Mark's Great Commission

[TCassidy]

However, the question is not whether or not we should preach the Gospel, but how can we preach it to every person on earth as per Mark's GC.

John, could it be that Mark was using the word "world" in a more personal sense?

Preach the Gospel to the world where you live - to your neighbors.
Preach the Gospel to the world where you learn - to your school mates.
Preach the Gospel to the world where you work - to your fellow employees/customers.
Preach the Gospel to the world where you play - to those you bowl/golf/etc. with.

Is it possible Mark was saying "Preach the Gospel to YOUR world?"

 

[John of Japan]

John, could it be that Mark was using the word "world" in a more personal sense?

Preach the Gospel to the world where you live - to your neighbors.
Preach the Gospel to the world where you learn - to your school mates.
Preach the Gospel to the world where you work - to your fellow employees/customers.
Preach the Gospel to the world where you play - to those you bowl/golf/etc. with.

Is it possible Mark was saying "Preach the Gospel to YOUR world?"

I like that way of putting it. I've often meditated on this passage and thought about an individual Christian reaching everyone he can reach around him.

But I'm sure you'll agree, each believer also has a responsibility to support and pray for world missions if he doesn't go himself. The GCs especially in Matthew ("all nations"), Luke ("all nations") and Acts ("ends of the earth") all indicate international, cross-cultural efforts.

 

[TCassidy]

But I'm sure you'll agree, each believer also has a responsibility to support and pray for world missions if he doesn't go himself. The GCs especially in Matthew ("all nations"), Luke ("all nations") and Acts ("ends of the earth") all indicate international, cross-cultural efforts.

Absolutely! I have a responsibility to reach my world, but my responsibility does not end there. I am also responsible for reaching (in your case) the people in Japan, and I do that by supporting missionaries in that country. (We supported Roland & Sandra Simeonsson in Japan for years. Didn't know you at that time. )

But, on the other hand, supporting a foreign missionary does not relieve me of my responsibility to reach my world.

I see the Great Commission as being all inclusive.

 

[John of Japan]

Absolutely! I have a responsibility to reach my world, but my responsibility does not end there. I am also responsible for reaching (in your case) the people in Japan, and I do that by supporting missionaries in that country. (We supported Roland & Sandra Simeonsson in Japan for years. Didn't know you at that time. )

But, on the other hand, supporting a foreign missionary does not relieve me of my responsibility to reach my world.

I see the Great Commission as being all inclusive.

We agree completely.

Strangely enough, I never met the Simeonssons, but have heard many good things about them. Their co-worker, Bill Griffin, came and pastored a military work which was near us, Yokosuka Baptist Church. We had wonderful fellowship with them, and they were very good to us, especially when the dollar was at its weakest in Japan.

 

[John of Japan]

Home mission field - Montana and Washington state - planted three churches.

Praise the Lord!

Yes, I must admit that teaching is my second love after research and writing.

The great thing about being a teacher is you can research and write as part of your job/ministry!

 

[Salty]

John, could it be that Mark was using the word "world" in a more personal sense?

Preach the Gospel to the world where you live - to your neighbors.
Preach the Gospel to the world where you learn - to your school mates.
Preach the Gospel to the world where you work - to your fellow employees/customers.
Preach the Gospel to the world where you play - to those you bowl/golf/etc. with.

Is it possible Mark was saying "Preach the Gospel to YOUR world?"

I would say that is part of the world -
and actually, sometimes those you know are the hardest to witness to.
Not because they are hard to reach - but rather, we are afraid they will reject the
message - and then ultimately us.

 

[Iconoclast]

Thanks for your input.

The Scripture is, of course, wonderful. However, the question is not whether or not we should preach the Gospel, but how can we preach it to every person on earth as per Mark's GC.

I believe that technological advances, in God's providence, can help us do this: cell phones, other recording or playback devices, the Internet, radio, TV, etc.l

When I went to Africa this past Spring, I took with me recording devices, bought cheaply at Walmart, which are being used to record our oral Bible translation effort. Paul would have surely used such devices!

Yes...sorry my intent in the first post was not clear.
I do not oppose certain technology, and advances...as you list them.
Like with anything else.....they can be used for good or evil purposes......

Well meaning Christians perhaps make movies, or try and illustrate and convey biblical truth......but these "short cuts" can also be perverted by cults and false teachers.....
the fact that counterfeit teaching happens should not keep us from being obedient...

The use of the word by God raising up locals, nationals, from whatever place on earth...where they already have the language is going to perhaps be a repeatable pattern that then can be broadcast perhaps by radio to reach the masses....
I think recently of a missionary family that struggled to acquire language capacity[ Spanish]....and if I understand correctly.....it did not happen the way we would like it to......It is nice that they attempted to serve God this way....but my thought was....why when we have so many bi language people already equipped who speak Spanish fluently does a couple seek to do this?
There are other groups[ other languages] that we do not have bilingual people yet.....so perhaps a focus could look into this ....
This would take some of the most gifted servants, who have the capacity to acquire language skills.
The issue seems to be getting trained pastors who can over see local men and give the theological oversight needed to form stable local assemblies.

