Northwood United Church

Our Task and His Promise

Matthew 28:16-20
May 18, 2008
Rev. Dr. Doug Lobb

First, may I say that Chris and I had a wonderful time with our grandchildren in Idaho. The weather was wonderfully sunny, like today, all the time we were gone, our time with family time was great even though we found out that 4 and 5 years olds have a lot more energy than we do.

For me, this was also an opportunity to think about the Church-this Church. Jim and I have a little more than six months left in our time with you and so I thought, what needs to be said and done during that time? Then, low and behold, the text for today leads right into sharing those thoughts with you.

Our text today deals with a section known as the Great Commission. This concluding paragraph from Matthew's gospel, containing the last words of instruction by Jesus, is strategically placed to give it maximum exposure and emphasis.

We must remember that the writer of the gospel of Matthew is the most Jewish of the gospel writers. His major intent is to reveal to the Jewish people that Jesus is the Messiah, the chosen one of God. Matthew begins his book in the fashion of the Old Testament, with a genealogy showing Jesus being born, "in the line of David." I find it ironic that in order to bring this about, Jesus geneological history comes through that of Joseph-not Mary; ponder that for awhile.

Now the story ends in this passage with Matthew portraying Jesus as the holder of all authority, the giver of a command to his disciples to go into all the world, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit; and then leaves a promise that his presence will always be with them. It is a powerful emphasis quite unlike any of the other writers.

No writer, save perhaps Paul, has given a vision of the universal emphasis of the faith quite as clearly or succinctly as Matthew. Whether you agree or not, this passage, more than any other Biblical passage, has been the stimulus for missionaries going all around the world with the express reason of converting people to the Christian cause. It is only in the last few decades that this practice has been called into question by leaders because it sends Christian absolutists into the world to compete with other religious absolutists thus creating, in many instances an adversarial relationship.

It is good for us to see that the commission given by Jesus is seen differently by different writers-Matthew gives the commission in rabbinical terms: you are to go, baptize, make disciples and teach. In Luke and Acts, they are told to go and be witnesses and to teach repentance. John sees followers as church that is holy, separate from the world and filled with love for the brotherhood. Mark, on the other hand, simply ends his account with the personage at the tomb telling the disciples to go to Galilee where they will see the risen one.

Listen to the words of our scripture once again. "Now the eleven disciples," remember Judas had hung himself, "went to Galilee to the mountain where Jesus had instructed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted." I find that statement very strange. The disciples had followed Jesus all the way from Jerusalem to Galilee because Jesus had directed them, there they worshipped him yet even then, some doubted.

It is to this group, which includes some doubters that Jesus gives the instruction to go into all the world to make disciples and he will be with them to the end of the age.

Now, the question I want to deal with is, how does this pertain to Northwood United Church? I don't want to deal with this question in a general manner since we all have some idea as to what the role of the Church is and what we should be doing. I want to propose some ideas that I have observed in the hope that we can be motivated to more faithful service as a Church.

This seems to me, to be a fair question since the times we are in today are somewhat similar to the times in which Matthew wrote his book. In Matthew's day, the dominant force in the world was the Roman Empire. Tiberius Caesar was the emperor from 14-37 AD; followed by Caligula-37-41;Caludius-41-54 then Nero from 54 to 68 AD. In 70 AD Jerusalem was overrun by the Roman's and the temple was destroyed. This is about the time that many scholars believe Matthew's gospel was written.

There are some striking parallels that we need to look at: like the Roman Empire, Canada and the United States have Christians living in them but cannot truly be called Christian nations. Like the Roman Empire, both Canada and the United States have leaders in high places who are either agnostic to Christianity, adherents of another religious faith or leaders who follow no religious persuasion: even some who are atheists. It was to a world like that of the Roman Empire, and thus ours I believe, that Jesus issued the great call: a very difficult task.

Let's be realistic; that is a task too great for us to comprehend, so let's narrow it down. Jesus is saying, go to the people of North Surrey with the good news: in fact. Let's even narrow it more. Jesus is saying, go to all who are part of Northwood United and make disciples of them, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you and remember; I will be with you to the end of the age.

Now, if we are serious about this, then our first task is to determine whether or not Northwood is a Church that is concerned about mission or is it a Church more concerned about maintenance: that is maintaining the status quo. In plain talk, are we a Church that is excited because of our faith or are we a Church that is in decline?

Are we more concerned about techniques to grow the Church than sharing our faith? Are we more interested in running the Church than in making disciples of the participants? Are we seeking a charismatic leader to revive us more than seeking reliance upon the Spirit of God? Are we more concerned about having mission projects or having a mission?

If our conversations are more about the nuts and bolts of running a Church then about the dynamics of faith, we have a problem. Look at the manner of the great commission given by Matthew. After stating that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Jesus, he says, GO; that is significant.

It has been said that the most prominent manner of evangelism in the Church today is come. "This is what we do, if you want to be part of us come!" That friends, is a re-active way of being Church rather than a pro-active one.

