The Mission of the Church Part 1

The use of the mission statement in organizations, particularly businesses, gained momentum in the 1980s. The purpose of these statements is to help stakeholders, such as employees, customers, investors, etc., understand the purpose and goals of the organization. For workers, the mission is a rallying cry and focal point for every effort performed in the organization. Leadership will often review the mission statement to assure the organization is staying on course or in determining if the mission needs to be adjusted.

As in many aspects of organizational behavior, the church followed business practices and started to institute mission statements. More often than not, churches tout some form of the “Great Commission” as the mission of the church.

If I asked you to show me where the Great Commission is in the Bible, you would probably point me to Matthew 28:16-20, or perhaps Mark 16:14-18, but you would not have answered my question. Where are the words “Great Commission” in the Bible? I’ll give you a hint; they are not there. You may go to one of the passages listed above and find a heading that says “The Great Commission,” but this is not part of the original text; it was added centuries later to describe and accentuate what Jesus told His eleven apostles. However, I have often heard people use these words as if they are part of the divine authorship. Sadly, the misuse of these words leads many to believe Jesus’ command to the eleven disciples describes the mission of the church. While Jesus commanded the original eleven apostles to go and make disciples of the nations, I don’t believe it was a command for every Christian. Spreading the message of Jesus throughout the world and helping people understand how to become Christians is very important; however, I don’t believe it is accurate to say that this is the biblical mission of the church. If we focus on this as our mission, we can lose sight of all that God desires for us. Several pieces of evidence indicate that the so-called Great Commission is not the purpose of every part of the body of Christ.

First, before Jesus was betrayed and fulfilled His earthly ministry, He prayed for His disciples. Jesus indicates that He is sending the men the Father gave Him into the world. He distinguishes between the apostles and those who would believe in Him through their word:

As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. (John 17:18-21, NASB®, bold added for emphasis)

Second, Jesus’ command to go was given only to the eleven. We know from earlier in the gospel narrative that there were times Jesus sent out more disciples to declare the kingdom of God. In Luke, chapter ten, Jesus sends seventy (or seventy-two) disciples to proclaim the kingdom of God to every place He intended to go. Before His ascension, Jesus could have sent more of the disciples. Why did He only commission the eleven if this task was the primary purpose of the church?

Third, in Acts, chapter 1, Jesus again reiterates that the eleven apostles, His sent ones, were to be His witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth. After Jesus’ ascension, the disciples gathered, and Peter quoted Scripture that indicated they should replace Judas as a witness:

Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us — beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:21-26, NASB®, bold added for emphasis)

There were about 120 disciples present, some of whom fulfilled the requirement that Peter outlined. The Apostles proposed two men, and chose one by casting lots. Again, if being witnesses of Jesus was the mission of the church, why did He not commission more of the disciples, or why didn’t the Apostles choose more than one?

It appears that Jesus may have commissioned the eleven Apostles because they were with Him from His baptism by John to His resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection is a key component of the gospel message. His death paid for our sins, but our new life is because of His resurrection. Paul indicates the importance of the resurrection in his letter to the Corinthians:

Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:12-19, NASB®)

Is this why Jesus commissioned only the eleven? They were eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. Perhaps this is why they are the foundation of the church and why He sent them to share this good news:

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22, NASB®, bold added for emphasis)

Why am I belaboring the issue of the “Great Commission?” First, I think it is dangerous when we add words to Scripture and use them to give meaning that the original writer may not have intended. Second, I believe churches have focused on a mission that is only a part of the reason for the church, and we have neglected other equally important aspects of our purpose.

Please let me clarify. Was the commission to the eleven great? Absolutely. We wouldn’t know Christ if it wasn’t for the apostles’ teaching and witness. Is being sent still relevant to the church? Yes, some have the specific gift of evangelism. Should every Christian be prepared to share the hope that is within us? Definitely. All of these things are good and true. Are they the mission of the church? No. Well, then what is the mission?

The New Testament never uses the word mission in the sense of primary purpose. The couple of times the word appears, they are translated from the Greek words that usually mean ministry, service, or work. I realize that just because the New Testament doesn’t use the word mission, doesn’t mean there isn’t a primary purpose for the church. However, I hope it is evident that the commission to the original eleven apostles is not this purpose. The church is conceptually and realistically beautiful and sophisticated. In Part Two of this series, I will further discuss the purpose of the church, but I will leave you with this description by the Apostle Paul:

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 3:8-10, NASB®, bold added for emphasis)