The Great Commission

This Easter season – the 50 days before Pentecost – we’re taking a deeper plunge into some of the appearance stories of Jesus. Debating whether these passages are fact or fiction is of no consequence to me, the question is what is their message for us today?

To begin with Matthew 28:16-20, we find the disciples up on the mountainside in Galilee where Jesus had summoned them. Suddenly he appears in their midst, they knelt down before him and he addresses them with a mission, a purpose:

All authority has been given me
both in heaven and on earth;
go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations.
Baptize them in the name of
Abba God,
and of the Only Begotten,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Teach them to carry out
everything I have commanded you.
And know I am with you always,
even until the end of the world!”
(The Inclusive Bible)

Somewhere along the line this passage – now known as The Great Commission – became the rallying cry for evangelicals to go forth and convert the heathen everywhere across the globe. Personally, I don’t hear that in this passage. Let’s look a little more closely by picking apart some of the passage.

Now, a disciple is a student of a particular teacher. And when Jesus says “of all the nations” he is referring to absolutely everyone. This is not just a movement to reform Judaism anymore. John Shelby Spong has a beautiful understanding of this line:

Go to all nations, the risen Christ says. Go to those whom you have defined as beyond the boundaries of the love of God. Go to those you have decided are rejectable. Go to those you have judged as inadequate. Go to the uncircumcised, the unclean, the unsaved, the unbaptized and the different. Go beyond the level of your own security needs. Go to those who threaten you. Embrace them as part of the human family. Make them fellow disciples of Jesus with yourselves. Accept them as fellow pilgrims walking into the mystery of God.

Next Matthew says to teach them… well, Jesus taught through story, parable, and questioning, but perhaps most powerfully, by example.

And what are the disciples to teach these new disciples? They are to “teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you” Which was what? To love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love neighbor as [an extension of, as part of] yourself.

Finally, what was the significance of baptizing these folks? Well, baptism symbolized letting go of, an old life, or way of thinking, and being born to a new way of life.

So, if we put that together, Jesus is essentially directing his disciples to carry on his movement by taking on more students, teaching them through story, parable, wrestling with the questions, and by EXAMPLE to carry out the work of loving God and loving neighbor. Then when it seemed like they “got it” to baptize them, thus ritualizing their commitment to a new way of being in the world.

Did Jesus ever say go out and teach people the creeds? (of course there were no creeds)

Did Jesus ever say to go out and make sure that people recite the Sinners Prayer and accept him as their Lord and Savior?

Did Jesus ever say go out and make all nations Christian nations?

Did Jesus ever say go out and create a new religion, complete with doctrine, hierarchy and rules?

Did Jesus ever say go out and tell others that they’ve got the wrong God and better get on board?

No! No! No! NO!

Jesus implored his followers to continue transforming individuals and the world through the ACTION of loving of God and others.

It reminds me of words attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the gospel at all times… when necessary use words.”

Surprisingly, when I googled this quote there were people who had written that it was an awful quote, that it was impossible to preach the gospel without words. One person said it was a “noxious, toxic weed in the gospel garden.” All of them insist that, while you can do nice things, good moral things for others, the only way to convey the gospel – the good news that Jesus died for your sins – is through words.

But, if we’re to understand this passage of Matthew correctly, Jesus never said, “Go out and tell the world that I have died for their sins and they must believe in me to get to heaven.” Why? Because, one, that wasn’t what happened – Jesus was executed by Rome and the Jewish authorities who were threatened by his movement of justice and love. And two, Jesus wasn’t about teaching people what to believe or what to preach, it was about how to live. Yes, he gave them the words, but more powerfully, he showed them over and over how to live, how to be disciples – students – of a new way of a being, a higher consciousness.

Love God and love others AS yourself, as an extension of yourself. We are all one. What you do to the least of these you do to me. Turn the other cheek, give the person who asks your shirt and your coat, welcome the children and become like a child – wide-eyed with wonder, filled with questions, easily offering love. He washed the disciples feet, broke bread with all people, lifted up the infirm , welcomed the outcast, included the marginalized and brought people back into relationship with others.

