The Officer’s Blog
For our first Officer’s Blog of 2007 we are indebted to Major Drew McCombe who writes on the classical subject
‘TO BE OR NOT TO BE’
Major Drew
As we are enter the new year a lot of people look to setting new year resolutions. To be or not to be is the question. The quotation contained in the title comes of course from Hamlet where Shakespeare makes Hamlet out to be a procrastinator who is unable to confront his destiny and is a man of talk. What is needed today are real disciples who are first and foremost sold out to Jesus. We need to be disciples now, not putting it off for another day when the circumstances are better, or just being people who talk about it. The quote ‘to be or not to be’ is a challenge
Turning to words of Jesus himself in Matthew 28 v 19 and 20 we read ‘ Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptise them in the name of the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age’ (GNB)
The Great Commission is for all Christians everywhere. Jesus said to his disciples and to us, “Go and make them my disciples .” What does this mean to us in the 21st Century? How do we make disciples? How do we make a difference in our world?
First we must EMBRACE THE MESSENGER, Jesus Christ for ourselves. Often being a disciple is thought of as subscribing to a set of beliefs or following a set of behaviours and practices. But being a disciple might more accurately be thought of as having entered into a way of being that then results in a way of doing. The good news is that forgiveness of sins is available through the grace of God. God calls people everywhere to turn away from their sins, to turn toward His grace and to believe in His mercy. Repent and believe must be real to us. We must change the direction of our lives and receive the power of God that is able to cleanse us, purify us and make us holy. We must EMBRACE THE MESSENGER in our hearts and let God work truth in our inner most parts (Psalms 51:6). We must EMBRACE THE MESSENGER in our minds and let God renew and transform us into the image of His Son (Romans 12:2). We must EMBRACE THE MESSENGER in our lives and put on the new self, created in righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24). Making disciples starts by us EMBRACING THE MESSENGER!
Second we must ENGAGE THE PEOPLE that God has died for. We believe that ‘one died for all’ and that everyone can be saved by faith in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14). That means we value every soul and endeavour to reach every life with the good news of God’s saving grace. Not only do we share the good news, we also disciple new believers in their new life. We must ENGAGE PEOPLE in their faith and help them to resist temptations, endure trials and face times of testing (1 Peter 1:9)! We must ENGAGE PEOPLE in their relationship to God and help them to foster interaction with the Holy Spirit that develops both character and integrity (Galatians 5:22-25)! We must ENGAGE PEOPLE in their spiritual transformation by modelling to and teaching them practical disciplines that help them grow and mature (1 Timothy 4:7-8). Making disciples means ENGAGING PEOPLE!
Finally we must EQUIP OUR CORPS/CHURCHES for a new day in kingdom living and kingdom building. Our corps must be ready and willing to work with a variety of people in different spiritual conditions. Our corps are to be communities of faith with a holy mission to a lost and desperate world. They are a community for those who are saved; a community for those who are being saved; a community for those who are seeking and searching for truth. We must EQUIP OUR CORPS/CHURCHES for servant leadership that helps promote evangelism and discipleship (Ephesians 4:11-13). We must EQUIP OUR CORPS/CHURCHES to preach the Word in all seasons, to correct, rebuke, and encourage disciples in their faith (2 Timothy 4:2). We must EQUIP OUR CORPS/CHURCHES to live in community, convert in community, and disciple in community (Acts 2:42-47). Making disciples means EQUIPPING OUR CORPS/CHURCHES
TO BE OR NOT TO BE IS THE QUESTION!