While we are commanded to Go.....perhaps we have not done enough going....so God is bringing those people here, illegal aliens, persecuted persons....even those who intend to destroy the west,[terrorists}.
One question we must face is are we equipped to deal with those who are different from us,different cultures, races, worldviews, as we find them here?
Or do we avoid them because they are different from us and we are not quite "comfortable " with that difference?
You and others were sent by God to distant places.....but we are all sent to someone each day, if we are vessels fit for the masters use.

If we do not cultivate an outward focus here.....it will not manifest itself out there.....
God has an eternal outward focus that is worldwide;
51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad

 

[evangelist6589]

It's finals time for our 9 week block. My tests are made up, I'm here early this morning, so why not a new thread that will hopefully have a strong enough start that many will participate.

How do we best obey Mark's GC? In other words, how do we get the Gospel to "every creature"? Is it even possible? Or is it one of those impossible commands we are to strive to do until we die, never quite making it? (For example, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect.")

In this process, remember that there is more to Mark's GC than just getting the Gospel to every person on earth. So, here is the GC with relevant immediate context: who it was to, what spiritual condition were they in, what was to happen, how they did it.

14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Three ways to accomplish it.

Pass out as many gospel tracts as possible
Talk to as many as possible or write letters
Do some open air preaching

 

[evangelist6589]

I believe the best way to fulfill the Great Commission is to be part of a church and work with that church along with doing what we can within our own community. In being a part of my church, we are able to bring the gospel to our area around the church building but beyond that, each person has their own circle of influence as well to bring the gospel. Then we also have been able to train up and send those who have a calling to missions and we can support them financially, spiritually and emotionally to further our influence to preach to all nations. As we individually and as a church do this more and more, we can have a greater reach and if we were able to make small circles around ourselves on a globe to show our influence to those around us, ideally we would see circles covering the face of the earth!

Verse 20 tells us that they went forth and the Lord was working with them, confirming the word with signs. We will see changes when the Great Commission is carried out. It may not be immediate and but lives change in the face of Christ. Even when we don't have converts right away, we can know God is working in our hearts and we can see changes in those around us.

Why would they join your church of all the options? Lots of churches in Denver and lots of progressives. The church I attend is small but focuses on depth of scripture.

 

[evangelist6589]

I can tell you one way. Let's just say that there is a film that communicates the gospel really well. By making the movie in different languages and bringing a generator, screen and projector along with sound equipment, people are hearing and seeing the gospel message for the first time ever. These are people who don't even have a written language but only a spoken language. We have seen churches birthed from this ministry in countries where the gospel has not been before.

Ben Hur would be one such film.

 

[evangelist6589]

Two points to ponder.

(1) "He that believeth and is baptized" presupposes that if the Gospel is preached plainly in its power, people will be saved. Rom. 1:16 supports this.

(2) Locally, I submit that "every creature" can best be reached by a door to door effort: tracts, door hangers, door knocking, etc. This is time-consuming and difficult, but it reaches every creature except the homeless, who you must reach another way.

Or via street evangelism.

 

[asterisktom]

I liked what I read here, Kyredneck. I scrolled down to see how your point was answered, but in vain. Not even acknowledged.

That is to bad. Because any discussion on the GC ought to consider to whom it was written - the apostles in Christ's immediate hearing.

This is not to say that we here today should not also be concerned about evangelizing. Just that this passage should not be our go-to text. Because a wrong application here leads to a wrong application of eschatology. But understanding the mission field of the GC as coextensive with the Roman Empire (οἰκουμένη) fits in very well with the verses you wrote. It truly is a done deal.

BTW, the GC is not the only passage where Christians have overlooked the importance of audience relevance. Pentecostals, for instance, misconstrue Christ's personal prophecies and promises to His twelve disciples (miracle-working, etc.) into ongoing commandments for Christians today.

Not only possible but a done deal before the NT was even completed:

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished. Mt 24

So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world. Ro 10:17-18

5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,
6 which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as it doth in you also, since the day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth;
23 if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister. Col 1:23

25 Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal,
26 but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith: Ro 16

 

[kyredneck]

I liked what I read here, Kyredneck. I scrolled down to see how your point was answered, but in vain. Not even acknowledged.

That is to bad.

Ah, I'm used to it. I don't sleep over 8 hrs at night worrying about being ignored on the BB. Not here to be popular, only to articulate as I see the scriptures, take it or leave it.

That is to bad. Because any discussion on the GC ought to consider to whom it was written - the apostles in Christ's immediate hearing.

I derive great joy from recognizing that Christ's words were altogether fulfilled. That Isaiah 55:10-11 was perfectly demonstrated. Yet I get the feeling that the evangelicals on board somehow feel threatened by it.

This is not to say that we here today should not also be concerned about evangelizing. Just that this passage should not be our go-to text.

