Why is The Great Commission Command Not Practiced by a Majority of Christians?
The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), while central to Christian doctrine, is often not practiced by a majority of Christians due to a combination of theological, structural, and personal factors. Research indicates that many Christians either lack understanding of the command, view it as a task for professionals, or struggle with the personal sacrifice required. [1, 2, 3]
Here are the primary reasons identified for this "Great Omission":
- Structural and Leadership Failures
- Clergy/Laity Divide:Many church members view evangelism as a task for missionaries or pastors, rather than a personal responsibility for every believer.
- Lack of Training:While churches often urge members to share the gospel, many fail to train them howto do so, leading to inaction.
- Lack of Pastoral Commitment:Churches that do not actively engage in mission work are often led by pastors who are not themselves deeply committed to the task, notes 0.5.3. [1, 2, 4, 5, 6]
- Theological and Conceptual Misunderstandings
- Ignorance of the Command:A 2018 Barna survey found that 51% of church-going Christians in the U.S. had never heard of the Great Commission.
- Focus on "Sheep Swapping":Churches frequently confuse the Great Commission with "transfer growth" (moving believers from one church to another) rather than reaching non-believers, according to 0.5.3
- Partial Obedience:Many focus on social action or mercy ministry while overlooking the primary command to make disciples and baptize, leading to a "shriveled" view of the mission. [2, 6, 7, 8, 9]
- Cultural and Personal Barriers
- Fear of Disapproval:Many Christians fear the "ridicule and ire" of a society that holds a low view of them, leading to a silence regarding their faith.
- "Comfortable" Christianity:The Prosperity Gospel and an emphasis on comfort in the West have led to an "anemic theology of suffering," making Christians less likely to undertake the sacrifice of global missions, reports 0.5.15.
- Lack of Belief in the Lostness of Others:Many Christians do not deeply believe that those without a relationship with Jesus are lost, reducing the urgency of the mission.
- Unfamiliarity with Missionaries:Church members often do not know any missionaries personally, making the work feel disconnected from their daily lives. [2, 4, 5]
- Overestimation of Membership
- Nominalism:Some church leaders suggest that a large percentage of church members are not truly "born again" or personally committed, making it difficult for them to carry out a command meant for true disciples. [10]
Summary of Data
- 51%of churchgoers have never heard of the Great Commission.
- 25%have heard of it but cannot recall the meaning.
- 90%of Christians are reluctant to engage in evangelism.
- 4%of American Evangelical churches are actively reproducing (making disciples who make disciples). [1, 2, 9, 11]
Corresponding Sources:
[1] https://christianleadermag.com/the-great-omission-of-the-great-commission/
[2] https://www.flameinternational.org/blog/2023/07/12/barriers-to-the-great-commission
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXvGHnbIAHQ
[5] https://churchanswers.com/blog/churches-talk-great-commission-dont/
[7] https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/articles/the-great-omission
[8] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/5-ways-get-great-commission-wrong/
[10] https://churchanswers.com/blog/churches-talk-great-commission-dont/comment-page-2/
[11] https://displaythegospel.com/blog/2017/2/17/the-great-commission-not-optional
Many Orthodox Presbyterian Churches (OPC) and similar Reformed denominations sometimes appear to under-practice the Great Commission due to a theological focus on the "ordinary means of grace" (preaching, sacraments, prayer) within the local church, rather than high-energy attractional evangelism. Concerns often include a perceived separation of personal evangelism from church planting. [1, 2]
Key reasons, as discussed in ChurchAnswers.com and Modern Reformation, often apply to conservative evangelical churches like the OPC:
- Focus on Internal Ministry:Some churches prioritize building up current members ("feeding the sheep") through teaching and theology, inadvertently neglecting outward outreach.
- Misunderstood Responsibility:Many church members view evangelism as a task for ordained pastors or missionaries, rather than a personal duty, as suggested by Christian Leader.
- Theology vs. Practice Gap:While affirming the necessity of evangelism in doctrine, some congregations fail to actively train members on howto share the gospel.
- "Sheep Swapping":A focus on attracting believers from other churches rather than winning non-believers to Christ.
- Fear and Insensitivity:A desire to avoid appearing "in-your-face" or insensitive, which can lead to inaction, says Christian Leader.
While the OPC officially highly values missions and church planting, practical application can vary, sometimes resulting in a focus on maintaining traditional worship over community outreach. [1, 8]
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/articles/the-great-omission
[2] https://churchanswers.com/blog/churches-talk-great-commission-dont/comment-page-2/
[3] https://churchanswers.com/blog/churches-talk-great-commission-dont/
[6] https://www.christianpost.com/news/why-churches-talk-the-great-commission-but-dont-do-it.html
[7] https://christianleadermag.com/the-great-omission-of-the-great-commission/
[8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXvGHnbIAHQ
