Mission and Commission

The concept of a mission evokes images of deployed and disciplined soldiers and the Great Commission mirrors that with its revolutionary objective. A military mission seeks the subjugation of territory through physical force, but Christ’s mandate focuses on gaining ground through transformation of souls through the sword of the Spirit. In the military, an order is absolute. Similarly, the Great Commission asserts its Commander: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matt 28:18), a true “Rule of Engagement."

The directive that follows is not a suggestion, but a command to occupy the world with the Gospel:

• The Deployment: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations. . . ."

• The Induction: “. . . baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy

  Ghost.”

• The Training: “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. . . . “

Unlike earthly warfare, which relies on carnal weaponry, the Christian mission operates on a plane of divine ability. The soldier of the Great Commission is tasked with a peaceful conquest—winning hearts rather than seizing lands. However, the discipline required remains militant in its dedication. The believer is told to “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3), recognizing that the mission field is often hostile territory.

Every soldier fears being cut off from his supply line or left without backup. The Great Commission concludes with a promise of perpetual presence that ensures the mission cannot fail: “and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matt 28:20). This assurance transforms the militant march of the church into a victory lap, as the Commander-in-Chief Himself walks the front lines with His troops.