"God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." God's heart for all people of the world is what drives our passion for transforming communities. Notice that there are three main "characters" in this verse, God, the World, and those who have everlasting life, people that other verses in the Bible call the Church. This verse is so important, because it emphasizes to us that our faith without any one of these "characters" is off-balance.
Consider Christianity based on God and the World alone, without the Church. We'd end up with an ambiguous, watered-down Gospel that pays lip service to religion but has no power in it. Eternal life given to those who believe, by God giving His one and only Son, is what gives meaning to the love of God, and hope to the world. The Church is the evidence and proof of God's love for the world.
On the other hand, consider Christianity based on God and the Church alone, without the World. In this case, you end up with a self-absorbed and inward focused group of people who are oblivious to the world around them, becoming isolated from the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is His message of salvation to the world. Without the world, the Church has no purpose on Earth. Someone may say, God takes care of telling the world, we just need to focus on obedience and our own sanctification. But this misses the point too, because sanctification cannot be accomplished in us apart from the Gospel going out to others through us. It is all driven by love, the love of God, and if it is not flowing through you to the world, you will end up not sharing the Gospel and not obeying His commands either. In other words, you cannot be the church without sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Finally, consider Christianity based on the Church and the World alone, without God. If you live in Europe or North America, you are probably quite familiar with this model, which focuses on love and kindness as defined by human standards. God becomes a concept that is invoked as a matter of convenience, or the occasional need to reinforce one's opinion. Such a Christianity is easier to peddle in the World, but it is totally consumed by it, because it carries no power of its own.
A balanced Christian faith includes all three, God, the World, and the Church, and it is able to consider each situation through the perspective of each one of these and evaluate how we can obey the counsel of God in the Bible.
CBS Lebanon is here to help you obey the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, to make disciples of all nations by going, baptizing, and teaching them to observe all that He commanded us. It is not enough for us to go or to baptize, or even teach. As Matthew 28:18 says, the command is to teach them to obey everything He commanded us in the Word of God. This is our goal and it is why we focus on transformation through the love of Jesus Christ. When we see communities and even institutions transformed by the love of Jesus Christ, then we know we have obeyed the Great Commission.
The Great Commission is given to every believer, not just a few chosen ministers. To be a believer in Jesus Christ is to be called to the Great Commission. However, some may find it difficult to get involved. Here are some reasons that keep believers from engaging their community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
Feeling inadequate and unequipped.
Being overwhelmed with life problems. No time for others right now.
Its hard to work together in a group.
Its not politically correct to talk about religion.
My friends and family are not interested.
We are here to help. We have designed a three stage training program that will help you overcome the obstacles that are keeping you from fulfilling your life purpose in the Great Commission. Let's Connect so you can benefit from the resources we are offering.
