The Great Commission part 1
We spent a Rant series looking at who we are--Disciples of Christ, students of love, learning how to love by learning how we are loved--now let's look at what we are called to DO as disciples. "Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him--but some of them doubted! Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age"" (Matthew 28:16-20, NLT). There it is. The Great Commission. Right at the end of Matthew's gospel. Man, there's a lot to get into here. A resurrected Jesus, right? And some of the disciples STILL DOUBTED!!!! Unbelieveable. I hope it wasn't my namesake, old "Doubting" Thomas himself. He had already poked his fingers into the wounds, right? If anybody was good to go, he should have been. But I digress. I'll do another Rant series about Thomas here at some point. For today, let's set our foundation. And, to me, you know it's not the traditional religious foundation. It's the foundation of love. To me, it's single-mindedly simple. What would Jesus possibly commission His students of love to do... but go practice what you preach! How does a disciple make a disciple? How does a student of love practice what he's been taught and what he's learned? By loving people, of course. By letting the love that he knows is inside come out! And I know there's a lot to be said about "The Trinity." The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Godhead three in one. We might get into that a little bit. I like some of that stuff. But, to me, you baptize, or immerse, people in the name of God--which, in a Word, is love--without even saying "God." Or "Father God." Or "The Son of God." Or "The Spirit of God." Some of the best conversations I've ever had about God where when the other person didn't know that's what we were talking about. Because we were simplhy talking about love. If you try to shove "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" down people's throats you are not fulfilling the Great Commission. You're not making disciples, and you're not baptizing people. You're shoving "God" down people's throats and making them choke on Him. Run from Him. You're presenting Him in a way that makes people run FROM Him instead of running TO Him. And that's not even getting into the idea of "teaching these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you." Man! We make it hard on newbies! An immediate list of does and don'ts and someone looking over their shoulder to make sure they do and don't! Talk about intimidating right out of the gate. Where's the mercy? Where's the grace? Where's the love? Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant--which was never given to YOU unless you're a Jewish person anyway. He gave us the New Covenant and the New Commandment--love one another as I have loved you. That's what a disciple--a student of love--has learned, and can therefore teach. It's all about love, man. Whether you doubt or not, whether you think there's more to it or not... Love one another as Jesus loves you. Receive and release His love. Love people. God and people. Love God and love people. Love God BY loving people. Love God back (by loving people) with the love that He has already loved you with! That, friends, is why the Great Commission is so great!