Turning the world upside down .. rethinking the Great Commission.

These who have turned the world upside down come here also ... Acts 17:6
Just re-reading though Real-time: Linking your job with God's Glocal Work by Bob Roberts, Jr. Roberts points out that the church in the West thinks about the rest of the world with lack of creativity or insight. Challenging the readers to remember the call we are to make disciples, Roberts shows the reader how the first century church turned the world upside down. Matthew 25 shows Jesus teaching his disciples t feed the hungry, give water and clothing to those in need, provide shelter for the homeless, and seek justice for those who are oppressed. That's the job that the first church did as they took the world by storm.

I ponder today if the church in general has made their effort of getting converts get into the way of making disciples. Roberts argues that making disciples takes more time, requiring people to more than just be religious. I would agree that training disciples takes time and that we need to approach this as a life long process that changes and transforms us. I think that it's important to remember as we look at the Great Commission, that it's more about changing the world than just changing our lives. Roberts points out that the Great Commission is about getting people engaged in society; asking why not take every day workers and teach them what it means to be a disciple. A person can use their work skills in just about every country in the world, why not take the opportunity to use our skills and help fullfill the Great Commission at the same time. I might not be able to preach a great sermon, but I know that I can serve, help and see opportunities to talk about Jesus in our every day life. Isn't that what the first disciples did as they went from town to town?

So what are we going to do? At Silver Creek Fellowship, we're engaging the world in many ways as we serve the poor through Mission of Hope, the sick through Wholeperson Care, and the addicted through Redemption a new program that Suzette is kicking off. As we look to serve globally we have connections with Cambodia and Kenya. I look forward to this year as we firm up our global plans and take aim to turn the world upside down.