Why I Hate The Great Commission

Recently, I laid in bed with my son reading books before he went off to sleep, the same as I always do. Then, of course, we say prayers and then its off to dream land for Wyatt. That night, a few weeks ago, I prayed for Wyatt and Aubrey and as I did so, I prayed that God would use them to accomplish his goals and to spread the gospel.

Immediately, I realized that my prayer was more than I really wanted to pray. You see, when I pray for God to use my children as he sees fit, I know for God’s greater glory, they may be called to the foreign mission field. I know that one or both of them may even be called to give their lives for the cause of the gospel to the glory of our great God. I know that God’s plan for their life may be a plan that I do not like. It could mean that I have grandchildren one day whom I only see once or twice a year…and I don’t like that.

So, that night, I nearly stopped praying. Tears welled up in my eyes and I wrestled with God’s will. I realized that my flesh, warring against my spirit, did not (and does not) want to give up my children…even to God.

So you see, my flesh hates the Great Commission. The command of Christ to go and make disciples doesn’t fit into my neat little plan of sheltering my family and keeping them all to myself. The Great Commission doesn’t promise me the security that I desire and the safety that I crave for my children

Instead, the Great Commission is RISK–but really, it’s only perceived risk because there is no chance in the hands of Almighty God. Giving my children to the God who already owns them offers security, not in this life only, but in the life to come. Further, committing to the Great Commission gives many others the opportunity for eternal security and it gives total glory to the God of the universe.

In my own denomination (SBC), the changes that will come through the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force will no doubt cause some to hate the Great Commission in their flesh just as I hate it in my flesh. Obedience to the commands and expectations of Christ are never easy, our flesh wars against our spirit. But, just as I must give my children over to Christ in hopes of fulfilling the Great Commission, we as Southern Baptists must give our denominational strongholds up trusting that the fulfillment of the Great Commission is more important than anything–even than holding our future grandchildren.

I wish it wasn’t so, but a big part of my flesh does hate the Great Commission, I only pray that the Spirit of God living in me will continue to prevail in my life and I pray that the Holy Spirit will prevail in the church of Christ so that we can embrace and love the Great Commission regardless of the cost.

For evidence that we need a Great Commission Resurgence, see Church Decline and Death in Real Numbers.