The Christian Mission for Disciples

The Gospel of Matthew ends with the Great Commission (28: 16-20). The Great Commission is not a notion that appears from out of nowhere as the book comes to a close but it is the climax of the gospel of Matthew. It is in fact the “conclusion” of the core message and the key to an understanding of the whole gospel book. For the listeners, after listening to chapter 28, they will have listened to the recapitulation of the content of the whole book: Jesus’ disciples will have to proclaim to all the nations what they have learned from Jesus and make them Jesus’ disciples.

“To make disciples of all nations” was the focus of the Christian mission that Jesus gave His disciples. Jesus told them to put into practice the disciples’ mission through these actions: “go,” “baptize,” and “teach.” The command to go, baptize and teach describes the actions required in order to accomplish the mission of “discipleship.” These actions are analogous to three interlocking hula hoops pointing towards a common goal, that is “to make disciples of all nations.”

Then, what is “to make disciples of all nations?”

“All Nations” in the Phrase “to Make Disciples of All Nations”

On the one hand, “all nations” (panta ta ethne) in the phrase “to make disciples of all nations” points to the nature that the Christian mission has no boundaries. “All nations” is “all peoples”; “all peoples” include Jews and gentiles.

The term “all nations” owes its root to an Old Testament revelation, reminding us of God’s promise to Abraham that all families on earth will be blessed through Abraham (Gen 12: 1-3). This promise of God’s blessing is granted to all the families on earth.

Jesus sent his disciples first to the family of Israel to find the lost sheep (Mt 10: 6, 15: 21-28). This is Jesus’ early order to his disciples. Later, Jesus himself began his mission from Galilee (a gentile region; 2: 23, 4: 15-16, 12: 18-21, 21: 43). In the parable of the goats and the sheep, Jesus talked about his ecumenical judgment (chapter 25) and panta ta ethne refers to the whole world, including the Jews and the gentiles. When he rose from the dead, Jesus quickly commanded his disciples “to make disciples of all nations” (28: 19b). In short, Jesus’ Christian mission is ecumenical with the entire human race as his target. The gospel of Matthew emphasizes that Jesus Christ is both the Messiah of the Jews (1: 17, 2: 2-6, 21: 4-9, 27: 37) and also of all nations.

“To Make Disciples” Is “Training of Disciples”

On the other hand, “to make disciples” in the phrase “to make disciples of all nations” implies “the training of disciples.”

“Disciples” are those who honor Jesus Christ as the Son of God and follow him as their master and Lord. As Jesus Christ followers, disciples constantly learn to face their limitations, lack of faith, doubt and fear. They received the teaching of Jesus Christ and unflinchingly believe and put into practice his words (7: 24-27). His disciples shared the authority of Jesus’ mission. Their ultimate Christian mission is not only “preaching the word of God,” but more importantly to have people’s lives transformed, to follow the model of Jesus Christ and to submit to God’s kingdom in every way.

Therefore, “to make disciples” is an education for a disciple’s whole lifetime, an education for life with no graduation date, and the kind of training in different stages of his life so that he comes to learn the mode of living in the kingdom of heaven. It is neither a learning of theories nor the mastery of correct doctrines. Instead, it is orthopraxis derived from putting orthodox doctrines into practice and is the way of life in the kingdom of Jesus. Hence, discipleship is to follow the footsteps of Jesus “in an orthodox way” and to walk along the path that Jesus has walked.

The Christian Mission Is to Walk along the Path That Jesus Has Walked

What after all is the path Jesus has walked? The path he walked is the path of suffering. He took upon himself the incomparably heavy cross for the sake of the world and led people to forsake everything but to take up his cross. The path he walked is the path of love so that people in sickness can get healed; those in the force of darkness can be set free and redeemed. The path he walked is a path of serving with humility so that people are willing to be a lowly person among the lowly. The path he walked is the path of commitment, one that cares for neighbors and consecrates oneself for the sake of others. This is pointed out in one verse in Matthew 25: 31-46: “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

The Christian mission is to walk along the path that Jesus has walked. When we care for the poor, the needy, the oppressed in the world, we are participating in and modeling after Jesus Christ’s action and taking part in God’s action of deliverance. The Christian mission is to be in the presence of God and of our neighbors. When we respond to those in need, we are in the presence of God. How to Walk the Path of Jesus Christ in an Age of Globalization?

How to Walk the Path of Jesus Christ in an Age of Globalization?

But then, in an age influenced by the present globalism, how will we “walk the path that Jesus Christ has walked?” This is a most pressing problem.

Today, economists and political science scholars criticize the globalism movement both positively and negatively. Amongst them, not a few scholars are worried about the negative effects as they regard globalization as a means of economic exploitation and political suppression. In the process of globalization, the powerful nations take control over the financial system and international trade; the powerful trans-national companies aided by powerful nations manipulate the development and control the fate of the poor nations. The result is that the gap between the poor nations and the affluent nations increasingly widens and the disparity between the rich and the poor keeps deteriorating.

Globalization also implies cultural invasion. Globalization can become a process when one culture topples and erodes another culture. The result is that through this process it ends up with a mono culture dominated by the western culture so that the diversification of some other cultures will be reduced or wiped out.

Globalization also brings about the destruction and pollution of the ecological environment. Along with economic development and the expansion of industrialization, all the living species besides humans will become “objects.” Resources like forests and oceans will be insatiably consumed in exchange for immediate profit. The outcome is that the ecological environment is to be destroyed, the climate turns abnormal and endangered animals and plants become extinct.

“Discipleship” Is to Resolutely Approach God and Our Neighbors

In the context of globalization, the phrase “to make disciples of all nations” in the Christian mission is to walk the path that Jesus has walked by caring for those who are poor, needy, oppressed in this world and taking part in God’s action of deliverance. It means to remind those “powerful” people who have access to power to take care of the “weak and lowly.” It also means that to challenge and call upon other people to join together to stand up for justice in our world with its diversified cultures, to construct a partnership relationship that highlights equality, to establish a harmonious community and protect the ecological environment. “Discipleship” is to resolutely approach God and our neighbors, to discern and participate in God’s presence and power, and to commit ourselves to His kingdom. When “God’s kingdom” is increasingly manifested through disciples’ lives, these disciples will increasingly discover the new rule and new horizon of loving God and loving their neighbors.

In other words, we are commissioned to the world just like Jesus Christ was commissioned to the world to serve our neighbors. The great commission of Jesus Christ teaches us to go across social, cultural, ethnic, regional and political boundaries and to make an impact on people in different conditions of life so that they can be made disciples of Jesus. Out of God’s love, we “go,” we “go across,” we regard our neighbors as God’s creation and presence. We are concerned with our neighbors’ holistic well-being, including the well-being of their body, soul and community. This is a natural mode of loving our neighbors. This kind of love enables men to break through barriers, to pursue a more perfect social structure and system, and show forth peace, justice, dignity and freedom. This is the very credibility of the Christian gospel. Not only can this gospel be preached, it can be seen. Those who preach the gospel will not only care for the human soul but also the physical body, the well-being of the environment and community in which the person lives. Therefore, the Christian mission does not narrowly refer to how an individual becomes a new creation and that he has an eternal life in Christ, it also takes note of his need, taking into consideration the condition of injustice, suffering and oppression that he may endure. In short, it shows mercy to those who have fallen by the roadside.

In the past few years, our teachers, students and staff have increasingly recognized that the Seminary is a community of disciples. I earnestly pray that HKBTS can be part of our Lord’s Christian mission and share God’s mission, open up God’s presence in the world, take part in the transformation of life so that men are set free and we continue to make disciples of all nations.

Feb 2012