Rumored Thought (Pt. 6; The Final Post)

So conjecture, right?

I’ve schpieled for five posts about my thinkings and museings, but this doesn’t make them right. Just 'cause I could write them in a cohesive manner doesn’t mean we (or just I) should follow my thoughts on mission.

What we need is solidity and authority. What we need is Scripture.

Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:7-8 are all recordings of the Great Commission. Wherein we are told that all the nations should hear of the name of Jesus until he returns.  Making disciples, AKA tutoring as one goes about life, being the main highway of showing the gospel to others.

So to be a believer is to be a disciple-er.

John 13:21-30 is Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. He bore the title of Apostle. One of Jesus’ closest, the inner circle, if you will, one whom Jesus picked to be his own, knowing he’d betray him. The point is this: Judas carried the title, but wasn’t truly a part of the Church.

So to be a title bearer doesn’t mean you’re a Christian.

John 13: 31-38 is Peter’s denial of Jesus. He is considered scum at this instance. We pity him for his foolishness, but he is the chosen, part of the Church of God. Though his actions are damnable, he is the called of God, his elect, yet he could arguably be called the un-elect. He denied Christ.

Romans 14, the strong man, weak man, and the implied legalist are here shown. The strong man is able to do all things to the glory of God. A kind of, “Love God and do what you want,” deal. The weak man first knows his own proclivity to sin and therefore fights it.

The legalist… They’ll sit in the corner with their tea and judge the weak and the strong because works--not grace--determine the salvation of the legalist. But they’ll claim the grace of the cross, but know none of its power.

So, you see, mission shouldn’t be about cleanliness or safety.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11, spiritual gifting. Some may be called and gifted to teach, i.e. pastors and elders (1 Tim. 4:13, 16; 5:17; 2 Tim. 4:2) to “evangelize” to others, both those known and unknown to the speaker.

Teaching isn’t for all, only for the gifted. So a pastoral call isn’t placed on all Christians like a discipleship call is.

So, mission isn’t safe and it isn’t clean. Discipleship is for all, while teaching isn’t. And simply being a title bearer means nothing in the scheme of salvation. Rather we hope in Christ, both leader and follower alike. For in Jesus and no other is salvation found.