Going, Doing, and Being: What the Bible Teaches
The Bible has two significant passages addressing the believer’s responsibility around evangelism. The first is Matthew 28:19–20, designated as the Great Commission; the second is Acts 1:8, in which all believers are to be witnesses to others.
First, to ensure context, we must start with verse 16. The text notes that the eleven disciples (minus Judas) assembled on a mountain where Jesus had instructed them to go. Jesus proclaims to the apostles what we have entitled, the Great Commission. For many, this passage is misapplied over what God expects from believers.
Matthew’s passage clearly identifies the eleven disciples as the audience. This does not suggest that the passage does not apply to people today but it is for those who receive a specific calling or vocation, such as pastor or missionary. One extreme misconception is that every Christian is a missionary. That is not true any more than every Christian is called to be a pastor or a teacher (Ephesians 4:11–12, “and he gave some…). That topic will be addressed at another time. The passage is specific to the eleven — the Apostles — those who were commissioned and called by God to be sent for a specific purpose to represent Him to the world.
In verse 19, Biblical scholars agree with how the verse is interpreted. Many today misinterpret this verse, whether to make a point that is not actually there or simply of a failure to study the structure of the sentence.
The first word of the instruction, “Go,” is not the imperative verb in the sentence. As Bible scholars have stated, it is a more correct translation, “while you are going,” or “as you go.” It implies that the Apostles, those commissioned and sent for a purpose, are already going. The imperative verb in the passage is to, “make disciples.”
So, while those who are called and sent for a specific vocation are going throughout the world, they are to proclaim the Gospel, baptize converts as an outward sign of their conversion, then fulfill the imperative command — make disciples, establishing a vibrant body of believers into a living organism, called a church. The verse does not apply to every believer to preach and baptize new believers.
Why is this important? There are a number of reasons that I will discuss in more detail at another time: 1) the role of a pastor or missionary is to establish a body of believers called a church; 2) the pastor or missionary is specifically called and sent out by another established church or association through ordination, laying on of the hands, prayer, and transfer of authority to work as an extension of the sending body; 3) that those who are sent are devoted to their calling to proclaim the Gospel, baptize others, teach and train believers in Scripture, under the direct transferred authority of Jesus Himself (verse 18), and His promise that He will continue supporting, blessing, and maintaining their God-given authority to act on His behalf by always being with them (verse 20).
The emphasis is on the imperative verb, “make disciples”, including the action, “teaching them to observe all things…” from Scripture. To effectively make a disciple, the person must be taught how to live the Christian life. From those teachings, they learn that they are to be witnesses to others on what God has done for them and what God can do for others (Acts 1:8). From those converts and teachings, others may also receive the call of God to become pastors and missionaries (Ephesians 4:11).
Why does this matter? Many sermons attempt to convince believers that everyone is to “go” to the world. This again addresses the misconception that every believer is to be missionary. Acts 1:8, given to all disciples, states differently: that all believers are to be witnesses to others of what Christ has done for them. Also in the Acts 1:8, it implies that as you go to different places, your calling is to be a witness for Christ. This passage, along with Matthew 28:19–20, does not command people to go but implies people are already going, whether from persecution, relocating to help fill a spiritual or physical need, or migrating to other places during their journey through life.
I have heard it preached that if the Great Commission is telling believers to go, then believers should not be praying about if they should go, but rather, if they should stay. Much guilt, angst, and confusion has been caused in the hearts of believers by that improper application of the passage as they may question whether they are in God’s will if they do not move overseas or leave their home, family, and already-established circle of influence to go elsewhere.
God uses believers where they are. God expects believers to be witnesses where they are. In other words, God wants us to be Christians where we are through strengthening our faith, reflecting God’s light and love to those around us, by growing in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23), and becoming the person He has designed and called us to be (Philippians 2:13). We are to do that where we are — wherever we are — not confused about whether we are to be somewhere else doing something that God has not called us to do.
It is critical to be open to God’s leading. There are believers who are called to different parts of the world for the purpose of preaching, establishing a body of believers, baptizing them, and instructing them in Scripture outside of their circle of influence. Today, they are called missionaries. There is a specific vocation and calling for some believers to be commissioned and sent to different cultures of people with different languages for the purpose of establishing a body of believers to make disciples and teach them to be witnesses amongst their own people in their own tongue or to be called specifically to also go outside their circle of influence to start the process again.
But, make no mistake. God wants believers where they currently are to become the completed, perfected Christian where they are, serving the body and the community, exercising and strengthening their spiritual gift(s), and as active witnesses, to declare what God has and is doing in them to those with whom they have contact.
It is good to ask whether God wants us to “go” somewhere else to serve. The Great Commission is for those whom God calls and sends out under His authority full-time to establish a body of believers, baptizing them, and training them with Scripture. For other believers, those not called into full-time service, they are to be witnesses wherever they may already be, to be or become the person God has called them to be where they are. That is also an important life calling and is what God has directly commanded us to do.
Do not worry about whether you are where you are supposed to be. If God wants you to move, He will lead you to where He wants you. Do not allow others to guilt you into something that could cause you to stray from where God already has you for His purpose.
