The Great Commission
“and I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; . . .” Matthew 16:18
I – We need a new Bible, the Word of God according to evangelical interpreters. Of course, you might argue that we already have such a book. I had two men show up at my door this morning who wanted to share the “good news.” I think they were a little dismayed when I began to explain Scriptures to them in Hebrew terms. One man vociferously defended the fact that we are born sinners by consistently pointing to the verse in Romans – “as by one man sin entered into the world”- arguing that this means we all have a sinful nature. He refused to acknowledge that the verse doesn’t actually say this. It didn’t matter what the verse said. It only mattered what he believed it said.
Yeshua tells us something about the great commission in this verse in Matthew. He says that He will build His church. I don’t think we actually hear what He says. We think He says, “You will build My church by proselytizing, recruiting, programming, planting or otherwise making members.” Our great commission is church planting. Yeshua’s great commission is quite different – disciple! Yeshua is most concerned with pouring life into other lives so that others will experience first-hand the presence of God in their midst. Yeshua makes us responsible for attaching ourselves to others in life-to-life involvement. He rejects all of the disconnected, passive, hierarchical systems of the world. He pleads for unity.
But we build. We build organizations, programs, processes, campaigns, schools and missions. We construct edifices that absorb funds, time and people without creating community. We make the “Church” the head of the organization and we become its CEO’s. No wonder the “church” is a mess, emulating the behavior of the world, driven by the same systems and goals. This is a variation on an old, old theme – taking God’s goals into my hand so that I can control the outcome. Havvah tried it in Genesis 4:1. We are still attempting to make it work today. We call it “partnership” with the Lord (just as she did) but the truth is that we only want the Lord to assist us, not to run the show.
Today the “church” loves control. In spite of the rhetoric, it endorses a passive Body, a professional hierarchy and a financial model that spends but doesn’t produce. It seems to reflect one of those basic patterns of the world. Heaven forbid we actually empowered believers in the Body to do what God has equipped them to do. That would threaten the staff’s control. If we allowed (notice the word) such a thing, it would be His church, not ours.
The great commission isn’t about bringing in the un-churched. What kind of word is that? What does it imply about our focus? Most of us seem to attend the “church” started by Eve – a church that thinks it is the general partner is a joint venture. Maybe it’s time to stop trying to do God’s work for Him. “Disciples, wanted, not decisions.”
Topical Index: church, Eve, Havvah, Matthew 16:18
Comment number one.. I believe the word is “oy!”. Anyway.. Once my eyes settle from rolling in my head I enjoyed today’s article with a smile. Why? because He said, “I” will build my church and I (that is me) am ecstatic He said so. It sure does remove a lot of pressure to “produce!” He also said.. (are we listening?)..”if you follow me, I will make you fishers of men”. Are we “fishing” or are we following? His “great” command to go ye therefore into all the world and make “converts” er.. disciples.. (lol). The focus of this verse and the focus of our lives should forever be this “I”, and not the “I” who is writing this response. He must increase, but “I” must decrease. Not to steal your thunder, but He said (again) I will build “my” church. The “church” belongs to Him. It is His body and it is His (future)bride. We are bought and we belong to Him. Hallelujah! and Glory to G-d! He has purchased us by His own blood. We are the redeemed ones. We are His not only by way of Creation, but also through the incredible purchase price of Calvary. “For it is G-d that worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure”. When we can say with our Teacher- “I delight to do Thy will”, G-d is glorified, the Son is magnified and we are satisfied. Today, our prayer can be, “Here am I LORD, send me”. “Chop, pick or plow”.. “I delight to do what pleases you.. my Father.
BRAVO! [loud whistles] BRAVO! ENCORE! ENCORE!
Keep speaking the truth Brudder–help us open our eyes and re-orient to what we have really been called to do. I recognize that there are different strokes for different folks–this is the kind of At God’s Table I can’t forward fast enough to 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 friends to get them thinking because it gets me thinking (and excited).
Please keep going on this theme.
Blessings Bro
Skip, this one is a “keeper”! Only I’m not going to keep it just for me. I’m going to send it to the “senior” pastor of the church building I attend, and to his two young (in their ’20s) assistant pastors. One of them is the “senior’s” son, and the other is the son of an elder. Both young men were raised in that “church”, then left the state to attend Bible colleges, etc. The son of the elder has brought with him his secular style of “rock” music, placed the band on the platform and he plays guitar and sings so close to the microphone that it drowns out nearly everything else. I have corresponded via email with him and in person concerning the subject of “rock” music (and modern choruses which don’t even have melodies to follow). He is determined and does once in awhile include one of the wonderful hymns which we were raised on…..including him! But an atmosphere of worship is just about gone!! : ( The saddest thing about the “rock” mindset of that young man is that what he does with music is so foreign to his spirit and soul!!!
