The Great Commission in Matthew’s Gospel is one of the better known passages in the Bible. And yet, most don’t truly appreciate just how great it really is. If you believe the Great Commission is only about people being saved or churches being planted, your view of the commission is too small!
Approx: 45 min.
The idea of a Christian civilization is something most modern Christians don’t talk about unless they’re giving a history lesson. But the idea of a Christian civilization (also called “Christendom”), isn’t a concept that only belongs in the past, it’s important to the future as well.
Our commission from Christ says we are to teach the nations everything that Jesus commanded (Matt. 28:18-20). We tend to think that Jesus really meant, “teach some of the people in those nations some of My commands.” But that’s not what He said. The command is to teach whole nations to obey everything that Jesus commanded. Since Jesus is God, this means that the “commands” we are to teach the nations include all the commands in Scripture. Of course, a handful of OT commands are repealed in the NT (such as sacrificing animals), but they should still be taught since they are in our Bibles, even if we are not bound to keep them anymore.
While the commission isn’t an explicit command to build Christian civilizations, that’s exactly what obeying this commission would produce. There are commands and principles in Scripture that pertain to every area of life: art, dress, music, business, health, the family, worship, education, etc. A Christian civilization is one where all of these areas of life (and more) are conformed to God’s word.
The goal of “Christianizing” our nation is a large one. But for a nation to be discipled (Christianized), we must work from the local level to the national level. How “local” does this process start? Really local, like in your heart. But from there, it will work its way out to others as you obey God’s word and teach others to do the same.
While one person can be a “city on a hill” (Matt. 5:14) in some sense, a “city” implies more than one person. A “Christianized” church would be a better example of a city on a hill than an individual would (as would a family or a literal town that was Christianized).
To start building a Christian civilization in a local church, this concept must be taught from the pulpit. Preaching that teaches people how be saved from their sins is good. Only teaching people how to be saved is not good. Again, the goal of the commission is to see all of God’s commands being lived out. A church’s preaching must reflect this.
Of course, the people in the congregation also have responsibilities in this area: they must desire preaching that applies God’s word to everything.
It’s easy to pick on pastors for not teaching the whole Bible, but often the people in the congregation don’t want to hear it! They’re fine with the preacher telling them how to get to heaven when they die, but they don’t like being told that they have to obey God in every area of their lives. Many don’t like to hear that they have to follow God’s rules for their job, money, entertainment, who they vote for, etc.
Nevertheless, every Christian should be one who is willing to learn about (and do!) what the Bible says about every aspect of their life and the society in which they live. So, the pastors and teachers of a church must learn what the Bible says about every area of life and society, and teach the congregation those things.
While the pastors/teachers are responsible to know what the Bible says about all areas of life, it is impossible for them to be an expert in everything. This is why God gifts every Christian with certain knowledge and skills. As 1 Corinthians 12 says, God does this “for the profit of all” (v. 7).
Every Christian needs to know the Bible, and since the Bible has something to say about every area of life, every Christian should know a little bit about every area of life. But again, it is impossible for anyone to know everything. This is one reason you need others. Also remember, the pastors/teachers are not to do all the work of ministry; they are to equip others to do that work (Eph. 4:11-12).
We should seek to find out what skills and knowledge those in our congregation have. Of course, this can be done simply by talking to them, but pastors may find it helpful to have those in the congregation write out their jobs, hobbies, and interests. After these skills are known, encourage people to teach others in the congregation.
For example, if someone works as a doctor, have them learn all they can about medicine from a biblical perspective. Then, have them teach the rest of the congregation about health.
If someone has an interest in economics, have them learn all they can about economics from a biblical perspective. Then, have them teach others.
If someone is skilled in gardening, have them learn all they can about gardening from a biblical perspective. Then, have them teach everyone else.
If someone has an interest in fashion, have them learn all they can about clothing from a biblical perspective. Then, have them teach others in the congregation.
When a congregation begins to learn and do what the Bible says in all areas of life, a mini Christian civilization will begin to form. We cannot build a larger, nation-wide Christian civilization until the churches can model it to the rest of the nation. We must start local.
One final note: if you aren’t sure about where to get information about what the Bible says about a certain topic, feel free to contact me. I’ve been blessed to meet authors, speakers, teachers, etc. who are knowledgable on a wide variety of topics (including all the ones I mentioned in this article). I’d love to pass on the name of a book or a sermon on those topics and others.
You can email me at:
mike@5thKingdomMinistries.com
False Christians are not bothered by their sin; true Christians are. Sometimes, however, Christians can be discouraged by the sin in their life, even to the point of dispair.
This message reminds us of the fact that God is the one who removes sin in the life of a true believer. Instead of despairing, have confidence that He who began a good work in you will complete it.
Approx. 22 min.
