Is Missional Discipleship Commanded by the Great Commission?
The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) mandates making disciples, not merely conducting programs. It emphasizes an ongoing, relational process of teaching obedience to Jesus' commands within the context of daily life—a missional approach—rather than reducing discipleship to church-based classes, events, or simple conversion decisions. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Key Aspects of the Commission
- The Core Command: The only imperative verb in the passage is "make disciples" (Greek: mathēteuo). It is a command to engage in a process, not just a one-time event or program.
- Missional vs. Programmatic: Missional discipleship focuses on teaching believers to follow Jesus in every aspect of life and witness, whereas programmatic discipleship often focuses on inward-looking church activities or simply increasing membership numbers.
- The Command is Active: The commission demands going out—discipling as a way of life while engaging in the community—not just attending, as noted by the Lausanne Movement.
- Focus on Obedience: The goal is to teach obedience to everything Jesus commanded, not just imparting intellectual knowledge, according to Serge. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Reinterpreting the Commission
- Everyday Life: Missional discipleship recognizes that making disciples happens in the workplace, home, and community, not only in specialized programs.
- All Nations: The command is to "disciple all nations" (ethnic groups), not just individuals, encouraging a, as Boundless points out, contextualized, diverse discipleship rather than extracting people from their cultures, says Andrew Walls.
- Continuous Nature: The command is a call for continuous engagement, not a finite project. [1, 2, 3, 4]
While structured, programmatic ministry can still be used for instruction, the Great Commission commands a "go-and-make" lifestyle where discipleship is a relational, life-encompassing, and missionary endeavor, argues J.M. Robinson. [1, 2]
