Who Will Build Whose Church #2

In the first of these observations I separated Christians into two crowds.  Crowd A I labelled as those more likely to get on and meet needs with the assumption that God is involved by default.  Crowd B I labelled as those who do not move until the are specifically sent by the Lord.  Today I want to offer where I think the tension lies regarding the New Testament.

 How you see the 'Great Commission' (Matt 28:16-20) will guide how you perceive works.   The vast majority of Christians like the Bible translators feel this sending of the Disciples applies to everyone who becomes a Christian.  Seeing the words of Jesus to the disciples as a commission for everyone gives the green light for believers to go and embark upon a project and assume Jesus is in it. I'm not at all sure this is what is happening here.

Rules around interpretation of Biblical text say that the plain meaning of the text is the very first consideration. With that in view what is reported in this text is Jesus sending his Disciples 'into all the world to go and make disciples' etc.  This applied to those stood in front of him when he said it.  So to assume this specific sending applies to everyone by default is not a correct rendering of the text.

From Disciples to Apostles

The name given to the Disciples after they were sent was 'apostalos.'  This means 'sent one.'  So the assumption that everyone who becomes a Christian is sent to the Great Commission means we are all Apostles. This contradicts Ephesians 4:11 where some are called to various Apostolic gifting.  Those who are called to be Apostles will undergo the process of being prepared to be sent but not necessarily the same destination.   So we are clear about this the Lord has had the journey of most sent Bible characters outlined for us.  It involves many years of preparation to become the vessel through which the Lord can work.  It is therefore impossible to become a Christian and suddenly be sent by Jesus... it just contradicts God's clear processes outlined in the Bible.

So because all are not Apostles having been sent, it follows that the Great Commission was showing that Jesus can and will send those called to Apostolic gifting.  It does not implicate every Christian to 'Go into all the world and make disciples.'

So how do we serve God?

It's much easier to do good works if we assume the Great Commission is our own sending.  However doing good works is much more simple than having to impose bible verses upon them.  To return to the original question we are asking, we can simply designate gifting to Crowd A and Crowd B:

• Crowd A, the get on and do it crowd are more like Deacons.  Gk. diakonos
• Crowd B, The wait on the Lord's specific sending are more like Apostles.  Gk. apostolos 

Most people who are Apostolic start in Crowd A but find they are called to Crowd B.  Crowd A still have to pray and find out what the Lord wants to do but do we really need a Bible verse to feed the poor, help the homeless, help widows and orphans?  Crowd B need to make sure they are actually on a program of preparation from the Lord.  Crowd B know with searing accuracy that the Lord has this kind of calling and it's evidence is as plain as the day.  Just be aware that there is a vast number who are neither Apostles or Deacons.  That means you simply live your life with a moment by moment sensitivity to the Lord's leading and walk in it.  No sweat!  

Whatever your desires and passions, make sure the Lord is the one generating it, not a vision statement, assumed bible verse or pressure to show how spiritual you are.

Gary Ward