The second part of the commission is we are to make disciples. You see it is not just an exercise in saying a quick and dirty prayer and then plugging the person into ministry. There is no discipling in that. The dictionary defines a disciple as someone who is an adherent to the doctrines of another, in this case Jesus Christ. Jesus realized early on in His ministry that some were following Him in words only:
"So why do you keep calling me "Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say? - Luke 6: 46 (NLT)
A disciple does what Jesus said to do. It is not a casual relationship. Too many Christians want to date Jesus while He is looking for a commitment. So much wrong with churches today revolves around this notion of casual Christianity. That you only need sacrifice an hour on Sundays. Maybe show up at a prayer meeting. Serve in a ministry. Go to the Christmas gala. We won't infringe on your life too much...
Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? - Luke 9: 23-25 (NLT)
The Bible here teaches us that we are supposed to give up our lives for the sake and cause of Christ. How often is that preached before an altar call?
The third part of the Great Commission is - all nations. This is especially important here in America where Christians often have more pride in their earthly citizenship than their heavenly one. America was never under covenant with God - the church is. That church spreads across the globe into the underground of China and the deserts of Lebanon. We are conditioned in this country to view ourselves as exceptional and everyone else as either beholden to us or less than us. But the Bible teaches us that we are citizens of heaven and that we are pilgrims and sojourners through this world now. Part of the problem with carrying out the Great Commission is that far too many of us have become residents in a world we are only supposed to be walking through. This is not lost on the unsaved as we squander the authority of Christ as foolishly as the Prodigal Son squandered his father's fortune. We are not supposed to look down on people. The foot of the cross is even for everyone and God does not only bless America beloved.
Fourth we see the mandate on baptism. Sometimes it seems as if we treat baptism too casually as well but if we follow the train of thought here from Jesus we see it is an integral part of making disciples. In the age of quick prayer salvations it is even more important that people understand the decision they are making. Baptism is a public declaration of your new faith in Jesus Christ. It is a conscious decision to bury your old life with Christ and be resurrected with Him as a new creation. It is no wonder that such a small percentage of folks who come up for altar call make it to baptism. Even still the new trend in churches is to dumb down this sacred mandate as well. Under the excuse of fear of public speaking so many are simply allowed to nod assent when asked if they now publicly declare faith in Christ. As someone who suffered for many years with panic and anxiety, I understand the fear of public speaking. But what are we failing to teach them?
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first. - 1John 4: 16-19 (NLT)
