He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to every creature.” — Mark 16:15
It’s interesting how we sometimes think Jesus’ last command to his disciples was, “Go into the whole world and start churches.”
He was much smarter than that. He knew that if he had said that, then his followers would have been concerned with buildings, budgets, committees, conferences, programs, services, and–last but not least–conflict resolution.
Funny how being Christian has somehow been linked to being part of an organization that, in the service of doing good, has a history of being bad: the Crusades, the Inquisition, the fights, the discrimination…
Instead, Jesus simply told us to “proclaim the good news.” That God so loved the world that the Father gave us the Son to live with us. To show us that the Creator’s heart is unconditional love and hope for “every creature.” To show us that the Almighty came to us in the form of a humble servant who washed dirty feet, fed the hungry, healed the sick, threw parties for the outcast and prodigal, forgave his enemies, embodied the revolution-of-love-and-justice kingdom of God, and showed us that life and love triumph over death and hate.
When we focus more on proclaiming the good news as we’ve encountered it, then the church becomes a means to an end instead of the end itself. If the church is a tool to be used and not something to be preserved and protected, then it can be exciting, empowering, and even fun. If I had pastoring to do all over again, I would have written that last sentence out and framed it. It’s not too late for any of us to do that.
Great read this morning!
Not sure his movement would have lasted without a church.
Thanks for your thoughts. If only we could learn to love one another.
Thanks for pointing out how we seem to have altered our priorities over the centuries.
Great article, Greg, thanks as always.