What Is The Great Commission?

[Waterfall]

What is the Great Commission? What does the Bible tell us it is? Discipleship or evangelism?

Is evangelism the same as discipleship?

Does making disciples include those who know Jesus and those who do not?
Does evangelism include both of the above?

 

[Mendalla]

Is evangelism the same as discipleship?

I think it would be more part of discipleship, would it not? There's more to being a disciple than evangelizing (or I hope so).

I will wait for other reactions before saying more since it's a bit out of my wheelhouse nowadays. What passage is the "Great Commission' again?

 

[paradox3]

Matthew 28: 16-20

 

[paradox3]

I have always found these words beautiful and stirring. But they are post resurrection which is important to keep in mind.

We need to consider the gospel writer's reasons for attributing them to Jesus.

As written, I would say these words address both evangelism and discipleship. However, interpretation often seems to weigh more heavily on the evangelism side of the equation.

 

[Luce NDs]

Evangelism is like black iron ... very cutting in the process of winning ... even Peter was told to put it away ... eternal satyr? It has a kick better than mortal funnies ... then there was that individualized ear! Maintain the silence ... sectors of the great monkey rule ... and yet were we supposed to learn anything about the corruption of power? Appears we didn't ... as a youth in church it was explained that love and knowledge was terribly evil ... and we should devote our lives to listening to that stand alone rhetoric ... emotional intellect was out ... fringe-like!

Today's youth appear to sense something is wrong with systemic faith ... hard lines and all that ... they search while the old school ... well Dais in their tracks ... having learned little ... a humble lesson? Small stuff or critical detailing's ...

In science (supposed to be observational) what you see is not what you get due to endogeneity ... where the desires depart from facts and data to reinforce the one wishing to win regardless ... one may sense an oncoming collapse of the world tree ... ground breaking event (Yggsdrasil is said to be silly as Humpty's fall) ... but if virtue is rejected in the urge to win ... is there a contra? Such is the state of myth ... not quite how presented ...

Then there is that deep throat ... entrenchment where? Ye saw what? Now there's a vision to regard ... yet frequently eliminated ... if you can do that with I Zues ... what are the options ... be prepared for the loops and tangles ...

Abstract ... you can bet on it as quirk anon ... a coming odd event?

For instance in an overpopulated world what is an abortion ... symbiotic nature of poor planning; considering folk were directed to not think ... and they didn't ... contra conspiracies? To all forces it seems there are distant counterforces ... just you wait a bit ... in NB the RVngs believe the Higgs particle is in pocket ... thus dark tears through the forest Gump ...

 

[Waterfall]

However, interpretation often seems to weigh more heavily on the evangelism side of the equation.

I think I know what you're saying here, but can you explain how evangelism may overstep the boundaries?

 

[Luce NDs]

Is abortion something going on within political institutions to establish unmentionables ... undie lying fabrications?

 

[jimkenney12]

"Go and make disciples of all nations" sounds like evangelism to me. Discipleship includes evangelism. Evangelism means sharing good news. Unfortunately many Evangelicals share more bad news than good news. They fail to see things from the recipients point of view

 

[Luce NDs]

"Go and make disciples of all nations" sounds like evangelism to me. Discipleship includes evangelism. Evangelism means sharing good news. Unfortunately many Evangelicals share more bad news than good news. They fail to see things from the recipients point of view

Can this receive a spin ...

One must appreciate how this stuff takes off ... with vast incentives and unfair wages? Tis economic egoism ... when all that counts is what's on Monique ... eek that's fearful ... to believe anything goes to the winning Christian ... Trumpeting all of one singularity? Ungodly goals when rejecting humility and esteem takes over as that other word ... hubris?

Then what if it comes down hard? Oh neigh Mrs! MOG ... dark and unseen ... psychic nightmare ...

Bayj eases could this occur as obtuse ... like Caesar stated "ET TU?" Then the pall formed ... the smouldering burn?

Word can be a cutting essence ... especially if you can hear, see and smell the stuff going on ...

 

[paradox3]

I think I know what you're saying here, but can you explain how evangelism may overstep the boundaries?

Despite having a liberal United Church upbringing, I was raised with certain ideas I have since rejected. This passage was often quoted in Sunday school and it's very, very familiar.

Among those ideas: only Christians will achieve salvation; there would be no morality in the world if Jesus had not come; it is the duty of every Christian to bring non-christians to Christ.

The narrative also has Jesus telling the disciples to remember what he had taught them. I wouldn't say the parables and other ethical teachings were overlooked in my religious upbringing. But the great commission was largely seen in terms of going out to bring others to Christ for the sake of their salvation.

 

[Luce NDs]

A great commission in an economic psyche is how much goes in the money bags --- some high administrator! Expect extreme variants given the predominance of political extremists!

 

[Mendalla]

But the great commission was largely seen in terms of going out to bring others to Christ for the sake of their salvation.

Whereas, you could just tweak that understanding to mean going out to bring Christ's message to others, much as teachers of some other traditions do, without the colonialist, imperialist notion that they must be brought into the fold for their own good. Present the message, but if it doesn't take or takes in unexpected ways, then move on and do not have this expectation that they MUST become Christians for both your and their good. Because I think it must be clear in the 21st century that Christianity is not, and never will be, any more a universal religion than any other. It has ideas to contribute to the discourse, but evangelism must be done in the spirit of dialogue, not monologue.

 

[Luce NDs]

Whereas, you could just tweak that understanding to mean going out to bring Christ's message to others, much as teachers of some other traditions do, without the colonialist, imperialist notion that they must be brought into the fold for their own good. Present the message, but if it doesn't take or takes in unexpected ways, then move on and do not have this expectation that they MUST become Christians for both your and their good. Because I think it must be clear in the 21st century that Christianity is not, and never will be, any more a universal religion than any other. It has ideas to contribute to the discourse, but evangelism must be done in the spirit of dialogue, not monologue.

However one must put the hammer down Mac! Mac being an ancient word for black ... perhaps dark irony! That can blow some essences away ...

 

[Waterfall]

To be honest, Jim Kenny's, thread, got me thinking.
Why did Jesus show up while the disciples were fishing? Why was he telling them to throw the nets over the other side? Why were the numbers so important?
Why was it so important to know who Jesus was when he showed up and to love him?
Is discipleship more about walking with and being with all walks of people and demonstrating what Jesus looks like?

 

[Luce NDs]

Maybe the story was a myth incarnated about something totally different than it appeared ... like the US committing treason against the Past POTUS' best friend .. or maybe contrary to how it manifested? Should a person rely on innate concepts?

It is not usual as we often listen to alien sources of really unproven authority! Gof Igure ... how that appears in a world of contradiction!

Then we may ask what we really know about virtue given fantastic fiction ...