The Humble Commission

Mark 16:15-18

Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. (Mark 16:15)

THEY WERE ONLY FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS. The many missionaries and conversationalists of the Kingdom who have gone into the world with the gospel of truth were doing what Jesus said to do. The Great Commission in its various expressions (Matthew 28 and Mark 16 contain two of the clearest) compels followers of Jesus to carry claims of truth with them wherever they go and urge others to believe them. This is an integral, inseparable part of the Christian faith.

It’s also an offensive one. Many have taken these claims to be arrogant. The idea of one group professing to have the one eternal truth and taking it to others, implying that all other perspectives are false, seems pompous. And in an age of relativism and hyper-tolerance, “pompous” doesn’t go over very well. The Great Commission becomes a great annoyance to everyone around.

Is it arrogant to see yourself on a mission to the world? It depends on your attitude. Everyone thinks that what they believe is true, which is why they believe it. And they think those who disagree with them have false beliefs. That’s what disagreeing implies, always and without exception. So believing in the gospel is no more arrogant than anyone else’s beliefs. The problem is when we become insensitive to the reality that many nonbelievers gain genuine wisdom from other meaningful experiences. Our goal is not to deny this or shame them for it; instead we should find where God has already been working in their lives and draw that treasure out into its ultimate conclusions. In the process, we might learn a lot from those around us without fear of compromising our own beliefs.

In your efforts to fulfill Jesus’ instructions, make sure your conversations are two-way exchanges. The Great Commission doesn’t tell you to watch your attitude, but the rest of the New Testament does. You do not have the corner on truth; you only know its source. Point to him in humility.

{Jesus, your message can be offensive, but I don’t want my attitude to add to the offense. Give me a genuine love for people and an inquisitive heart for what they have learned. May my influence come through mutual respect. Amen.