The apostle Paul had a life marked by suffering. But God also gave him a special privilege: it appears he was the one to announce to Caesar that a new era in world history had begun. This announcement was thousands of years in the making, and Paul got to give it.
This message gives a brief sketch of Paul’s life and teaching, and his special place in history. Approx. 22 min.
Christians in America, and missionaries overseas, need to stop focusing so much on planting churches. Please notice I didn’t say, “stop planting churches.” Church planting is necessary, but sometimes people overemphasize this aspect of our mission. It’s good to plant churches, but if that is seen as the primary goal of missions, our understanding of the Great Commission is lacking.
I’ve had the privilege of knowing and speaking with many missionaries over the years. I admire their courage and diligence to minister in areas where many people wouldn’t want to live. But in my observation, there’s a short-sightedness in most mission endeavors. The goal of missions is often seen as getting enough people saved to plant a church. Let me be clear, starting churches and seeing people saved are great things. But this is not an adequate view of the Great Commission.
In Matthew’s version of the Great Commission, Jesus says to disciple whole nations. He also says to teach those nations “to observe everything [He] has commanded” (Matt. 28:18-20). Since Jesus is God, and God has given us commands that pertain to family, business, education, economics, worship, law, charity, government, etc., the Great Commission involves teaching the nations how to obey God in all of those areas (and more!). When all of these things are taught, it leads, not just to people being transformed, it leads to whole societies being transformed! In other words, it’s not just churches that will spring up, but a Christian civilization. If that’s not the goal of missions, the goal is too small.
Also notice, the Commission doesn’t just say to teach God’s commands, but to teach the nations to “observe [obey] God’s commands.” The best way to teach others how to apply the Bible to all of life is for you to apply the Bible to all of life. It’s one thing to tell someone what to do, it’s another to show them.
God’s method of teaching incorporates this principle. In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Israelite parents were to teach their children the word of God, not only by talking about God’s commands, but also by having their children accompany them as they sat in their homes and when they were out and about. Their children would learn by listening to what the parents said, but also by watching what they did (see also Prov. 23:26; John 5:19-20). This method of teaching was how Jesus taught His disciples: they lived with Him for about three years and in that time they not only heard Him teach, but they also observed His life.
So, how then can a single missionary show unbelievers how to raise a godly family, or show how a community should function, or form a civil government, etc.? How can a lone missionary show unbelievers what Christian civilization looks like? He can’t. At least, not by himself. An individual can’t teach those things very well, at least not by example.
This is why Christians used to send groups of believers into a land as missionaries, not just a couple of them. In times past, ten or twelve Christian men, and their families, would go to a foreign land and settle there. They would build a Christian community, a small Christian civilization. They would form a “city on a hill,” so to speak, and be a light to those who observed them (Matt. 5:14-15).
This was actually God’s plan for His OT people as well. He put Israel at the intersection of three continents (Asia, Europe, and Africa) and in the path of several trade routes. People from many nations would be traveling through Israel. When they did, they would see what a godly society looks like and would praise Israel’s God (Deut. 4:5-8).
While many unbelievers will hate the “light” (John 3:20), our example is often used by God to bring the lost to Himself (1 Pet. 2:12).
Those in church history who used the “city on a hill” method of missions often had great success (as God blessed their efforts). Societies that haven’t been affected by the gospel are not pleasant places to live in. And, when unbelievers saw what a community built on the Bible was like, they often wanted to learn more. A society built on God’s instruction will always be superior in every respect to any other society.
One of the best examples of a “city on a hill” missionary endeavor is the nation you’re living in now. While the modern U.S.A. isn’t quite the godly example it once was, it was built by those who wanted to be a city on a hill, a light to the rest of the world. In 1630, the Puritan John Winthrop preached a sermon to a group of Christians headed from England to America. He said that the community they would establish would be seen as “a city on a hill.” Also, in speaking of the Pilgrim colony, their governor William Bradford said, “as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea, in some sort to our whole nation.”
Planting churches is a part of the Great Commission, but it isn’t the whole mission. A vision of missions that sees the goal as only saving people and starting churches denies that God has given instruction for all of society, and that our job is teach the nations all that God has instructed. It’s time for a bigger vision for missions.
The Protestant Reformation is often regarded as one of the most important times in world history. This audio message touches upon the lives of the men whom God used, what they believed, how their teachings lead to the founding of America, and why we must honor (and yet build upon) their contributions to the Kingdom of God.
Approx. 53 minutes
There are basically three options for a society. One option is tyranny. This option is not a pleasant one. In a tyranny, the people are oppressed by an overly powerful government.
A second option is anarchy. The word anarchy basically means “no ruler” or “no government.” The problem with anarchy is that it leads to tyranny. When everyone can do whatever they want, some people will want to oppress others. Those who are bigger, stronger, or smarter will begin to use and abuse others. So really, option one and two eventually lead to the same dark place.
