All Christians are Responsible for the Great Commission. The privilege of accessing valuable information bestows responsibility on whoever accesses survival benefits in Christ. It is, therefore, a serious oversight of any Christian to find excuse for not cascading valuable information to one’s fellow humanity.
This is like a person receiving cash from a donnor, on behalf of his fellow countrymen. But, instead of distributing, accordingly—the person converts it for his/her personal use. The person might assume that accessing such moneys would be privilege accruing to him/herself.
But that behaviour is not different from criminality, as displayed in a Bank robbery. Under normal circumstances, valuable information, designed to benefit everyone else, should flow without restrictions, and without delay.
The Great Commission was directly given to the eleven apostles, who were not the only beneficiaries to the impact of the gospel. Bearing the multilevel diversities, the gospel message was expected to cut across the entire world.
Avoiding sharing the information about Jesus with others—as one acknowledges its value—is a serious crime. Such kind of behaviour currently prevails in a society driven by self-centredness, instead of altruism. The crime is serious—as the survival of others determines the survival of one.
It is rather safer, not to access such valuable information, than receiving it—only to keep it as one’s own benefit. The principles of God’s Kingdom should not be hindered by anyone—as answering all problems of humanity.
The evils of the world exist, because someone, somewhere avoids sharing survival information—where Jesus reverses all evils. Jesus is the light of the world (John 1:9). But Jesus also insisted that, after His departure, Christians should be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).
When looking at what is happening across the world, Christians are reneging on the responsibility to cascade the information about Christ. This, itself, is a serious oversight. It is, therefore, essential to identify causes—so as to ensure free-flow of valuable information about the gospel.
In my view, the two most serious obstructions against the objectives of the Great Commission are: authoritarianism and human traditions. There could be more, but these two are pillars. See [Pastor—The centre of all confusion in Christianity]
I may be unable to access accurate information about the actual number of Christians having subscribed to Christ, across the world. But I know that the number could reach, not millions, but billions. Yet the existing wickedness in the world does not confirm the reality of there being effective Christians.
The only disturbing question is: Why are God’s Kingdom principles, as projected in the teachings of Christ, seemingly, not benefitting humanity? Authoritarianism—as practiced by religious authorities—the Scribes and Pharisees—appears as what Jesus was castigating:
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves” (Matthew 23:13-15) (ESV).
Most Christians assume that such Scriptures were only directed at the Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ time. But today’s Theologians and Christian leaders carry the role of the Scribes and the Pharisees, as addressed by Jesus at His time. The sin of shutting God’s Kingdom in people’s faces can only be possible through the authoritarian culture.
There is no doubt about those authoritarian leaders having good intentions of being the servants of Jesus Christ. The only problem is that they become so obsessed with their feeling of self-importance—leading to failure to appreciate Jesus’ teachings.
Through the authoritarian culture, most Christian leaders hinder others from entering into God’s Kingdom. As packaged with seven woes— Matthew 23 addresses authoritarianism—as opposed to God’s Kingdom. Those authoritarians cannot see their error of opposing Christ. See [All are equal in Christianity].
I find tradition being another of humanity’s serious reflection of failure to effectively utilize the power of the mind. Such behaviour is found in any Christian denomination that one can think of.
People uphold customs and traditions that are considered convenient, for the benefit of the group concerned. Yet without adding value, in advancing the gospel, according to the Great Commission given to Christians.
Through the authoritarian philosophy, those viewed as attempting to violate the adopted customs and traditions can be condemned for causing discord. Authoritarians are not prepared to listen to whatever reasons a person might have, as advocating for doing things differently.
I remember one Christian leader telling me that it was impossible to change, though seeing value in what I had pointed out. Changing was impossible, as the entire leadership had not yet sat down to review the merit or demerits.
Such reasoning implies that people can continue to die in their sinful conditions, as long as the leadership would not have agreed on some principle. Under those circumstances Jesus is not in charge. The Church Board or the Church council is the one given authority to be in charge, instead.
This is basically the case with Christianity across the world. Christian leaders also do not believe that God can use those they consider to be ‘Laymen’ in preaching the gospel. They expect approval to first come from the established authorities.
While we have billions of people subscribing to Christianity, their influence is projected through the mouthpieces, recognized as denominational leaders. The rest of the membership is expected to highlight only what is projected by the respective denominational leaders.
In Matthew 15:1-9 Jesus intimated tradition being what stifles Godly principles. The valuable information about God’s Kingdom is found in every Christian—having accepted Jesus as their saviour. But tradition ensures that the person remains incapacitated—unable to do anything, as revealed by God.
