Much is made of the Great Commission, and rightfully so. It provides the church its marching orders from Jesus. We are to be making disciples. Discipleship is a life long process. In the evangelical church world we tend to focus on conversions, sometimes to the detriment of making disciples. Making disciples must be our focus.
Lately, God has had me contemplating the Great Commandment. Part of what God is shaping us to do here in Denver is to love Him with all of our lives, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are not forsaking the Great Commission, but instead taking it to the people who need it most. We are actively engaged in neighboring and discipleship. We seek to make much of the God who has created us, loved us, redeemed us and called us. We desire to show God’s love to others though our lives.
In a place where the institutional church is marginal at best, we desire to be the church present in our neighborhood and city that cares for the people and helps them to see the one true God who loves them. This means engaging people where they are. There is tension between living out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.