MISSION AND THE GOOD COMMISSION

by Bishop Dr Gordon Wong, Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore. He is retiring in December 2024, after serving as bishop for a term of four years. He will be succeeded by Rev Philip Lim, the Bishop-elect.

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Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19, NIV)

It is common for a Missions Society to quote Matthew 28:19 as their inspiration and raison d’etre. That verse is especially appropriate because it records our Lord Jesus telling his disciples to “Go and make disciples of all nations”. “All nations” gives the widest possible scope to mission agencies which typically see their focus to be on places beyond their own local shores. The grammatical Greek form that is used to record the words of Jesus here (the accusative neuter plural, if you must know!) allows us to understand Jesus as saying, not only that we should make disciples in all the (other) nations, but also that we make disciples to the other nations. In other words, here is also a commission for churches, and mission agencies, to raise up disciples who are willing to go to other nations, baptizing and teaching others in all nations to love God.

May our Methodist Missions Society continue to be an agency that helps to “make disciples who are willing and trained to go to all nations” with the wonderful good news of God’s love. This is certainly a great and glorious commission.

I do not know the history of when or why or by whom Matthew 28:19 came to be known as The Great Commission. It certainly is a great and far-reaching command from Jesus to his disciples. But the actual words that are normally used to denote a commission or a calling or a charge are not found here in Matthew 28:19. This is why, personally, I prefer to cite Romans 8:28 as The Great Commission.

We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. (RSV)

All who love God are called or commissioned in accordance with God’s purposes and will. And what is that calling or commission form God? God calls (or commissions) all who love him to work together with God in everything for good.

This 1952 RSV translation is similar to the alternative rendering offered in the NIV footnote to Romans 8:28.

And we know that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good -- with those who have been called according to his purpose.

Paul uses a Greek verb that corresponds to our English word “synergize”. In Greek, as in English, to synergize usually means to work with someone rather than to work for someone. This is why I think that Paul’s point is better conveyed in this footnoted translation. Verse 28 is not primarily a promise that God will work for our personal good and benefit. It is a calling – a commission – to those of us who love God, to work together with God in everything for good.

so whether or not we become disciples who go to other nations, all of us who love God have a calling and a great commission wherever we live and work.

So whether or not we become disciples who go to other nations, all of us who love God have a calling and a great commission wherever we live and work. It is a commission to work with God to do good in this world where there is so much that is not good.

May our Methodist Missions Society and churches be faithful always to this Great and Good Commission.