Going part 2, Tebowing does not = going!

In Going part 1, I set out to demonstrate that the call to "go and make disciples" was for all Christians, not just for the original audience Jesus addressed in the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) or only for those especially called to it. No, it is clear that to have the Holy Spirit is to be called and equipped to "go"!

If that premise is accepted, the next question that must be addressed is - what does it mean to go? I mentioned Tebowing, in the title, not because I am anti Tim Tebow or think his very public and now famous prayer stance is bad, but simply to point out that it alone does not communicate the gospel or make disciples, so is it going in the biblical sense?

If we are to - Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you... (Matt. 28:19-20a.)

Does going require more than just outward actions, does going require words? Of course it does! The fact that a Christian makes a public display of faith or lives a more righteous lifestyle out of faith in Jesus or even takes time to publicly "thank their personal Lord and Savior", as athletes are known to do at times, says nothing to people about who Jesus really is and why He came.

The public displays of famous Christians like Tim Tebow can potentially open the door for other believers to share the truths of the gospel, but they in no way take the place of it. In many cases these public displays are just as likely to give people erroneous ideas about Christianity as they are to give accurate ones. If we are to go, with the goal of having people come to faith in Christ and teaching them to obey the words of Christ, we will have to see all the circumstances God puts us in as opportunities for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ - with words!

I will get more specific in the next post on this subject, but I will end with this clear picture of regular Christians sharing the gospel in words after their lifestyle has opened the door -

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (NKJV)

If our hope is in Jesus and God gives us the opportunity to tell others where that hope comes from, it will require more than just a quick "Tebow" or telling them we would like to "thank our personal Lord and savior" for the hope we have. No, it is an opportunity and obligation, to humbly and accurately tell them about the sin that separates us from God and the remedy found in Jesus Christ through His sacrifice on the cross. That is in fact the source of our hope and what we are called to go and tell - isn't it?

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."