Send or Go

 

Sunday night following Gary's presentation where he seemed to be suggesting congregations should become more involved in mission work either domestic or foreign Al immediately shot him down when he clarified that sending is as good as going and put the focus on himself and his magical experiences.

 

Al has said that before as he must because he is not going anywhere. He would be a perfect self-supporting missionary. He could practice is profession and missionary on the side without having to spend anytime studying. But he prefers to be a local keynote speaker and fund raiser.

 

When Jesus told his eleven apostles to "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." Did they have a choice to go or send? Of course not, Jesus wanted them to go. We become confused when we believe Jesus was speaking to us and that the authors of the books and letter were thinking of us. The Bible was written for us but not to us. The Bible tells us what Jesus did and said and to whom he said it and he was not speaking to us by proxy. We do not have to go anywhere. We can if we like but Jesus did not tell us to go.   

 

If we can change "go" to "send" we can change "immerse" to "sprinkle or pour" when Jesus said to his apostles: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"

 

We believe because we want to believe; we believe what we want to believe; we believe what makes us comfortable.  

 

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/ 
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

 "How much is enough? and How do I know what I want?"  

 

---Henry David Thoreau, 1854