The great commission is false

anti-conformist said:

For several reasons, It is my contention that the great commission was meant for the 11 that Jesus was directly addressing and in no way did it extend past the 11.

Pro-active Evangelism should not be the focus of the modern Christian. I am not saying that we shouldnt evangelize, but this evangelism should be a response to inquiry, not a pro-active pursuit. Rather, anyone outside of the 11 who were given the directive are called to focus on living a disciplined, Godly life. A natural outflowing of this pursuit should draw people to us for inquiry, but we arent supposed to seek it out actively.

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Which version you are referring to? Matthew, Mark, Luke, John?

None of us follow them exactly as they state, we pick what we like from them and we ignore the rest.

So yes, you are correct, the GC was not directed to us.

Why wouldn't you want to share the Good News - the BEST news - with everyone? God gave us the way out of staying dead in our sin, brokenness, and hopelessness...sharing the Gospel is an act of love.

anti-conformist said:

i dont think the version is relevant. i am speaking in general terms, however i am particular to Luke since it gives specific assurances such as snakes and poison. If it were directed towards us we should naturally have the same protections as Jesus promised the 11.

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You are referring to the Mark version there.

And yes, for the Mark version, people like the promise of speaking in new tongues, but will not bother about the snakes and deadly poison part.

They also don't like that Jesus said you need both belief and water baptism to be considered saved.

anti-conformist said:

For several reasons, It is my contention that the great commission was meant for the 11 that Jesus was directly addressing and in no way did it extend past the 11.

Pro-active Evangelism should not be the focus of the modern Christian. I am not saying that we shouldnt evangelize, but this evangelism should be a response to inquiry, not a pro-active pursuit. Rather, anyone outside of the 11 who were given the directive are called to focus on living a disciplined, Godly life. A natural outflowing of this pursuit should draw people to us for inquiry, but we arent supposed to seek it out actively.

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You are right that the great commission was not directed at each of us, but only to the apostles. They then handed it down to their successors. We participate in it, but we are not who it is for. As evidence of that, very, very few carry it out. When was the last time any of us baptized a person? Or absolved anyone of their sins?

anti-conformist said:

For several reasons, It is my contention that the great commission was meant for the 11 that Jesus was directly addressing and in no way did it extend past the 11.

Pro-active Evangelism should not be the focus of the modern Christian. I am not saying that we shouldnt evangelize, but this evangelism should be a response to inquiry, not a pro-active pursuit. Rather, anyone outside of the 11 who were given the directive are called to focus on living a disciplined, Godly life. A natural outflowing of this pursuit should draw people to us for inquiry, but we arent supposed to seek it out actively.

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I believe we are to seek out chances to witness, as Paul said to the Christians:

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

There are a few parts to this 1) sanctify the LORD in your hearts, i.e. give place to the LORD, let Him find a home in your prayers and supplications, and choices, 2) be ready to share the gospel, out of reverent respect for God.

We also see that the early church spread the gospel not just the disciples. Besides, there are no longer the disciples on the earth, so it is someone's job to share the gospel, and it falls to us.

anti-conformist said:

For several reasons, It is my contention that the great commission was meant for the 11 that Jesus was directly addressing and in no way did it extend past the 11.

Pro-active Evangelism should not be the focus of the modern Christian. I am not saying that we shouldnt evangelize, but this evangelism should be a response to inquiry, not a pro-active pursuit. Rather, anyone outside of the 11 who were given the directive are called to focus on living a disciplined, Godly life. A natural outflowing of this pursuit should draw people to us for inquiry, but we arent supposed to seek it out actively.

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So what you’re trying to say then is that it is the responsibility of the original apostles to make disciples of all nations in this current generation?

anti-conformist said:

I do want to share the news with people, but it isnt my job to share it (it was the job of the 11). it is my job to focus on MY relationship with God

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Matthew 10:32-34
English Standard Version

32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

I think you are a bit confused brother.

Yeshua told the apostle Peter, “If you love me feed my sheep”. Do you think that message only applies to Peter?

@anti-conformist, even if you were correct, why are you excluding Matthias & Paul?

Sabertooth said:

@anti-conformist, even if you were correct, why are you excluding Matthias & Paul?

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He’s not correct.

The Church is the light of the world a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.

Matthew 5:14

I think we have a moral and ethical duty to share Christ. Imagine that you had a cure for cancer and you decided to sit on it... since there was no mandate to share it. Similarly, Christ is the answer to every question and the cure for all ills.

We can't in good conscience interact with suffering people and refuse to offer them a way out of their misery. We should actively seek them out.

anti-conformist said:

I do want to share the news with people, but it isnt my job to share it (it was the job of the 11). it is my job to focus on MY relationship with God

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Where did you get this teaching from ???

HTacianas said:

You are right that the great commission was not directed at each of us, but only to the apostles. They then handed it down to their successors. We participate in it, but we are not who it is for. As evidence of that, very, very few carry it out. When was the last time any of us baptized a person? Or absolved anyone of their sins?

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I have baptised, I don't think that is too uncommon...

anti-conformist said:

it is my job to focus on MY relationship with God

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Yes if you mean it is your desire (not a "job" involving remuneration) to worship God and to honor and praise him ...

Carl Emerson said:

I have baptised, I don't think that is too uncommon...

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Philip (who was not one of "the 11") baptized [Acts of the Apostles 8:34-39].

I appreciate the way Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller talks about a man who gave him a Bible. FYI, Penn is a committed atheist.

Jillette then stated he doesn’t respect people who don’t proselytize.

“I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward, and atheists who think that people shouldn’t proselytize — ‘Just leave me alone, keep your religion to yourself.’

“How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize?” Jillette asked. “How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? If I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you and you didn’t believe it, and that truck was bearing down on you, there’s a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”

“This guy was a really good guy. He was polite and honest and sane, and he cared enough about me to proselytize and give me a Bible, which had written in it a little note to me — not very personal, but just ‘Liked your show,’ and then listed five phone numbers for him and an e-mail address if I wanted to get in touch,” Jillette said.

Doctrines of demons, it's in the churches, " not my job man" ! I have my secret Jesus just for me. It's all about self life, it's worldly things, setting up camp in the churches. Satan wins if he can shut you up.. The OP message screams of this . And the power in that is fear to proclaim the name Jesus before men. Make no mistake about that.

That said some literally are called to preach ( teachers, preachers, pastors, deacons, ie clergy, in church workers), others to cook out in the kitchen. All are called to give a gentle witness. Sometimes you're the only one at the side of a death bed or beside a co-worker in stress and you are the only one with The Answer for that person and the person doesn't even know to ask. And we are not called to let that person slip off into eternal hell and never open our mouths but to say it's not my job..