Ian's Blog

April 6

I have been reflecting recently on the Great Commission, Jesus' simple and clear, unambiguous and direct command to his friends to "Go" (the clue is in the first word - this is stepping out in faith living), "and make disciples" (not converts, not people who have prayed a prayer once in 1987 - disciples, followers, learners of the Way) "of all nations, baptising them in the name of" (that is into the very character, the identity of) "the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" doing so in His authority, power, and presence (the preceding and following verses). 

It has struck me how churches can replace Jesus' Great Commission with their own False Commissions - commissions that are never talked about, never acknowleged, but none the less the guiding principle of that church from one generation to the next. These are what John Ortberg calls our "shadow mission" - not our public mission statement, but its seven foot tall, deep-breathing, black-mask wearing, Dark Side. Things like:

"Successfully avoiding conflict for 40 years" (that's from John Ortberg)

"We never upset anyone, just being nice is enough"

"We get people into heaven, and never challenge their lifestyles again"

"Religion is a private thing so we don't ask about it, and certainly don't talk about it"

Shadow missions, False Commissions can drive churches for years (we wonder why we do not grow, and can't see that it's because we have repaced the Great Commission with something else, but never address the root cause), and can even destroy them. And so it is healthy to name them, get them out in the open, confess them, and repent of them.

What's ours, I wonder, Lord Jesus?

April 27

AGM and Easter - not great seasons for blogging I have discovered!

Reading Dallas Willard recently, he argues that the Great Commission, which I have blogged about already this month, defines what he calls the "absolutes and principles of the New Testament."

That is, in church we can tend to spend a lot of time on things like: where should the coffee be? should we preach expository or thematic talks? what should our children's groups look like? What kind of songs should the worship group play?

In Dallas Willard's view (Rennovation of the Heart), none of the above questions are about the main thing - and churches should spend less time on these questions, and more time on seeking to fulfil the absolutes and principles of the New Testament, found in the Great Commission. If we did, then these other things would work themselves out. So what is the main thing?

1. Go - Well, the clue is in the word. Get out there, get out into the world, get out of your comfort zones - not "stay", stay comfortable, stay safe, stay in the security of the Christian ghetto, but "go". The Jerusalem church it seems struggled with this one until persecution came along and they had no choice but to go. To Judea, Samaria, and ultimately to the ends of the Earth.

2 Make disciples - not converts, not people who prayed a prayer back in 2004, not passive attendees who will make our church look successful because of the numbers of bums on seats - but disciples, followers, learners of the Way, people who will keep on growing and learining and maturing into the fullness of Christ. 

3. Baptising them - this is about introducing them, embracing them into the powerful presence of God in their lives, and into the belonging community of grace - fellowship with the Godhead and with God's people. New power. New family. New identity.

4 In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - a name was not just a name when Jesus spoke these words. A name told you about a person's nature and character. So this is a call to initiate people into a life long development of the character of God in themselves.

5 Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you - Jesus' command is to love one another. Jesus' command is to live lives of integrated and wholehearted obedience - heart, mind, lifestyle. We are meant to teach, train, equip, enable, challenge, and encourage one another to live this kind of life, which is a normal Christian life.

The framework for this activity is Jesus' own authority and presence - we have it, He gives it to the church by His Spirit, so now we are meant to go do what He has told us to go do.

This is the main thing.