Formations lesson for July 23: The Missional Church - Being the Presence of Christ
By Randy Bishop
Focal Passage: Matthew 28:16-20
More than 40 years ago Joseph Bayly wrote a little book about a group of believers attempting to be the presence of Christ in their world. At a neighborhood picnic, as they swatted mosquitoes they began to discuss how to reach people with the gospel. They discussed the next-door neighbors who obviously were not Christians. That's when the idea was born; they would purchase a blimp. They would fly the blimp all over the city. On its sides in bright lights would be scriptures for all to see. With a powerful sound system they would send out Christian music and gospel preaching. All the community would see and hear the Good News.
Matthew 28:16-20 is familiar to many believers as the Great Commission. Familiarity in this case may cause us to take it for granted.
These last words of Jesus in Matthew's Gospel are a command directed to the eleven. I believe we rightly take these words to be a command to all followers of Christ. The book of Acts begins with this commission of Jesus for His followers (Acts 1:8). Here, it is not in command form. But the intention may be even stronger in this verse. Jesus says, "You will be my witnesses." It is assumed that those who follow in the steps of the Lord will be witnesses.
There is a sense of continuity in verse 19. The idea is, "As you go about your lives you are to make disciples." This is something we do as a natural part of who we are as believers. We do more than attempt to convert people to a religion; we are to make disciples - devoted followers and believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. There are no geographical limits placed on this command. We take this task to "all nations."
It is sad that we struggle with words that are so clear. We have attempted to place limits on this commission that are never found in the texts. We have concluded it must apply only to paid clergy, selfishly assuming this task is what they are paid to do. Or we assert the commission is only for people who have a special gift of evangelism. We then conclude this is not our gift.
The command is specific, and it is for all of us; but we carry it out as people who have been uniquely given gifts and opportunities by God. The command makes no exceptions, but we are not the same. Some people have great gifts as public speakers and as leaders. Simon Peter was certainly such a person. Thousands of people responded to his proclamation of the Good News (Acts 2:41).
On the other hand, one of my favorite New Testament characters is his brother, Andrew. There is no scriptural record about any sermon he ever preached, but he often is close by as people meet Jesus. According to John's Gospel, he introduced his brother, Peter, to Jesus (John 1:41). He brought a little boy with five loaves and two fish to Jesus (John 6:9). Along with Philip, he presented a group of Greeks to Jesus (John 12:20-22). Each of these brothers, Peter and Andrew, brought people to Jesus, but they did it in different ways. Beyond their examples, certainly there are many other means through which believers can make known the Good News.
That brings me back to the gospel blimp. After a couple of years of committee meetings, the blimp gets off the ground. Its captain becomes famous and does the talk show circuit. However, the blimp comes to be seen as a noisy distraction in the otherwise quiet community. The couple that hosted the picnic grows disillusioned with "Gospel Blimp, Inc." and resigns from its board. They quietly love and befriend their unbelieving next-door neighbors. In time, the neighbors respond to their witness and become believers themselves.