He is a precious man of God, sweet and tender in nature, loves the Lord and knows Him well. His relationship with God is wonderful to behold, especially in the messages from the Bible that he brings occasionally, and in his praying.
I didn’t mean to get off on that subject, but that young “pastor” is very much on my heart today, and every day.
This content of Skip’s post today has been a deep grief in my heart for many years, and I even stopped attending any of the institutional “churches” for years……even tried a couple of so-called “home churches”. Similar problems in those that exist in the institutional ones.
Thanks for “listening”!!
Helen
This post today expresses my profound sadness and alienation from the church which is organized as a government approved (IRS qualified) corporation. My wife and I stopped going to our local church building last year. I anticipated Helen’s experience with “home churches” from past experiences with home fellowship groups and didn’t bother trying that path. There is a very small Messianic congregation (10-15 people…and been that way for years) near by that I attended once but most of the service including the songs were in Hebrew (which I am working to learn) and my wife has no interest in attending. We watch DVD’s and listen to MP3 teaching together and contribute our giving to charities that help the needy in lieu of a congregational experience. Does anyone have any ideas for face to face fellowship?
Good morning Skip.
Without doubt you are right on target for what purpose and means “we” build His churches. If we are not in charge we will try to destroy–not seek and gather. The older we get the more we want to control instead of teaching the younger generations how to manage. We are afraid of giving up or loving all the “power” we have gained over the years. Everyting we do is about us, not Him. We do whatever is necessary to build a legacy so we will be remembered years to come–then forgotten. Jesus will always be remembered regardless of how large the monument we may build to ourselves.
He will build his church and appoint his leaders, and it will prevail. If we build a building and call it church, we get to appoint the leaders, but it will not stand the test of time–too many proven organizations have shown this is the path we do not wish to follow.
Have a great day in our Lord.
Nick Holloway
I have a great concern about “church reform” when the target is the institutional church. I have seen it in numerous events: Faith at Work, Promise Keepers, and others who have the goal of renewing the church and end up being a sort of church themselves and those who participate leave the institutional church because it will not “reform.” I recognize that the institutional church is far from perfect, but I do not know where I could have found a more loving group of people to associate with. I will not betray the institutional church while I will continue to nudge and teach it that there is a better way to work.
Very nice Skip, thanks for it! Discipleship is really a very challenging job, maybe that’s why most of us keep avoiding it. I wish I could depend/rely more upon Him for doing the Job that He wants from me, and not trying to interfere with His work. Surely gotta work that with Him.
Just a short question: What’s the true meaning of that verse where it says that sin entered by one man to the world? beats me! and curiosity weighs more than shame, hehehe… could you (or someone else) please point a reference of where in the blog I could find it? Maybe I forgot something or maybe I didn’t put enough attention. :$ Thanks!
Excelente artículo. Me ha confirmado lo que por tanto tiempo he observado en este pais El Salvador: hambre de construír edificios pero no para ser discípulos. Hambre de construir imperios pero no para pescar hombres sino admiradores. Y, tiene razón, Dr. Moen: Ahora ya no hay siervos. Hay profesionales. CEO´s, pues. Le admiro y respeto por su valor para declarar estas cosas. ¡gracias a usted y Hna. Bessy!.
Roy, this has been my experience where I now attend. You said:
“I recognize that the institutional church is far from perfect, but I do not know where I could have found a more loving group of people to associate with.” If not for them and their love and prayers for me, it would have been so much more difficult for me to deal with the grief of losing my beloved husband just 3 months prior. I thank God for them and for leading me to them.
Helen
Skip, what am I missing in regard to the “sinful nature” comment?
Is it that the guy used that verse or is there more to his error?
What does Paul’s words suggest in Romans 7:15-24?
I realize this goes into a correct understanding of “justification” and “sanctification”.
Thanks for any feedback you can give.
Shalom
Check it out about Yeshua’s prophecy against Jerusalem’s temple. We must go beyond we can see at the surface. What are the implications of that destruction and what it is its meaning to us today. What place we give to the meaning that WE are Hashem’s temple. We, the people, not a piece of concrete or a piece of steel.
IGS
I thank you all so much my understanding of the concept of hebraic thought is evolving daily as I prayer then research my views and thoughs I am forced into the reelation of what Our Father truely has done.
I thank you all so much my understanding of the concept of hebraic thought is evolving daily, as I prayer then research my views and thoughs I am forced into the revelation of what Our Father truely has done.