Monday, May 15, 2006

Evangelism - Whose Job Is It, Anyway?

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Jesus, Matthew 28:18-20)

Evangelism. Whose job is it, anyway?

Is it Jesus’ job? After all, the authority is his.

Is it our job? We’re the ones told to go.

Is the pastor’s job? After all, Jesus was speaking to the apostles – not just ordinary folks. (The apostles were paid professionals, right?)

Jesus’ words contain a wonderful balance. We are indeed commanded to go. Yet before and after Jesus’ great command – his Great Commission – he reminds us that he is with us. We can only effectively go, make disciples, baptize, and teach if his presence empowers us. Furthermore, we will only have the encouragement and stamina we need if we comprehend that Jesus is with us. To Jesus be the glory!

Now it’s true that, in context, Jesus was speaking to the apostles. This also aids our understanding of evangelism: Jesus doesn’t intend each Christian to try to fulfill this command on his or her own – evangelism (and discipleship!) can only be effectively and properly fulfilled in the context of the church.

Before his tragic death in 1982, Keith Green used to travel the country exhorting Christians to get out onto the mission field. He sang these words:

Jesus commands us to go -But we go the other way.
So he carries the burden alone,
While his children are busy at play,
Feeling so called to stay.
(“Jesus Commands Us to Go”)


Keith Green’s theology was not at its best in this song. It is true that we often “go” the other way… And it is true that Jesus “carries the burden.” But he never carries it alone. He empowers believers, and empowers the church, to do the work he has commanded.

And come to think of it, I don't think that Jesus would call the work a "burden." And neither will we, when we experience the joy of being used by him in this great work.

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