Are We Under the Great Commission? © by Leon Estep 1
Church Growth Magazine 10 (January -March, 1995): 13 - 14.

The editor of a gospel paper wrote me at Southern Christian University saying, "The eleven apostles were the only men Jesus commanded to go into all the world and preach the gospel... Contrary to the almost universal understanding of believers on Christ today and the ardent claims of thousands of preachers, our Lord has commanded none of us to go into all the world and preach the gospel... What men have dubbed, "The Great Commission, was fulfilled in the first century."

Another preacher told me of a church split where he is because some members were convinced Christians today are not required to obey Jesus when He said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).

What are the implications for growth when we accept such a doctrine?

Correlation Between Practice and Doctrine

Does it boil down to this? Our practice will eventually become our doctrine. The statistics I have gathered through my work indicate that only one Christian in one hundred has by plan and purpose led a soul to Christ in the last year. Ninety-nine percent have no direct activity in outreach. Many practice what the previously mentioned editor advocates even if they do not believe it. The results are no plans, no purpose, poor church growth, and few led to Christ.

The Role of Leadership

"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works C service, so that the body of Christ may be built up" (Ephesians 4:11 - 12). May I be personal and direct? Elder, who did you restore or lead to Christ this year? Preacher, are you baptizing more than our own children and the cream off the top others guide your way, Teachers, are you following up on all the visitors who come to your class? Do you teacher, by example teach your students outreach to the lost is not required? Pastors, evangelists, teachers, how can you lead others in building up the body of Christ when you are not willing or able to build up the body of Christ through direct personal involvement in evangelism? I know you did some good things and to God be the praise for each good work. However, did you opt out of evangelism? Did you bear precious fruit for Jesus? Did you as a leader in God's vineyard prepare Christians for effective evangelism?

How can you complain when everyone opts out when you have opted out? Have you ever reasoned that there is invisible fruit? Someone might say for example, "You never know how many you have affected until judgement." To the contrary, our growth rates denies the existence of invisible fruit. Isn't this an excuse for real accountability?

Who Made Evangelism Optional?

Did Jesus give us the option to carry out the New Testament (Great) commission? Did the Apostles and prophets give us the option to carry out the New Testament commission? Did Jesus, the apostles, and prophets authorize evangelists, pastors, and teachers to give the rest of us the option to carry out the Great Commission? Does the preparation of God's people for works of service so the body of Christ may be built up include or exclude evangelism? Do our budgets include or exclude evangelism? Do our training programs include or exclude evangelism? Are we fruitful for Jesus where we live? Did ninety-nine out of a hundred opt out of evangelism in the first century?

Remember our practice. Only one Christian out of a hundred is successful in bringing a soul to Christ each year. Should elders, preachers, and teachers feel some responsibility when those in their charge follow their example and opt out of evangelism?

Understanding Our Role

I sat with an elder of a large congregation and he asked me, "How do I get others interested in helping us win souls?" He realized church growth is impossible when only a few in the congregation are working in evangelistic outreach. He was asking, how do you recruit people who have opted out of evangelism? Elders, preachers, and teachers must love the ones not involved in evangelism enough to help them see that Satan wins when we opt out of evangelism. Elders, preachers, and teachers, you must not make evangelism optional in your own lives because others will follow your example. You cannot recruit and train those who feel at ease having opted out of personal evangelism. They feel justified. Better methods will not help the church grow as long as ninety-nine out of one hundred do not want any method.

An Illustration

The army can recruit plenty to be soldiers if the pay and conditions are favorable enough. What happens if the leaders do not properly train and motivate those they recruited and a war comes along? Then the leaders say, if you want to you can serve in another way that is not as dangerous. How many would opt out? Would there be enough left to defend our country? Would the leadership of the army responsible for recruiting and training be accountable? Would we give medals for achieving their mission in an honorable way? Or would the enemy walk in and take over their charge and put them to death? "The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; but the slothful shall be under tribute" (Proverbs 12:24). Peter was ready to opt out of evangelism in John 21 and go back to fishing, but Jesus came to him and reminded him of his responsibility. Would He remind us of our responsibility?

We can lower the standard, offer all kinds of inducements, soft-pedal our responsibilities, entertain the lazy, and stand aloof from it all. However, Jesus will return with His angels and He is going to ask where His fruit is. Some will reply, "Lord, I really didn't think you meant me when you said, 'Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age' (Matthew 28:19-20)"

Church growth will not appreciably improve until we settle this fundamental question. Elders, preachers, and teachers leading the way is God's answer to this problem.

1 Leon Estep is minister at the Ozark Alabama church and this article was published in Church Growth Magazine 10 (January - March, 1995): 13 - 14.