great commission

this is something that i've been thinking about.....

i've been involved in several different ministries to understand more about what ministry is about and what the needs are in taiwan. after working with 'em, my experience got me thinking....

what exactly is evangelism? what exactly is missions? what is being a witness? being the church? living it out?

i know people who only tell ppl that Jesus loves them (through words and actions) but never have invested time in anyone to disciple. i know people that only invest in people after they've come to church on a consistent basis.

¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

i feel that God has called to do BOTH as said in the great commission.

MAKE DISCIPLES...maybe not the with same person, but to do both as a lifestyle. with the first, what happens after they believe and have no one to follow up? for me, i feel like i can't live with myself if i didn't help them try to find a church or someone to invest in them. i know that we can't invest in everyone. it's not practical, but it's also not pracitcal to think that this person can live the Christian life on a solo basis.

GO... when has God told us to stay at church and wait for ppl to come? why haven't we GONE OUT to them? what about those who have no interest because of the fear that overwhelms them?

TEACH....teaching's hard. i know. i majored in teaching. it's another form of investing other ppl. it doesn't require one-on-one investment, but it's a command nonetheless.

i realize that we all have gifts in different places, but i fear that we only use such gifts within the contexts of the church bc we think that's the only place where we can use them. be creative. such gifts can be used outside of the walls of the church. in fact, churches aren't supposed to have walls, figuratively speaking.

i guess some food for thought.....

we live in a SPIRITUAL battle between good and evil, YHWH and Satan. to win, we need to trust and obey what is says in God's word.