some would want us to believe.
The bottom line is that If I am His disciple, I am commanded to go and make disciples of others. If I am not making disciples of others (in other words it is not enough to dip them and drop them), then I'm not really being the disciple He wants me to be! For many of us, however, we simply are not obeying Christ command. The reason our churches have so few visitors who are willing to check Christ out is that we choose not to share our faith in our everyday lives in a natural and relevant way. Equally important is to provide a discipleship process in the church whereby we can help lead a person to Christ-like maturity. Failure to do so is not only killing churches but more importantly disobeying our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
So let me say something provocative to you: to not do it is a sin! The Bible tells us, “Any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). But more importantly we need to understand that God doesn't want you to share the gospel out of mere duty, but with joy and passion. You cannot give what you have not experienced. One of the most exciting and fulfilling things you can do is tell others about Jesus. It actually makes you a better person. It even changes your attitude towards people. This message God has given us was meant to be shared, not hidden away in buildings.
The truth is you were blessed to be a blessing to others. When you do not share, you begin to stagnate (I speak from experience); when you do, you revive and the church experiences a revival. The beauty of sharing your faith is that the Bible reminds us that those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed (see Proverbs 11:25). A win-win situation for all involved.
We all have a choice: evangelize or fossilize! What will you do? What will your church do?
God bless
Berny