"The Great Commission "
by Dr. Michael H. Browder

March 8, 2009

Today our scripture lesson is the Great Commission from Jesus. He sends us who are his followers into all the world to make disciples. This process started with the Apostles. After Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, they went out into every part of the world, to tell people the good news about Christ and his salvation.

This process has been going on ever since. Followers of Christ still go into every part of the world. They tell people about Jesus. They share the Bible.

For this reason, the Bible has been translated into more than 2,000 languages. And new translations are being made every day.

There have been some inspiring stories of Christians, down through the centuries, who have given their lives to share the message of Christ. This even occurs in modern times. One of my favorite books is entitled Through Gates of Splendor. It is written by Elisabeth Elliot. Her husband Jim and four other missionaries were trying to bring Christ to an isolated tribe, in the jungles of South America, who had never had contact with the outside world. After flying in on a small plane, and landing on a large sand bar in the river, they pitched a camp. But they were attacked and put to death by the local tribesmen.

Elisabeth felt called to continue her husband’s work. Risking her own life, she persisted in returning to the very people who had killed her husband. After a time, she was able to build a friendship with them and lead them to the Lord. Gradually, she was able to learn details about her husband’s last hours. In the end, she was even able not only to forgive her husband’s murderer but also bring him to Christ. What an incredible story! What an incredible woman! When I think of her faith and her courage. When I think of what she did, I am amazed.

You and I will probably never risk our lives for the sake of the gospel. We will probably never go to far off places witness for Christ. But we support missionaries who do that for us. Clara Biswas, who was trained by Ann Kolbe, is our covenant missionary, who is sharing the love of Jesus Christ with people in Cambodia. Cambodia is a country that has experienced terrible genocides within our own lifetimes. But there, the United Methodist Church has a witness for Christ in the work of people like Clara Biswas.

In the Bible, Jesus calls us not only to preach and make disciples; he also calls us to help those who are in need. Christ set the example for us in his own work healing the sick, and caring for the poor. We are called to care for and pray for the people in our own church who are sick. We try hard to do this. And we also reach out through medical mission work around the world. The United Methodist church supports medical missions in many countries overseas. And medical work is part of our local missions. For instance, one of the ministries of Pathways is a medical clinic.

Jesus also calls us to care for the poor. And he holds us accountable. Remember Matthew 25? “Lord, when did we see you in need and help you?” And, “When did we see you in need and not help you?” The Lord answers, “As much as you did it to the least of these, who are my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.” Are we caring for those who are most in need?... That is what Christ is calling us to do.

Perhaps no human being ever did more to help the poor than St. Francis of Assisi. I love one of the things he said: He said, “Preach the gospel at all times. And if necessary, use words.” How we treat other people, in our own community and around the world, may be our greatest witness for Christ. – Or our greatest lack of witness.

In our own community, as well as in places like Cambodia and Colombia, we are seeking to reach out to those who struggle in poverty. Our goal is not just to give them aid. Our goal is to lift them up. To help them find work. And to start a new life, by the grace of God, with our helping hand.

If you look at all the missions we support, they are set up that way: to lift people up and to give them a better chance in life. Of course, there are times when you have to help people directly. If someone is starving to death, they are not ready to start a job program, and they are not ready to hear preaching. What they need is food. Through agencies like Stop Hunger Now, UMCOR, and the Society of St. Andrew, we are trying to feed people who are hungry right now. But all of these organizations also have programs to bring people beyond hunger and help them provide for themselves.

One of my favorite ministries is Teens Opposing Poverty. Our church and our youth are in the process of becoming a part of this ministry. In this program, youth and other church members go out to the streets of the city and serve meals to homeless people. If you have never met a homeless person, if you have never spent time talking to a homeless person, you should. It will change your whole perspective about who they are. I have seen some powerful things during TOP trips. I have met homeless people who had almost no possessions, but who owned a Bible, and read it every day. I met a man who was able to get off the street, and find a job, and turn his life completely around. But he never forgot others in need, and he is able to use the money he earns to help them.

These are some very powerful stories about missions. This is how God is at work in the world today: through mission. The Kingdom of God is coming into existence all around us through missions. But God does not do this work through lightning bolts. He counts on normal people like you and me. As the saying goes, “He has no hands but our hands.” Our hands and our feet and our voices are what God depends on to do his work.

And let me say this. You ought to find some place in your life to do hands-on mission work. You could go on a mission trip. Or make a blanket for Annual Conference. Or hammer nails at a Habitat house. Or volunteer at Pathways. Or give sandwiches to homeless people with T.O.P. There is nothing like a mission you can touch.

“He has not hands but our hands.” And God has no money, but our money, to do his work. He is counting on us. That’s why the Lord has allowed us to have so many resources: to help others. The Bible says, “From the one to whom much has been given, much will be required.” That’s you and me. By God’s grace much has been given to us. Even if the stock market drops another 50%, we will still be the wealthiest people on earth. And we do not work any harder than the people in nations where there is abject poverty. In fact, many of them work hard menial jobs, 7 days a week, for long hours. And they are lucky to find those jobs.

I recently saw the movie Slumdog Millionaire. (I don’t know that I can recommend this movie to everyone because there is a lot of violence in it.) But I must say that it is a powerful story. And it reminds me of the killing poverty, that I have seen with my own eyes, in many parts of the world.

The Bible continues to have us ask: “Lord, when did we see you in need?” And Christ continues to answer, “When you do it for the least of these, you do it for me.”

Today is our Faith Promise mission Sunday. It is a day when we affirm our commitment to mission. This is a day when we respond to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, to go into all the world in mission. You may not be able to go personally into every part of the globe, but you can go there through your gifts. I ask you to pray hard about your response to this. Because you can make a difference.

Prayer: Dear Savior Jesus, touch our hearts with the call of your Great Com-mission, the call to go into all the world. Let us pause today to remember: the man who is lost, the child who is starving, the woman who is oppressed. In your name, O Lord, let us reach out to them. And may we hear you say, “As much as you did it to these, whose need is so great, you did it to me. Amen.