Even today when we see people acting with such compassion and grace, we ask ourselves how did they get to be this way and how do I get some?

The is a story called “The Rabbit” by Tim Zingale that goes like this: One day a young man visited the home of an old man who never missed going to church on Sunday, ever. The old man was sitting on the porch with his dog stretched out before him taking in a beautiful sunset . The young man posed this question: “Why is it that most Christians zealously chase after God during the first year or two after their conversion, but then fall into a complacent ritual of attending church only during the holidays or when convenient? People see a faith in you they do not see in others. What makes you so different?”

The old man smiled and replied, “Let me tell you a story: One day I was sitting here quietly in the sun with my dog. Suddenly a large white rabbit ran across in front of us. Well, my dog jumped up and took off after that big rabbit. With great passion he chased the rabbit over the hills. Soon other dogs joined him, attracted by his barking. What a sight it was, as the pack of dogs ran barking across the creeks, up stony embankments, and through thickets and thorns! Gradually, however, one by one, the other dogs dropped out of the pursuit, discouraged by the course and frustrated by the chase. Only my dog continued to hotly pursue the white rabbit. In that story, young man, is the answer to your question.”

The young man sat in confused silence. Finally, he asked, “I don’t understand. What is the connection between the rabbit chase and the quest for God?”

“You fail to understand,” answered the well-seasoned old man, “because you failed to ask why was it that the other dogs ended their chase? The answer to that question is that they had not seen the rabbit. Unless you see the prey, the chase is just too difficult. You will lack the passion and determination necessary to keep up the chase.”

I imagine you could interpret this story in a number of ways, but in the context of this message, it seems to me that the point is for us to “be the rabbit.” To passionately show the world the transformation Jesus was talking about, to become the reflection of the divine in the world so that others might seek what we’ve found.

Philip Gulley, in his book If the Church Were Christian, he tells a story about Ben and Dorotha, an elderly Quaker couple who lived in an old farmhouse at the edge of town. They lived simply, dressed simply, drove a well-used car and gave every outward appearance of having a limited income. But the truth was that they had a significant amount of land in a quickly developing area and many other assets at their disposal and they guided their living by “simplicity, generosity, thoughtful stewardship of their resources, and a desire to live joyfully and freely, unburdened by the demands of material possessions.”

They weren’t motivated by a stingy spirit, they just wanted to intentionally live lightly upon the land so as to help others. They only spent one social security check and gave the other away. They raised chickens to distribute the eggs, they had extensive gardens and shared their produce, they opened their home to guests and people in need. In addition to financial generosity, they constantly gave of their time befriending the forgotten and marginalized, visiting nursing homes, caring for the poor, being present for sick and lonely people, even visiting schools to encourage and help children.

Ben and Dorotha weren’t ones to talk about religion and often excused themselves when talk turned to theology. They sought no converts and held no creed other than doing good. They did not seek power, but others regularly turned to them for their wisdom and guidance. And when they died, many people spoke of the wonderful things they had done, of their generosity of spirit, inclusive love and how they wanted everyone (not just their family) to prosper and do well. They were “rabbits” who drew people to themselves.

Jesus would have been thrilled if everyone lived their faith in this way… even a quarter of the time!

The author of Matthew ends this brief commissioning of the disciples with a promise from Jesus: “Know that I am with you always, even till the end of the world.” We all know that the people who have been important to us in our lives never really leave us. Their love, their example, their teachings and their spirit are with us always, alive in our hearts and souls. Jesus offered this reminder to his closest followers… I will be with you as you head out into the world. Remember we are one. I am here when you need strength, when you need wisdom, when you need comfort… just look within.

Quaker William Penn once wrote, “True godliness does not turn [people] out of the world but enables them to live better in it and excites their endeavors to mend it.” There will always be people willing to create and enforce orthodoxy, rules and doctrine to exclude some from a wished for heaven and condemn others to a lifetime of imagined hell. To truly follow Jesus means to do what he did and help people to live better in this world, not worrying so much about the next one.

Love & Light!

Kaye