Tradition is adopted by a group of people in any particular situation. Tradition can be national, tribal, religious, social, or anything found convenient, when handling relationship problems. See [Tradition and idolatry are synonymous].
If a pollster was to privately interview each individual Christian about why they could not project the power of Jesus according to their own individual understanding; the answers could be quite revealing. Not a single one of those interviewees would provide meaningful answers.
Others would probably talk about need for unity among brethren—but without specifying the significance of that unity. Others would talk about marvellous works that God would have done, using the revered leader of their denomination—instead of God’s marvellous works in that person’s own life.
There can be as varied reasons as can be given by the respondents. But not a single one of those reasons satisfies, in terms of projecting the power of Jesus—according to individual understanding. In our country, perhaps, the easiest way of observing the limitations of tradition is in politics.
Politicians have successfully reduced our country into rubbles. But I can assure anyone that those politicians could not do so without the approval of their staunch supporters. Those supporters could, actually, kill somebody to protect those shenanigans. Yet without knowing what they would be doing—except citing issues of customs and traditions.
Even among families. A father figure can abuse his wife and children—in the name of customs and traditions—inherited from ancestral traditions of unbeknown years past. Human traditions are found to be valuable, as associated with one’s identity. See [The battle is lost or won in the mind].
The Great Commission is about passing on the information about Jesus, as revealed in Scriptures. This is in accordance with how a person would have discovered the value in extraordinary teachings of Jesus.
Having found quantifiable value in Jesus—everyone ought to take the responsibility to tell one’s neighbour—depending on benefits achieved. When everyone, accordingly, applies Jesus’ principles, could it be difficult for the gospel to permeate within a short period of time?
What happens, if every Christian simply talks about the value of Jesus—without authoritarian or traditional limitations? I suppose this world would be changed overnight for the better—as each person takes full responsibility. See [The Greatest civilization emerging in Southern Africa]
However, what is being suggested here cannot easily be achieved. Authoritarians feel deprived of their authority and, therefore, find good reasons to vilify those advocating for doing things differently. Traditionalists also vilify anyone for bringing what is foreign, as having never been practiced that way before.
An anonymous friend wrote to me recently, encouraging me to continue posting material of this nature on this website. He promised that we would eventually prevail in the end. I suppose by saying ‘we’ that person intended to give me an assurance that I am not alone in this endeavour.
I became convinced in that there are some people who may, actually, work harder than I do—praying for the success of the initiative of this website. The inspiration to write may, actually, be a result of those prayers. See [Influencing change does not need fighting or religion]
This is one of the most exciting revelations about the work of Jesus Christ. No-one can claim to be more effective than others. This is like a team of football. Those players win and celebrate as a team. You can have the world’s best striker in that team. But without others playing their different parts, the team loses.
However, there is difference between a team of football and the work of preaching the gospel. While, in football, individual superstars can be rewarded according to their performances, in Christianity only Jesus takes credit. Jesus is the one who takes credit in everything, as He enables individual performers. No-one can boast about the work of God.
Some Christian leaders are considered as possessing supernatural powers—as leaders of their denominations. But I suppose this website has sufficiently exposed such treachery. In Christianity, everyone is empowered according to God’s prerogative (Romans 12:3-8).
The Great Commission implies preaching only what Jesus Commanded. If every Christian was to preach only what Jesus Commanded, the varieties of Christian denominations would not have any effect in limiting committed Christians.
The free-flow of the work of the Holy Spirit should permeate without limitations. The Great Commission would then be effectively heralded and, accordingly, producing results, like a high-performing engine.
Authoritarianism on one hand and Customs and traditions on the other, should not be there to block the Great Commission. Everything is not about the power of individuals, but the power of the Holy Spirit. While the name of Jesus has effectively been made known, it is His message that needs to be disseminated.
The Bibles have effectively been distributed worldwide. What seems to remain are the human instruments, with the ability to shrug off both authoritarianism and human traditions—being effectively guided by the Holy Spirit.
As my anonymous friend intimated—we will win at the end. Each person does his/her part—as long as allowing the Holy Spirit to work. Everyone needs not to be intimidated by anything, but working hard—conforming to the Holy Spirit.
Christians have a role in supporting one another to do the work of God, as the Spirit leads. But Christians can also suppress one another where authoritarians and human traditions are given the lead. Christ leads through the Spirit—not through authoritarian leaders and human traditions. All are included in cascading the objectives of the Great Commission, as God wills.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing reliefs to those having witnessed strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. In a simple conversational tone, most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long awaited providential oasis of hope.
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