He’s just preaching to the choir! Do you spend all of your time preaching to fellow believers?
What was Christ’ final command?
Matthew 28: 19-20 King James Version
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen”.
Matthew 28: 19-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28: 19-20 Good News Translation
“Go, then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize 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.”
Has this commandment been forgotten by many who claim to be His ministers? Have they begged off from true ministry?
Today there are many who profess to be disciples of Jesus Christ, and even to be his elect brothers, who have no share whatsoever in obeying this commandment.
You will find them speaking exclusively to fellow believers in special group discussions and forums on the internet. They chatter among themselves about all kinds to topics. But, if there is any preaching going on, isn’t that just as the expression goes “preaching to the choir”?
How can that satisfy the commission Jesus gave before He departed? The answer to that question is that it doesn’t.
Many have totally abandoned spreading the preaching and teaching of the good news of reconciliation with God through Christ in lieu of groups that are for the most part cliquish in their nature. The themes of their messages offer nothing to appeal to an unbeliever. They offer no message an unbeliever would grasp and understand
They seem quite content to chat among themselves until the End comes.
Jesus posed a question worth considering:
“The Lord answered, “Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant? He is the one that his master will put in charge, to run the household and give the other servants their share of the food at the proper time.” Luke 12:42 (GNT)
Obviously at the very least it would have to be an obedient servant do you not agree?
Could this servant be the type of person who gets a clear directive, but is arbitrary and will not obey?
What did Jesus say? Consider these verses from Matthew 25:
19 “After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. 20 The servant who had received five thousand coins came in and handed over the other five thousand. ‘You gave me five thousand coins, sir,’ he said. ‘Look! Here are another five thousand that I have earned.’ 21 ‘Well done, you good and faithful servant!’ said his master. ‘You have been faithful in managing small amounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share my happiness!’ 22 Then the servant who had been given two thousand coins came in and said, ‘You gave me two thousand coins, sir. Look! Here are another two thousand that I have earned.’ 23 ‘Well done, you good and faithful servant!’ said his master. ‘You have been faithful in managing small amounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share my happiness!’ 24 Then the servant who had received one thousand coins came in and said, ‘Sir, I know you are a hard man; you reap harvests where you did not plant, and you gather crops where you did not scatter seed. 25 I was afraid, so I went off and hid your money in the ground. Look! Here is what belongs to you.’ 26 ‘You bad and lazy servant!’ his master said. ‘You knew, did you, that I reap harvests where I did not plant, and gather crops where I did not scatter seed? 27 Well, then, you should have deposited my money in the bank, and I would have received it all back with interest when I returned. 28 Now, take the money away from him and give it to the one who has ten thousand coins. 29 For to every person who has something, even more will be given, and he will have more than enough; but the person who has nothing, even the little that he has will be taken away from him. 30 As for this useless servant—throw him outside in the darkness; there he will cry and gnash his teeth.’
Could this servant be the type of person who gets a clear directive, but is arbitrary and will not obey? According to the verses above, the answer is clearly ‘No’.
Paul posed a series of questions that those who have begged off from the true ministry in the name of Christ should consider:
“But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things!” Romans 10:14-15 (HCSB)
brotherjohnsite.org 