How about a passage such as this for a "go-to" text?:

15 but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear 1 Peter 3

But it requires another 'great commission', given directly to the Church, to produce the mature Christians that have that hope:

28 Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood. Acts 20

understanding the mission field of the GC as coextensive with the Roman Empire (οἰκουμένη) fits in very well with the verses you wrote. It truly is a done deal.

Actually it was the network of synagogues throughout the known world that served as a conduit for the incredibly fast spread of the gospel, Roman Empire or not.

BTW, the GC is not the only passage where Christians have overlooked the importance of audience relevance.

So right, this most certainly is NOT the only passage wrongly applied due to ignoring audience relevance. It's as if few know of Hodge's first rule of interpretation:

"The Scriptures are to be taken in the sense attached to them in the age and by the people to whom they were addressed.".

 

[annsni]

Why would they join your church of all the options? Lots of churches in Denver and lots of progressives. The church I attend is small but focuses on depth of scripture.

So does mine - our campus is small while our church is larger but we still focus on the depth of Scripture. They can join our church or any number of other good churches in the area. Because the pastors from the evangelical churches in the area meet regularly and know and love each other, we can highly recommend other churches to people that we know will preach the gospel and grow these people into faithful followers of Christ.

 

[John of Japan]

Three ways to accomplish it.

Pass out as many gospel tracts as possible
Talk to as many as possible or write letters
Do some open air preaching

These are three great methods of evangelism, and I've done all three. I applaud you for using these methods.

However, the goal of Mark's GC is to get the Gospel to "every creature," or every single person on earth. These three methods are localized as you have stated them, though two of them can be used to get the Gospel to "every creature." How can you use them to do that?

Open air preaching in the ministry of such men as George Whitefield and John Wesley could be used to reach "every creature" in a certain town or village, because that was the "entertainment" of the day, and everyone in town would turn out to hear these great evangelists. However, this doesn't happen in the 21st century, so I submit that open air preaching (street preaching as some call it) cannot reach every person in a given area in these times.

 

[John of Japan]

I liked what I read here, Kyredneck. I scrolled down to see how your point was answered, but in vain. Not even acknowledged.

Yeah, I ignore the redneck and others of his odd theological stance and strange aggresiveness.

That is to bad. Because any discussion on the GC ought to consider to whom it was written - the apostles in Christ's immediate hearing.

Oh, really? Look again. The audience for Mark's GC was not "the apostles." That one is Acts 1:8.

This is not to say that we here today should not also be concerned about evangelizing. Just that this passage should not be our go-to text. Because a wrong application here leads to a wrong application of eschatology. But understanding the mission field of the GC as coextensive with the Roman Empire (οἰκουμένη) fits in very well with the verses you wrote. It truly is a done deal.

So your motive for not obeying Mark's GC is that it might interfere with your non-orthodox full preterism?

 

[kyredneck]

Oh, really? Look again. The audience for Mark's GC was not "the apostles."

???

14 And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. Mk 16

 

[John of Japan]

Folks, this thread is not about whether or not Mark's GC is for us, or whether or not the apostles reached their known world for Christ. I acknowledge that the apostles reached their known world for Christ. That's not the point of this thread. The point is that we are to reach our known world, which includes now virtually every tribe and nation on the globe. So our problem here is, how do we reach our known world?

Concerning the idea that the GC was only for the apostles in their day, once again, that's not in the OP. But I will say this. I oppose that view with all of my heart. It's very close to the hyper-dispensationalist view. It's also similar to the dynamic equivalence theory of Bible translation, which says that we should look for a response in our modern translation that is like the response of the original readers ("reader response theory"). That's hogwash. But if someone wants to push that, then they are free to start their own thread.

Now, hopefully, back to the OP.

 

[evangelist6589]

These are three great methods of evangelism, and I've done all three. I applaud you for using these methods.

However, the goal of Mark's GC is to get the Gospel to "every creature," or every single person on earth. These three methods are localized as you have stated them, though two of them can be used to get the Gospel to "every creature." How can you use them to do that?

Open air preaching in the ministry of such men as George Whitefield and John Wesley could be used to reach "every creature" in a certain town or village, because that was the "entertainment" of the day, and everyone in town would turn out to hear these great evangelists. However, this doesn't happen in the 21st century, so I submit that open air preaching (street preaching as some call it) cannot reach every person in a given area in these times.

I am not sure then. Media? The internet? Those methods can reach every creature. However I do not have a TV ministry.

 

[John of Japan]

I am not sure then. Media? The internet? Those methods can reach every creature. However I do not have a TV ministry.

Media is one way to work at it, but it is dependent on who is actually watching or listening. Again, the Internet is great for evangelism, but there are many (old folks especially) who don't have Internet access. Also, media methods and the Internet are dependent on the soul being a searcher. Every person is not reached.

The best way I know to be sure of reaching every person is to go door-to-door. You can knock on every door, but of course just getting a tract in every door without even talking to the people gets the Gospel in some measure to every person.

Acts 5:42--"And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

Acts 2:46--"And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart."

Acts 20:20--"And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house."