The Church’s Mission
The Rev. Lou Tiscione, Pastor, Weatherford Presbyterian Church (PCA)
I’ve lost count how many times I’ve heard an evangelical leader talk about the missional church. The word actually originated in Germany in the 1930’s and was later used by Francis Dubose (1940-2023), a Baptist leader who encouraged urban missions. Also, Lesslie Newbigin (1909-1998) wrote about the evangelical mission seeking to strike a balance between word and deed, vertical and horizontal re: relationships. This laid the foundation for the missional church movement today. Today we see both meanings being employed. One group is focused on the vertical relationship, the gospel of God and the other is more focused on the horizontal i.e., social needs. I believe that those who preach the gospel are to live the gospel, the connection between purpose and mission.
Jesus gave the Great Commission to His disciples, therefore by implication to the church. We are obliged to obey His Commission. Jesus gave these orders to disciples, those who are learners and followers of Him. Disciples make disciples.
Disciples are called and set apart by God. In other words disciples are holy. Disciples pursue godliness. Those of us who have received the gospel in faith have been set apart by God and commanded to go on mission.
The Bible teaches who we are by the power of God before being sent out. Purpose is our reason for being; namely, who we are, our identity. God has called us, rather commanded us to be holy! The Westminster Shorter Catechism, question no. 1 asks what the chief end of man is? The answer is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. The second question states how that is to be accomplished. The word of God is the rule given by which we may glorify and enjoy God. Holy people live under the word of God.
There is a rule for the Christian life. It is that being precedes doing. God has made a people for Himself and He has sent His people on a mission. The Bible calls that mission, the Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20.
The Suffering Servant, Jesus, would come and be a “light for the nations”, Isaiah 42:6. God also said it is “too small a thing” to only save “Jacob” but that He would call all peoples to Himself through the gospel, Isaiah 49:6. The Church of God was and continues to be on mission, His.
All Christian Churches know our marching orders, the Great Commission! The weight of this mission is supreme because of the weight of the one who gave it. Jesus said “All authority in heaven and on earth” was given to Him. This is an inclusive statement. That is, regardless of whether or not men submit to Him, Jesus is the one who has all authority. Man’s authority is granted. For example, we are to submit to governmental authority because God has ordained their limited authority for the good and welfare of all men, Romans 13. The same Apostle wrote that a sign of the culture in the “last days” is that there will be a lack of submission to authority, 2Timothy 3. He was writing of the culture in the church. The church stands under the word of God and therefore, we receive His commands concerning purpose and mission and submit to Him.
The Lord Jesus directs His church on mission. The church has been given a granted authority by the one who has supreme authority to do what He commands. So, we ought to be clear on the Savior’s command. His command is to go and disciple. Those who are following Him are to go and make disciples. The word “disciple” is the main verb of Matthew 28:19-20. Most English translations insert the word make. Further, the command is in the Aorist tense, indicating a certain response. It is intended to be a decisive activity in the world until Jesus returns. Since this is so critical, the means of making disciples was further described by two participles, baptizing and teaching.
The first means of making disciples is baptizing which concerns identity. Discipling requires that the one discipled be identified by the One he is following, the Triune God. Followers of Jesus are identified with Him. This text is also the source of the church’s receiving of the sacrament of Baptism, the sign and seal of the Covenant. Every professing believer and their children may receive the “sign of the Covenant.”
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The second means of discipling is teaching. In the process of discipling, the disciple is taught “everything that Jesus commanded,” namely, the whole of Scripture. A disciple is a learner and follower of Jesus throughout his entire life. Christians are disciples of Jesus. “And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.” Acts 11:26
There is a necessary priority in what is taught. The first is the pure gospel. When Jesus began His public ministry, He preached that the Kingdom was near, therefore, He said, “repent and believe in the gospel”, Mark 1:15. Paul wrote that the gospel was “of first importance” 1Corinthians 15:3.
As God’s purpose for the church is clear; be holy because He is holy; the mission is likewise clear. The Mission of the church is to make disciples “of all nations.”
