A Word of Love

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by OBW

Let's elaborate...
Why would it be recorded in Matthew for all to read if it was intended as a charge only to certain ones? I can imagine at least one better-then-plausible reason — to make it known to those who would follow that the people who are quite possibly living off the gifts of others (at least partly) are not just in it for a cushy life that requires no hard labor. That they are commissioned to serve the others. That no one should just assume they are "hirelings" because they might actually be paid (or sort of paid). Remember, while Paul did do work to earn his own way, he also received help from the churches he had planted. It wasn't demanded, but it was appreciated and was helpful — maybe even necessary in some cases.

I would not assert that there is no way that the "great commission" is written to the average Christian. But unless we start with a paradigm/lens that refuses the idea that some passages are not really intended for everyone — at least in terms of command, promise, etc. — then there has to be a question as to why it was not among a larger group of those who saw Jesus after his resurrection that he made this charge. In fact, the very wording of the passage seems to indicate that Jesus intentionally sent the 11, not everyone else, to a particular place to make this statement. To simply declare that because it is written means it is a commission to everyone seems presumptuous at best. It flies in the face of the account.

As to the point in the first paragraph, I feel that this reading reduces the Gospel of Matthew to a book that explains to pew sitters that their "leaders" have been commissioned, so putting money in the offering is nice, but not necessary. Why would you even call the book a gospel? Because we are not required to give tithes? You might think that is a better than plausible explanation, I don't.

As to the point in the second paragraph I think that is an interesting question you raise and I think it does hit on a very tough truth. Yes, the Lord commissions some to go to the four ends of the earth and others he commissions to spend their whole life in one town. Some will be martyred, others will not. Just as in the gospel of John where Peter wants to know "what about John?" and Jesus says that if he remains until the Lord returns what is that to Peter. The path that each of us is called to may appear quite different. It can be very difficult to walk by faith on that path, both to go out and also to stay while others are going out.

Finally, you begin this teaching on the assumption that "not every word in the Bible is for me" but this leads you to a place where "that word is for my pastor, not for me". That to me flies in the face of the Lord's word "judge not lest you be judged for with what judgement you judge you shall be judged". Ultimately you know that word was spoken and written for someone, just not you. That is a scary teaching.