Now, to be fair, there was the caveat that not everyone was called to a cross cultural "going". However, in one way, shape, or form Jesus was telling you to get up and get going. After all, didn't the Apostle Paul warn in Romans 10:14-15 about the desperate need to go? "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?" The Lord already sent so if you do not go they will not hear, will not believe, will not call upon the Name and will be lost for all eternity. And it is your fault. Well, being a rather subdued personality with a gift to teach I always felt really short on the evangelism thing. Sure people came to faith through my teaching of God's Word. Lives have been changed, addictions broken,and families restored. But, that confrontational evangelism "go" thing has never been me. Then I took a closer look at Matthew 28.
The words translated as verbs are "go", "make", and "baptizing". The Greek text shows us that "go" is an aorist passive participle. Aorist is the least definite verbal ending in Greek. It can be a simple past however, it tends to be indefinite in its translation, not really something to build a commission upon. Passive is something done to you and participles are pretty easily understood by adding an "ing" ending. "Make" is to teach or instruct. It is an aorist, active, imperative. This is the only command we find in these verses. We are commanded to teach or instruct the nations how to follow Messiah. Then we are to be baptizing them, present, active, participle. So we should be actively baptizing people all the time. Our Lord's instruction to His disciples was pretty simple. As you go through your life, directed by the Spirit of God (remember you are passive here), you are commanded to teach those around you to be disciples. In Verse 20 we find that the word translated "teach" is a present, active, participle . This means you are to consciously actively, continually be offering instruction concerning everything the Lord has commanded. When they determine to become disciples of Christ we are to direct them to make a public display of their desire to be Christ's disciple through baptism. (By the way, the "go" command in Mark 16 is also passive so there is no command there either).
Now how do we fulfill these instructions? Fortunately, God left directions that everyone of the twelve, and whomever else was present, would know. It is passage they all have memorized and recited thousands of times as they grew up. It is found in Deuteronomy 6:5-9, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
We begin by loving God with all of who we are, mind, soul, and strength. Second we put all of God's words, commands, and statutes into our hearts. We integrate them into our lives. Third, you teach them diligently to your children. You are to put them on display when you sit in your house (what you watch on TV), when you walk by they way (how you treat the check out clerk at the store when no one has been there to help you find the item you needed), when you lie down (bed time prayers), and when you rise up (How do they see you approach each day with the Lord?). Everything your hands do reflects God's Word, everything you think demonstrates His truth in your life, They mark how you live in your city and in your home. Pretty practical stuff. Live like you say you believe.
When you do this be prepared for 1 Peter 3:15 to become true in your life, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." If you live separated unto God your behavior will be noticeable, maybe even irritating, to the people around you. So be prepared to give a clear, loving, gentle, answer as to what the Lord has done for you and what He can do for them as well. Begin to teach them of the Way, the Truth and the Life so they can come to the Father and know life eternal.
So you have no need to feel guilty for not going or not being that confrontational evangelist you may have been told to be. There isn't really any imposing "Great Commission" being held over your head. You are not responsible for every person who has not heard. You are not responsible to "go" anywhere, unless the Lord so directs you to go, (that passive thing kicks in here). You are responsible to live. To be who God made you to be. Your thoughts and actions need to be reflective of His thoughts and actions. We need to think about what answer to give concerning the hope within us so when people ask we are prepared.
Having read this post you will now be on your way with the rest of your day. God is not commanding you to go anywhere, but as you go where ever today might take you be aware of the opportunities to be teaching and developing relationships. Living in such a way that the hope in you is on display. The Lord will give you the opportunity to be making disciples as you are going. Oh, if that is a bit intimidating, remember He will be with you always, even to the end of the age.
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