Now the eleven disciples went to
Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw
him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded
you. And, behold, I am with you to the end of the age” – Matthew
28:16-20, The Holy Bible (English
Standard Version)
Protocols
are rules that govern how a particular procedure is to be undertaken. They are
very important, for example, in diplomatic circles where cross-cultural
miscommunication is always a risk and can lead to disastrous results between
nations. So protocols help lay a foundation for communication so that such
cross-cultural communication is clearly understandable to all parties involved.
In the same way, the Great Commission, the verses quoted above, also offers us
protocols of how Christian influence is brought to bear on the world. It is the
basis of a believers influence as it is addressed not only to the original eleven
but to all who will follow the faith of the eleven, even us. As I stated in the
last post, it is a reminder to us that Jesus’ universal authority has granted
the believer influence to transform the nations.
What
protocols are in place for those that will carry on Jesus’ work of exerting godly
influence in the world? In His imperative to the eleven we see that kingdom
influence is brought about by “going” into the world and “discipling” the
nations. Jesus issues the command to “go” to all the nations obviously with the
Gospel of the Kingdom of God which is aptly captured in Mark 1:14, 15: “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into
Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and
the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” It is
both a proclamation and a demonstration of the fulfillment of the times and the
soon in-breaking of God’s righteous reign in the earth that one can only enter
into by believing in Jesus and turning from one’s sins. The proclamation aspect
is the preaching of the Gospel (Mark 1:14, 15) while the demonstration aspect
is the spiritual power encounters with the forces of darkness (1 Corinthians
2:1-5) as well as the works of love Christians perform (Ephesians 2:10). This
proclamation of the gospel, or evangelism, is the first thing that disciples
are to do in bringing about kingdom influence both corporately and individually
whether targeting groups or individuals.
The
second thing disciples are to do, which is not explicitly stated but assumed in
Jesus’ instructions, is to worship God. Jesus’ death and resurrection becomes
the basis for sinners’ reconciliation with God (2 Corinthians 5:18) so that
they can now be children of the Heavenly Father (John 1:12-13). The essence of this
new relationship with God is one of worship, for how else can a created being
relate to the Creator? Jesus had a told a Samaritan woman who had played the
“I-am-not-from-your-church” card that regardless of places of worship, God the
Father is looking for worshipers who
will do so in spirit and in truth because God is spirit (John 4:23, 24). Such
worship consists of not only set times to go before God in prayer, singing, or
any other practice/s that make His presence more tangible for us – whether in church
or individually – but also extends to the believer’s occupation in life as Paul
exhorts: “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”
(Colossians 3:23, 24). So then worship touches the totality of our lives; it’s
not just a Sunday thing.
Believers are
also to “disciple” those that have heard the gospel. The verb in the original
Greek language is mathēteuō, which means to follow or be a committed student. Interestingly, it is
also the root word from which we get our English word mathematics. This
discipleship is not simply a passing on of doctrinal facts encapsulated in a
formal creed or catechism but is life-on-life. Again Paul sheds more light on
this with his relationship with his spiritual son Timothy: “You, however, have followed
my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my
steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch,
at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the
Lord rescued me” (2 Timothy 3:10, 11). It
definitely encompasses that which is popularly known as mentoring plus more. Moreover,
discipleship is supposed to be a perpetual process that moves from one
spiritual generation to another as Paul instructed Timothy that “what you have heard from me in the presence
of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also”
(2 Timothy 2:2). In Paul’s way of thinking in this verse, four generations are
envisioned: himself, Timothy, “faithful men”, and “others”. This discipleship
is both the personal responsibility of every believer as well as a mandate of
the corporate body of Christ, the church. This is at the heart of the gospel’s
triumphant march to the ends of the world these past two millennia.
Discipleship assumes that
there is a community that nurtures the believer. That community is the church.
When one believes, one is to show that belief and identification with the
Trinitarian God through the act of baptism in water. Baptism itself is symbolic
of the believer’s spiritual union with Christ in His death, burial, and
resurrection (Romans 6:1-3). This spiritual union is effected by the Holy
Spirit who baptizes every believer “into the body of Christ”, the church, in
the spiritual realm (1 Corinthians 12:13). The believer then is not only in fellowship
with the Trinitarian God but also with the community of worshipers of that God
called the church (1 John 1:3). It is in this fellowship that a believer
receives the nurture to fulfill God’s purpose for his/her life (Acts 2:42-47)
and partners with others to fulfill the Great Commission (Hebrews 10:24, 25; Philippians
1:5).
Finally, every believer has
been given a gift that flows from Christ’s grace (Ephesians 4:7-10; Romans
12:3-8) which he/she is to utilize in doing good in the world (Ephesians 2:10).
Christ has granted leadership gifts in the church to bring unity, stability,
and maturity in love so that all believers can work synergistically to fulfill
the Great Commission (Ephesians 4:11-17). So then every believer is in ministry
or service, be it within the church community and/or in the broken and hurting
world outside the believing community. Everyone in the church has a calling and
gifting to match and we are all called to minister or serve.
So
what are Jesus’ protocols for your influence in the world around you? That
influence must center on proclaiming and demonstrating the gospel in
evangelism, worshiping God in spirit and in truth, fellowshiping and
partnering with other believers, being discipled to grow in faith, and serving
your church community and the world around you with your gifts and talents. May
2016 be your year of influence as you centre your life around evangelism,
worship, fellowship, discipleship, and ministry!
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