Christian Message Boards: The Great Commission

This is topic The Great Commission in forum Bible Topics & Study at Christian Message Boards.

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Posted by Bloodbought (Member # 4365) on :

Some say the distribution of gospel literature through the postal service is a good way to get the gospel into every home, but is it right to pay, and put gospel literature into the hands of ungodly postmen to do the work of spreading the good news, Does God work in this way and does money spent in this way receive the blessing of God?

Any thoughts on this?

Posted by Caretaker (Member # 36) on :

They used the Roman roads and sent Greek letters to the new Church.

We send letters of faith and encouragement to others through the secular.

I don't see where using the postal service to carry the Gospel is in error.

Posted by oneinchrist (Member # 6532) on :

Hi Bloodbought,
First of all, I am a postal worker. I work inside, in a big plant. There are so many dirty, immoral types of literature going through the mail stream that I am sure that God wouldnt mind seeing more bible related literature going through.

The truth of the matter is that all the motives (of the heart) will be judged by God. More exposure to the word of God is good for anyone---Godly or ungodly.
We couldnt assume that an unbeliever(ungodly postman) fullfills the Great Commision just because he delivers bible literature.......just like we couldnt assume that a postman must be ungodly because he delivers dirty magazines. The postman is just delivering what the people are paying for---and thats it.

With love in Jesus, Daniel

Posted by WildB (Member # 2917) on :

The Word of God does not call it "the great commission"; men do.

This obvious and important fact should be borne in mind by those who earnestly desire to "rightly divide the Word of truth" and carry out intelligently God's program for us today. Such a recognition would be the first step in the discovery of the root cause of the doctrinal divisions that have separated true believers in Christ and have gripped the Church in deep confusion which it does not seem possible, otherwise, to dispel.

The commission which our Lord gave to the eleven (later twelve) has so long been called "the great commission" that multitudes of sincere believers have a hazy notion that the Bible designates it thus. The fact is, however, that this designation merely reflects traditional views and, as in our Lord's day, "the traditions of men" all too often "make void the Word of God."

Granted, our Lord's commission to the eleven was indeed a great commission, but it should never be called "the great commission," for the ascended Lord later committed a greater, a far greater, message and ministry to the Apostle Paul.

Cornelius R. Stam

http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/articles/1166206933.html

Posted by Carol Swenson (Member # 6929) on :

Paul does provide evangelistic instructions for believers in this present dispensation of the grace of God. What many refer to as our great commission, is found in 2 Corinthians 5:14-21.

14For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

16Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The gospel of grace for this "ministry of reconciliation" is: Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came in the flesh and was crucified. He willingly gave His life as the perfect sacrifice to pay for all of our sins. He was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). We are cleansed from sin by his blood and have everlasting life if we believe this gospel.

I think the postal service is a fine way to share the Gospel with all the mail handlers and the mail recipient. Sadly, though, they are more likely to see church business and church affairs than the Gospel.

Posted by Bloodbought (Member # 4365) on :

Thanks to all for your comments.

Personally, I do not believe Christians should employ the world to do their work or assist in the work of evangelism. It isn’t scriptural. The postal service is fine for delivery of letters from one Christian to another because it will be accepted. When the unsaved postmen who are not spirit filled, deliver Christian literature to the unsaved, there is a 99.99 chance that it will be consigned to the bin straight away. The outcome is that the sender has wasted money and accomplished nothing.

Jesus said, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature Mark 16:15.
He said go ye, not send someone else.

Those who go must be spirit filled and sent.

Posted by oneinchrist (Member # 6532) on :

Hi again Bloodbought,

You said:

When the unsaved postmen who are not spirit filled, deliver Christian literature to the unsaved, there is a 99.99 chance that it will be consigned to the bin straight away.

My response:
I assume (because I am not from Ireland) that "consigned to the bin straight away" means "to throw into the trash" .......so you are saying that the one who would receive this bible literature(via postman) would most likely(99.99%) treat it as "junk mail". I see your point in this matter.

With love in Jesus, Daniel