Go!

I am writing tonight from Marion, IL just after a rousing worship service at Aldersgate UMC. I am here for the Collins Pastor’s Conference, which features Dr. Douglas Powe from Saint Paul School of Theology (I completed my course of study there in 2000). The title of the conference is “Fishing with a New Generation,” and while I am so looking forward to the workshops, tonight’s attraction was worship with Bishop Gregory Palmer. Now, if you have heard Bishop Palmer preach before, you will relate to what I am about to say…if you have never heard him preach, you are missing a blessing needlessly. Bishop Palmer has a powerful way of opening the Word and allowing the Spirit of God to use him in sharing the truth. His text was from Matthew 28 and he came to this conclusion: Jesus, in the authority given to him by the Father, has commanded us to go into the world, preaching, teaching, and baptizing. Additionally, he promised to go with us. The response of the church was to circle the wagons and hunker down! How can we justify our actions? Do we not believe God’s word? Do we not think Jesus will keep his promise to us? Now, stop and think about this for just a moment…what keeps us from fulfilling our commission? Take any of the gospels, the command is clear. In Matthew, Jesus tells us that he will be with us always…to the end of time. This was not a promise to the first century church…it is to all of his disciples…to us. So, what is keeping us from doing what we are told to do?