Called to Go, Called to Stay

Sunday's sermon at my church was about getting up and being involved in what God is doing, rather than avoiding risk and hiding in the comfort of the La-Z-Boy chair. The text was, somewhat predictably¹, from the Great Commission:

¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

We discussed that idea in Sunday school. My teacher recounted the message of a missions conference speaker. With the Great Commission, a direct command of Jesus, all Christians are called to go. Biblically, you can't really argue with that - it is a direct, straight forward command. Go. Disciple all people groups.

Really, the question should not be "am I called to go?" but "am I called to stay?" Every Christian is called to be a part of going and discipling all the nations and people groups, teaching them to obey everything God has commanded. The only question is where has God specifically called you?

Many are called to stay at home, wherever that may be. But many are also called to go. Those not called to move geographically to spread the gospel have the the responsibility to support and encourage and assist those who are called to "go," all the while being faithful to spread the gospel through evangelism and cross-cultural ministry at home.

As for me, I'm called to go. And I'm currently struggling with my current season of staying home, but that's a story for a different blog.

Are you called to go or called to stay?



¹ Huge aside deserving of multiple future posts: the Great Commission is not the only call for Christians to go and be involved in what God is doing in the nations. All throughout Scripture, in every book, you can find God's heart for all the nations to know Him. In fact, the Great Commission is really a reflection of God's covenant with Abraham, way back in Genesis 12. Abraham was blessed and made into a great nation so that through him, "all peoples on earth will be blessed."