A Holistic Take on the Great Commission

“Ivan Illich was once asked, ‘What is the most revolutionary way to change society: Is it violent revolution or is it gradual reform?’ He gave a careful answer: ‘Neither. If you want to change society, then you must tell an alternative story,’ he concluded.” - Tim Costello

Well, I made it through the Lent season decaffeinated and void of recreational Internet usage. I must say that it was a great time of reflection and preparation for Resurrection Sunday, contrary to some of the comments I received from a brother in the Reformed tradition.

During my blog-fast, Lindsey and I had the privilege of welcoming a few friends into our home for a couple days. One afternoon, while lounging around our cramped apartment, our friend Travis lowered a book from his gaze and said something like this, “I think we forget the part of the Great Commission where Jesus told his disciples to teach others to obey EVERYTHING he commanded them. That’s a pretty big responsibility!” This obvious, yet profound statement has lingered in my head since then. I catch myself asking questions like, “Are we teaching those we experience life with to obey EVERYTHING Jesus commanded? Is there anything I’m leaving out of my teaching and ministry? Is there more to ‘discipleship’ than instruction?”

I am grateful to those who trained me in the ways of the Christ-centered life, but I think there may have inadvertently been a few things missing from my spiritually formative years. Every year, before we left church camp, the pastors and directors would remind us to read our Bibles and to pray. One year, I finally decided to take them seriously and began reading scripture and conversing with the Almighty (a dangerous thing if you do not want to change). As I did this, I noticed a dramatic contrast between the words and actions of Christ and his disciples when I looked at the church.

I am aware of the Great Commandment to love God and my neighbor. I agree with Jesus, that all of life hinges upon this one rule, but how is it lived out? I don’t find it a struggle to say that most evangelical churches focus on saving the soul of an individual while at times neglecting the psychological, the physical, and the societal parts that make up the whole of human existence. When I search the scriptures, I find Jesus concerned about all of someone’s being. He ministered to their soul, as well as their body. He restored their relationship with the Father as well as their relationships to their neighbors. He fed them with words from the prophets as well is with food from a little boy’s lunch. He came to seek and save the lost, but he also came to set the captives free and bind the oppressed.

The question that I want to pose is: Are we approaching ministry holistically, as Jesus taught, or are we ignoring parts of the Great Commission? Are we doing ministry as Jesus modeled, or do we simply turn away from aspects of his ministry that make us uncomfortable? As for me, I’m attempting to be more conscious of how I teach my youth and others who’ll listen. Maybe true discipleship is more than filling our heads with just knowledge. Maybe it also involves action as well.