Great Commission Resurgence

The Southern Baptist Convention has always been a group of people focused on being faithful to the Great Commission.  The Great Commission is the charge Jesus left for the church after His resurrection and before He ascended back to heaven.  He said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. - Matthew 28:18-20 

I was not raised in a Southern Baptist Church family, but I am Southern Baptist now, at least in part, because of the SBC's commitment and focus to this great task.  Therefore, I am grateful for what is taking place in our covention with the resolution that was passed at last year's annual meeting of the SBC.  A resolution was presented by Southern Seminary President, R. Albert Mohler calling for a task force to be assembled to evaluate all areas of our convention in faithfulness to this great call of taking the gosple to all people.  The resolution was overwhelmingly passed by the convention body and the task force has been assembled.  They are to bring to the annual meeting in June recommendations of how we can become more effective in our mission efforts as a convention body and a collection of local churches.

We must pray for this group of men and women and the vision and leadership they will provide for us as a convention.  We live in a time that allows us to take the gospel like no other.  We can literally be anywhere in the world in 24 hours.  The internet has made the world a marketplace of ideas that can be exchanged immediately and openly.  Even in the midst of economic hard times, we live in a country that is flourishing and the church of the Lord Jesus Christ must remain faithful to this task.  This reality excites me, but it also brings a good godly fear to me as well.  The ability to take the gospel to our neighbors, our state, our country, and to the world is something that each believer in Christ will make account for on the Day of judgment.  We cannot shrink back from this task if we love God's image bearers, his people. 

The time for old cliche's and selfish arguments need to end for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ!  I have been asked why I would spend so much money for a plane ticket to go on a mission trip, but yet the monthly fee for satellite TV is never questioned.  I wonder, is it really a money issue or is it a heart issue?  I fear the latter.

I am thankful that a renewed focus on the clear command of Scripture is sweeping through our convention.  I am thankful that it is sweeping through our church family.  We need not give justification for being obedient to what the Lord Jesus has commanded us to do.  It is a command that is a privilege, the joy of being his "ambassadors" and telling our neightbors, our countrymen, and the nations about the love and lordship of Jesus Christ.

Finally, we should pray for the SBC and the Great Commission Resurgence and Task Force, but they are not my ultimate hope.  Jesus Christ is my ultimate hope and it is to Him that I will make account.  He has purchased me, commissioned me, and guarantees His presence and power when I serve Him.  Therefore, we are to merely respond joyfully to this great task....a task I pray the SBC, DBC, and all who call upon the name of the Lord will faithfully pursue! 

I have attached the link to the Great Commission Resurgence website so you can read more about it, stay on top of latest developments, and faithfully pray for this task force.

Let's stay on mission! 

Blessings,

Bro. Matt

http://www.pray4gcr.com/