Matthew 28 Driven

Welcome to De-Commissioned, a place for former members of the Great Commission movement (aka GCM, GCC, GCAC, GCI, the Blitz) to discuss problems they've experienced in the association's practices and theology.

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[theresearchpersona]

One thing often brought-up with GC is Matthew 28, the "Great Commission". Now interestingly the thing Jesus actually put emphasis on is "love one another" in the NT.

Anyway, one of the things that'd make me want to wack my head against the wall is poor handling of scripture: I was no expert, but it was downright awe-full. So one of the things I though might be interesting is to "handle" this one little bit of scripture so emphasized in GC.

First, "make disciples of all nations" is handled within GC, consistently, according to the many shepherding-like books they've read, which the practices therein are consistent with, that is of making disciples by being a "discipler", but in Matthew the disciples are those of Jesus, and tacking "of Jesus" onto GC mottos and statements doesn't obscure the inconsistency (nor the fact of its emphasis of "here, here HERE"; "OUR VISION", "OUR VISION...").

Second, is the structure of the verses...and this is important; in English it appears as one command after another. As for Greek, I was told by elated in-training-ees how happy they were they didn't have to learn it, odd since practically every old pastor I've ever read about from history emphasized its importance to the pastor, and I think these men were robbing themselves and the people they were supposed to be feeding; I heard over and over of these men saying they were glad they didn't have to go there: announced at meetings when people asked how it wasn't a requirement. But with all the similarities, Greek and English are different animals: in Greek the "commands" listed-off aren't commands; the first part is a command, the rest is all suboordinate clauses: they're describing what was meant by the command to "make disciples". I think a few GC leaders I'd heard actually had any knowledge of this, but the emphasis may've been still on the English.

What's conspicuously absent from "New Testament Christianty" is all of "Church Growth" rhetoric and teaching, any emphasis on the need of human "relationships" for sanctification (rather we're to be subject to one another, all of us, and it's GOD that does that work), programs, programs, programs (which focusing people on deeds may actually be the very opposite in many cases of what the NT teaches, and against which its writers contend). Absent of GC-teachings is any discernment; any exhortation that they're to be Berean with their teachings and oppose them publicly if they err (rather you're to "come to a pastor with your 'concerns'). Absent is Christ's warnings of false "spokesmen", as that's all that "prophets" means (and very 'conveniently' I heard people, nearly always, in going to Church, and even the pastors themselves at the Church just before a service, pray that it be "God's words and not mine that come out of his/my mouth": odd since it was rarely a hefty dose of scripture rather than ideas, ideas, and ideas.

But the final part is what I really want to put attention to: "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you": what JESUS commanded--GC by very basic practices would teach to do otherwise (for instance, Jesus saying not to make oaths or presume about what you'll do tomorrow, and GC by believing that to get "good" attendees at Church you have to have them feel like they've got some commitment, so they have them sign oaths/covenants, which James 5:12 even expounds upon as things that put you "under judgment", which no Christian should ever be brought back under: this is true "legalism" that we're supposed to have been freed from!); the second part is the one I laugh at GC as just absurd, in that it stresses how important it is that human relationships are: funny, though, it does this with anyone not tagging the line, the people usually either opposed to things, or not "feeling" it, or in outright opposition: in the past as people here have said it told of the impending doom of the now "alone" people that "left us", having no confidence in God's Spirit to do anything about it...or realizing that if anyone left and fell it should be an indictment on them that they never did preach to them the gospel, or check those that left for understanding! But it's that last part of the verse I'm interested in at the moment, contra the "needing people" line of GC, for Jesus says "and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age". Always is, lit. "all the days"!

Christ's body, whether the sheep is isolated, or surrounded, is never alone: nor is the trust of an individual invalidated because he can't find siblings who also want obedience to His word.

I'm guessing you guys have lots of insight on all this, so...observations?[/b]

[lone gone]

An OVER-Emphasis on ANY one word,one phrase, one sentence, one paragraph, one chapter, or one book of the Bible can lead to mis-understanding and consequent mis-application.

A few thoughts,

Signing or making an oath is not in itself wrong or evil. This whole practice is a reflection of the"covenant" theology that is prevalent in  American evangelical circles. Over-emphasis on "covenants", whether God's or man's, leads to mis-understandings and shades of meanings that were not intended.

Over-emphasis on any one word,phrase,sentence or the entirety of the Great Commission faces the same risk.

 It takes a life-time of living to see how we ourselves and others around us can swing like a pendulum as we slowly gain maturity and balance in understanding God's meaning and will for our lives.

Never say never and never say always when it comes to Man's understanding of God's will.