For sure, Jesus said that His disciples were to go into all the world and preach the gospel. He also desires that the harvest be reaped.
As I listened to the World Tomorrow radio broadcast in the late 1950s in my hometown of Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, I was stirred by the message of the kingdom of God! This powerful message was delivered in a challenging and enthusiastic manner.
As I remember it, the broadcast began with words similar to this: "The World Tomorrow; Herbert W Armstrong brings you today's world news and the prophecies of the World Tomorrow." Then, Mr. Armstrong usually began with a stirring introduction relevant to the world situation or social conditions of the time.
He proceeded to expound prophecy and biblical teaching relevant for the time, in a clear, inspirational manner. Often he challenged the listeners with questions and issues that usually led them to request a booklet or the monthly magazine, and, hopefully, to continuing interest in the truth as found in God's Word, the Bible.
Sometimes Mr. Armstrong referred to the preaching of the gospel as the "first" commission. Matthew 24:14 was often cited in support for this thrust of the Church in doing God's work on earth.
More Understanding of the Commission
Later, Mr. Armstrong understood that there was indeed only one great commission. I, as a much younger minister, remember sitting in the audience and hearing Mr. Armstrong discuss the commission. He would state that some people had contended that the preaching of the gospel was in contrast to feeding the flock.
These aspects of doing the Work and feeding the membership were rated "the first commission" and "the second commission" by those who chose to separate the two. I recall that he clearly explained we have only one commission which entails both the preaching of the gospel and the feeding of the flock. This is indeed the great commission of the Church.
He described how the gospel goes forth. Individuals hear the message and some are called. They respond to that calling and through being visited and served by the ministry and the church, come to conversion. They are then fed, as the flock of God, by the elders, and nourished by the brethren through fellowship. In turn, through their individual efforts, prayers and financial support, they make possible the preaching of the gospel to others.
Mr. Armstrong explained that this one great commission was what we were endeavoring to fulfill. This is what the mission of United Church of God is. I quote Article One (1.0) of the Constitution: "The mission of the Church of God is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God in all the world, make disciples in all nations and care for those disciples." This is what I remember Mr. Armstrong stating in the late 1960s as he came to understand the commission of the Church (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Matthew 24:14).
In the July 15, 1996 issue of the Ministerial Newsletter, David Hulme encapsulated these thoughts when he wrote to the ministry: "When Christ spoke to His disciples shortly before His ascension, He set out for them a now well-known mission statement. Matthew 28:18-20 spells out the work of the Church from their day until 'the end.' Over the years we have referred to this statement as the great commission. It is commonly understood to contain the elements of preaching the gospel and teaching the resulting followers of Christ His Father's way of life.
"The dual nature of the task has been noted before, and sometimes led to friction among those who were involved in one aspect or the other. In other words, a rivalry was sometimes evident between those who sought to carry out Christ's command. The problem usually surrounded the allocation of resources to the preaching of the gospel or the teaching of the Church. We need to avoid such frictions in the future. The great commission is, of course, one commission, not two."
Mission and Purpose of the Church
The purpose for the Church as listed in Article 3.1 of the Constitution reveals this statement: "God's purpose for His Church is to prepare those willing to live His way of righteousness and self-control to function as His instruments in the administration of salvation to humanity, and to demonstrate His wisdom to His spiritual creation."
The meaning of this purpose is clear. It conveys the direction in which we as a Church must go. No one reading the Scriptures has any doubt that the gospel of the kingdom of God (Christ's message) is to go to this world.
We see in God's Word that many were involved in doing this great work as they were able. Though the main thrust of carrying the message to the various cities and nations of this world was done by the apostles, many people helped them with it. Also, the feeding of the flock was related to preaching the gospel. Please note the following examples:
Acts 1:8 To those assembled for Pentecost, Luke wrote, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Acts 2:47 Peter preaches the truth, and God adds to the Church daily.
Acts 6:7 As the Word goes forth, more disciples are added to the Church.
Acts 6:8-9 Stephen, as we understand, a deacon, was powerfully preaching God's message.
Acts 8:4 As a result of Saul's persecution on the Church, we read, "Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word."
Acts 8:5, 12 Philip, another deacon, preaches the gospel of the kingdom.
Acts 9:17, 25, 30 Paul is converted and the Church members are involved as Paul escapes death.
Acts 12:5-14 The church members provide support for the apostle Peter during his imprisonment.
Acts 14:20, 22, 28 Members rescued Paul and supported him in his work.
Acts 16:5, 14-15 Along with preaching came the strengthening of the church.
Acts 18:24-25 Apollos zealously begins spreading the Word.
Acts 20:28 Paul is concerned that the Church be fed and strengthened as God's flock.
Those examples in the Acts of the Apostles give us a picture of how intertwined the preaching of the gospel and the feeding of the flock are. We need not engage in efforts to categorize which is number one and which is number two in importance. For what value is it if after sowing the seed for the harvest, no one tends the growing fruit? Jesus lamented, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few" (Matthew 9:37). The flock must be fed and tended.
God's message is to go forth as a testimony to all nations-to every person! That is a mighty task ahead of us as a Church. Paul felt he had worked hard at that aspect of the commission (Colossians 1:6, 23-29). It was said that he and the disciples had "turned the world upside down" with the gospel message (Acts 17:6). An angel, at the very end of this age, is also going to preach God's message to the world (Revelation 14:6).
We must spread the gospel to this world! We must also reap the harvest and care for those harvested. If we fail to do both, we are not fulfilling the great commission which Christ has given to us. Some want to emphasize one aspect or the other. We must not get into that type of divisive thinking.
Future Worth of One Converted Person
How much is one converted person worth? What about the awesome future which is in store for those who are Christians (1 John 3:1-2)? Is helping to bring many sons (and daughters) to glory a worthwhile aspect of the commission (Hebrews 2:10)? What about the rulership which has been promised those in Christ (Revelation 2:26-7)? What about making ready the bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7-8)?
For sure, Jesus said that His disciples were to go into all the world and preach the gospel. He also desires that the harvest be reaped. Among His final words to Peter recorded in the Gospel of John, Jesus Christ reveals His concern for the other aspect of the great commission. He said, "Feed my lambs" and "Feed my sheep" and once again "Feed my sheep" (John 21:15-17).
Jesus Christ taught that both aspects were vital in fulfilling the one commission. In Matthew 28:19, He combines the two in telling His disciples to "teach all nations" and baptize those who come as a result. He further instructs that those who are called and baptized be instructed (feed the flock) in the things He has taught
Let's understand and dedicate ourselves to fulfilling the "Great Commission" by doing the work of preaching the gospel and feeding the flock! This indeed is the mission and purpose of United Church of God, an International Association . NB