The third option is a biblical society. God knows what the perfect balance of rules and liberty is. He knows human nature, and He knows how society functions best. Thankfully, He shared this knowledge with us in the Bible.
A well-ordered society is made up of individuals, families, local churches, and civil governments. God has given roles and responsibilities to each of these. All of these institutions are important, and all of them were ordained by God.
While we can’t say that the family is the only important institution, it is clear from Scripture that the family is foundational to society. The family goes all the way back to Genesis chapter 2 (even chapter 1 hints at it; see 1:26-28).
So it should not surprise us that the Bible teaches that the family is of extreme importance. But many may not realize that the antidote to both anarchy and tyranny is godly families.
Adam & Eve’s task was to “have dominion” (Gen. 1:28). Dominion isn’t oppression, but rather management and stewardship. They were to build a godly civilization. After sin came into the world, they were also engaged in a fight (Gen. 3:15). This fight was between the godly line and the ungodly line of humanity.
Soon, the ungodly line strikes out against the godly line as Cain kills Abel. Murder, a tool of tyrants, is introduced into the world (Gen. 4:8). Soon, other immorality is introduced (Gen. 4:19). Moral anarchy and tyranny go hand in hand.
After depicting the sorry state of society, the Bible then zooms in and focuses on a family. The picture shifts from the turmoil of the larger society to the smallest institution in society: the family (a man, his wife, and their children; Gen. 4:25).
A while later, society has grown even more corrupt (Gen. 6:5, 11). After depicting the corruption in the larger society, the Bible again zooms in and focuses on a family (Noah, his wife, and their children; Gen. 6:18).
After the flood, humanity again becomes corrupt. A tyrant named Nimrod begins to unite humanity against God and His people (Gen. 10:8-10; 11:1-6). The Lord puts a stop to their plan (Gen. 11:8-9), but that isn’t the end of the story. The Bible again focuses on a man, his wife, and their child (that they will have; Gen. 11:29-30; 12:7). Do you see a pattern?
Oh, but wait, there’s more!
In Exodus 1:8-16, a tyrant is oppressing the Hebrews. As tyrants love to do, he is attacking the family (Exo. 1:16). After describing this horrible tyranny, the story then focuses on a man who gets married and starts a family (Exo. 2:1-2).
During the time of the Judges, God’s people often went from being oppressed by tyrants (often foreign ones; Judg. 3:12-14; 4:1-3; etc.) to anarchy (Judg. 21:25). In the midst of all this societal turmoil, the Bible again zooms in to focus on a man, his wife, and their child (as in the story of Samson; Judg. 13:1-3).
The book of Ruth also takes place during the time of the Judges (Ruth 1:1). But the focus of the book isn’t on Israel’s judges, it’s on a marriage and the start of a family (Ruth 4:13).
The beginning of the book of 1 Samuel also takes place during the time of the Judges. Samuel was Israel’s last judge before they had a king (1 Sam. 7:15; 8:4-5). The book of 1 Samuel begins with a man, his wife, and their child (1 Sam. 1:1-20).
Some of you who are reading this may be thinking: “Those passages are meant to point us to Christ.” You are absolutely right! These passages do point us to another man (Joseph), his wife (Mary) and their child (Jesus)! These passages, just like all of Scripture, ultimately point to Christ.
But it isn’t a stretch to say that these passages also reinforce the idea that godly families are an important antidote against tyranny.
Do you see any tyranny in your society? If so, do what the Bible does: shift your focus from dysfunctional governments to the family. While we Christians should not abandon other aspects of the society we find ourselves in, we won’t be much of a force for good without building strong, godly families first.
Hebrews 12:26-28 describes a great “shaking” that took place in the 1st century. But this isn’t the only time in history that God has shaken things up. This message gives the reasons and results of God’s shakings in history. We’re going through a shaking in our day, but why? Hebrews 12 has the answer.
Approx. 18 min.
Nathan Bedford Forrest fought for the South, owned slaves, and some say he was in the Klu Klux Klan. Because of this, Forrest should clearly be seen as a “devil,” right? While that is the opinion of many, this message looks at the rest of the story of the man referred to as “that devil Forrest.”
Approx. 19 min.
No true Christian will want to believe false teachings, but many unknowingly do. How do we keep from being fooled? This seminar teaches principles that will equip you to spot when the Bible is being used to promote false teachings.
Session #1, Bible Interpretation:
Session #2, How to Spot Bad Arguments:
Session #3, An Example of a Bad Argument and How to Refute It:
If you would like a PDF of the handouts mentioned in the seminar, please email me at: Mike@5thKingdomMinistries.com