We have a Mission statement, but are we actively striving to find ways to make that statement a reality or is it just some nice words? Are we a Church that is seeking new and creative ways to be a spiritual reservoir OR are we more content to replicate what's been done before? Far too many Churches, when facing a difficulty, look for a Pastor or a consultant or the Presbytery or the Conference to come in and fix the situation instead of seeking new ways to engage those who are present into deeper spiritual living and dependence upon God.

If you read and reread the great commission of Matthew, it seems to me that Jesus is speaking to the eleven disciples who were present, recognizing that even some of them are doubters and he is saying to them- hey boys, I'm not going to be around here much longer, but I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth so I want you to go into the world and make disciples of them baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and remember, I will be with you at all times until the end of the age.

What Jesus is doing here is reviving a great truth of religious faith; namely that once one accepts the way of Jesus as the way he or she desires to follow, a challenging path becomes not just a reality, it becomes a necessity.

Isaiah proclaims this reality to the audience of his day. In Chapter 49 verse 6 he writes, "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."

There, in a nut shell is a statement of what it means to be a Christian and even more, a Church participant. We look around us and we say; nothing I am doing is working out. I know that I am a child of God but I don't have many gifts and those I have are not doing much to make this a better house of God.

These words are not just to the chosen servant of Israel's time, they are to us because whether we like it or not everyone of us is a member of God's kingdom and the very fact that we are still hanging around means that we have not resigned our called upon tasks.

Barbara Brown Taylor adds, "Whether we go to church because we believe or because we want to believe, we know God has the power to change our lives and that people expect us to be different somehow-kinder and more generous, wiser and more honest.-You get the idea. You are God's people, and God's people are called to be extraordinary; extra thoughtful, extra friendly, extra involved. So you are. You do and do and do. You volunteer, you join, you serve, you listen, you give.-

-you burn your candle at both ends, discovering that the reward for a job well done is not less work but more work, none of which stays done. You begin to wonder whether it is God you are serving or your own ego. You snap at someone who does not deserve it and your bitterness surrounds you until one morning you cannot get out of bed at all. I have laboured in vain, you say to the ceiling, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity." (B.B.Taylor, "Gospel medicine" Cowley Press 1995-Page 159f)

That's a pretty good picture of how Isaiah's servant felt when he confessed his failure to God. Expecting to be let go or at least given some rest, God has a better idea, "I will make you a light to the nations that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

See how God's logic works; fail at one task and I will give you a bigger one. Perhaps, in the final analysis, God knows something that we do not. The point is, stop doing a job. Stop looking at this as something that you have to do. Start to be a light, even if it's only a spark, to your family, your church, your community your nation. Live what you believe and stop worrying about whether you have done a good job or not. Just leave that up to me, says God, because I have a greater view than you and I've got pretty good taste.

I want to leave you with this suggestion: if we want Northwood to be a dynamic presence in north Surrey, let's not get all hung up on procedure and technique. That may be important but it is not nearly as important as being a spiritual presence in this area.

When others see in us that we are happy, loving, forgiving, accepting and striving, they will KNOW that we have encountered something that is bigger than we are. When our lives reflect that we are content because we know that all authority has been granted unto our Lord others will sense it.

The greatness of the faith we seek to understand in deeper ways, is this. Despite our feeble efforts at times, we are accepted-we are accepted, accepted by that which is greater than we are. It isn't because of what we have done or are doing. It isn't because we have earned it. It certainly isn't because we deserve it. It is because the God we love, loved us first and if you cannot do anything else, you can believe that and then live like you really do believe it.

Go: into all the world and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the father the Son and the Holy Spirit: teaching them to obey and lo, I am with you always. Why? You may be asking.

I close with a story you have heard, but a story that explains why. Why we are here this morning and why, with God's help, this can be a great church of impact to this area.

A family is out for an afternoon drive in the country. Look at the fields, the raspberry farms, the cattle and the glorious mountains, oh, there is Bridal Veil Falls; isn't this a wonderful way to spend our time as a family. The kids are bored out of their minds, huddled in the back seat like pigs being led to slaughter.

As they travel, the daughter spots a kitten on the side of the road out in the middle of nowhere. "Daddy, Daddy, stop the car, we have to get that kitten or it will die out here". "We're not stopping says the father, we are having a lovely family drive and besides we have a dog at home."

The plea to stop goes on until finally, the mother intervenes, "Honey, we've got to stop and get that kitten." The father stops the car, slams the gear shift into reverse and backs up to the kitten. "You kids stay here" he barks, "that kitten may have the mange." He goes to the kitten, scrawny, its ribs visible behind the sagging fur. With its last ounce of energy, the kitten arches its back, hisses and scratches the father's hand.

Picking it up by the nape of its neck the father takes it into the car and says "don't touch it" and the family heads for home in stony silence. When they get home, the children bathe the kitten, feed it some warm milk and place it in a box with some warm cloths. "Can we have the kitten stay in the house tonight daddy", the children ask: "Just tonight." "Sure, why not", the father says, use our bedroom. This house is becoming a zoo."

Sometime later the father is coming home early from work when he feels something rubbing against his leg and purring loudly. Looking around to be sure no one is looking, he reaches down to pet that cat.

Is that the same cat? No it isn't. It is a changed animal and you and I both know why.

One day, God's hand came down to bless me and my family and when I looked at that hand, it was covered with scratches.

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