The Great Commission

     Matthew 28:19-20 is often called "The Great Commission." What is it that we are commissioned to do? 

     I will quote to you now from the translation of the Bible that I look to the most for my inspiration. It is where I draw most of my daily living from, the “Luke-Warm Comfortable American Evangelical Bible” Matthew 28:19-20:

     “Go ye therefore to safe and convenient places for at most a couple of weeks, eliciting a meaningless emotional response, don’t bother teaching them to obey everything I have commanded onto you, just hand them a Bible and leave, and Lo I am with you always even as you return to your comfortable life and leave them in misery.”

     That is how we view it. And not just in the great commission. I am convicted today that as Solomon said in Ecclesiastes that life is meaningless. What am I doing?

Let’s break it down a bit. Matthew 28:19-20 says:

     “Therefore go” literally “As you are going, where ever you are” It does not say “Therefore go on a mission trip” it says go.

     “make disciples of all nations” Make Disciples! Not get a confession of sin, not get them to say the sinners prayer, not do a hit and run salvation mission. Make Disciples.

     “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” This is easier to do but I think it means a lot more than just getting them wet. A baptism without true conversion is just a quick bath.

     “and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” This is disciple making. We cannot teach them all we have been taught in 30 minutes. It takes a long time. It takes a relationship. It takes us pouring ourselves into them, as Jesus was poured into us by others before us.

     “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” We do not do anything through our own power. It is the power of Jesus that gets things done. We are but weak and broken vessels, He is the power.

     This needs to start first and foremost in my home. 1 Timothy 3:4-5 "He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)

     As I go about my life I am to be a light unto the darkness. I am to be a city on a hill. As I walk the jail daily I should be Christ to the inmates and my fellow workers. I should talk to them, Show them God’s love and for my fellow workers share my belief with them. As I form a relationship with them I share my life with them. As I share my life with them I share Christ with them. As I share Christ with them I share Life with them. I am disciplining them. I am making disciples. 

What is an Old Testament Narrative?

What is an Old Testament narrative?

     A narrative is a story, a history, more importantly, it is HIStory. The story of God and his people presented to teach us about who God is and who we are. They show us our place in Him and act as a guide to direct us in Godly living. However, they are much more than that. They also show us that we are not and cannot be perfect. Even David the ‘man after God’s own heart’ was a sinner who stumbled. As a Christian when we read the narratives, we must realize they are our histories as well.

     How are we to read our HIStory? Is it as simple as reading a self-help book and making a couple of changes? Are the Old Testament narratives a ‘How to be Holy for dummies’ book? No, it is more complicated than that, yet wisdom, guidance and joy can be found throughout.

     To understand the Old Testament narratives it is important that you avoid some common errors and mistakes people make when interpreting the narratives.

1.  The narratives are stories of sinful men. The narratives are about God and his interaction with fallen mankind. Since they are sinners, not everything they do is right or good, just because David did something does not make it right.

2.  They are stories from God about God and not direct teachings on specific doctrine.

3.  They are snapshots of the events written from varying viewpoints and not the complete story on the life of our Bible heroes.

4.  We have to understand the culture and the times to correctly interpret the message implied by the narratives. You must look at who is the narrator, who is the audience and what is happening to get a complete understanding. You cannot ignore the historical context.

5.  Do not try to fit the story to you preconceived notions and doctrines. While we can read between the lines somewhat avoid trying to make it say what you want it to.

6.  Don’t always try to pick out some deep moral meaning. There might not be something there if you have to dig too deep or leap to far.

7.  Take the whole narrative into account you can’t parse the word or you destroy the story. Make sure to keep everything in context.

8.  Don’: t over personalize it. God may very well be speaking to you through the narrative but try not to think it is all about you.

9.  Don’: t try to copy the people in the narratives; the stories are not to be used a roadmap for you life. There are countless valuable lessons to learn from the narratives, but they are not self-help books.

10.  Lastly, if you are confused by a section or not sure of the meaning. Seek help in a commentary, try another translation or ask for some godly advice. Never assume you can muddle through if you don’t understand.

My worldview

What is a worldview?

A worldview, put simply is the prism that we see our world through. Your whole life has shaped your interpretation of the events in your daily life. This has created your worldview and you see life’s events through your unique prism. Every person has their own worldview and they do change over time as our experiences shape it.

What I believe as a person that holds a “Christian worldview”:

The Question of Origin – Where did we all come from? For me that is an easy question, God created everything from nothing by the power of his word and put us here. We only have to read the opening statement of the Old Testament for our answer. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God…” We can also look to the New Testament as John 1:1-3 plainly tell us that God created all.

The Question of Identity – What is Man? Are we just a highly evolved mammal? No, God created the animals and he created man in his own image to rule over the animals (Genesis 1:26-27). We are special; we are not just another type of animal. We are created in the Creator’s image. We have a soul, a spirit and an intellect that the animals do not posses. We are created different. In Genesis 2:19-20 we see how God placed man in dominion over the animals.

The Question of Meaning/Purpose – What is the point of all this? Why did God create it all? God created all for his own glory. He created all things by Himself and for Himself (Corinthians 1:16-17). He did it all for his own purpose (Ephesians 3:10-11).

The Question of Morality – What is right and good? How can we know Right from Wrong? God has given us the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. In the Word we have the Law (throughout the first 5 books of the Bible). It is an absolute framework of right and wrong. And the only acceptable work to enter heaven. Unfortunately we cannot meet it and require a redeemer. We are all guilty under the Law (Romans 2:12-15).

The Question of Destiny – What happens when we die? I believe we will enter into paradise. Luke 23:39-43 tells us the story of the thief on the cross next to Jesus. Jesus said to him this day you will be in paradise with me. To be absent from the body is to be present with God. Whereas Revelation 19: 20-21 describe the lake of fire awaiting all those who do not believe.

How does my worldview affect the way I treat others and His creation?

            I try to treat others, as I would have them treat me, (Matthew 7:12). This is commonly known as the Golden Rule, but it is more then that. I must treat others with the respect I would give to Jesus. I often fail at this but I know that is my standard. We are to treat our wives as our own flesh (Ephesians 5:25-30). I must also we care for his creation. I am commanded to be an environmentalist, a conservator and a manager of God’s creation. That is what Adam was supposed to do in the garden (Genesis 2:15), and we are commanded to be good stewards of all that is His as well.