(Mat 28:19-20 NRSV) 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, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

These words of Scripture are the last words of Jesus to his disciples, his Great Commission, for them and for all of us. More than any other text this points to what is the mission of the Church. The official word of our denomination puts it this way:

“We make disciples as we:

Ø Proclaim the gospel, seek, welcome and gather persons into the body of Christ;

Ø Lead persons to commit their lives to God through Jesus Christ;

Ø Nurture persons in Christian living through worship, baptism, communion, Bible and other studies, prayer, and other means of grace;

Ø Send persons into the world to live lovingly and justly as servants of Christ by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, caring for the stranger, freeing the oppressed, and working to have social structures consistent with the gospel; and

Ø Continue the mission of seeking, welcoming and gathering persons into the community of the body of Christ.

-United Methodist Book of Discipline 1996, p.115

So how is it that our churches seemed to have strayed from this? For just about anyone can look at this church and others and see a failing somewhere. I suspect for most it is because we have done all the things on the list except the last.

Most churches around us at least began with an earnest desire to faithfully follow Christ’s Great Commission. When they started, they boldly proclaimed Christ, they called on persons to make a personal decision, they walked together to grow in faith, and they sent at least some out into the world. But somehow it all seemed to stop, probably so gradually that no one noticed.

Most churches today do not welcome outsiders into their circle, and most don’t push for decisions and commitments. Most no longer challenge very many of their number to move to a different level in their faith and service, and most have resigned themselves to no longer challenge the culture around them. After all, none of this is natural for us. The natural state is for us to find our comfortable niche, and stay there. So we have settled into a state of keeping on with our own.

However, the natural state is not that of being alive. It is being slave to sin and death. Just as our lives are hurt by lack of exercise, lack of challenge, lack of growth, so it is with our spiritual life.

The church has the task of being that alarm clock, to bring us out of our slumber and cause us to face life, as uncomfortable as it may be. We don’t expect it always to be carefree and easy, but we can expect to make a difference in our world. After all, our Lord is in charge. Pray for our church and your role in it, that it can continue toward being truly His.

Peace,