Here is a comment I made in response to Halpin’s latest post.

I did some thinking on the Great Commission today. There are four commands Jesus gives His disciples.

1. Go

2. Make disciples

3. Baptize them

4. Teach them

There is no sinners prayer found in this context. I still believe that one can be a follower of Jesus with the Prayer because there is no magic formula. But it is good to understand what Jesus was telling His disciples. I believe that He was telling them to go and and spread the kingdom of God. Following Jesus is more about being the salt and light of this world than about being saved from the flames of hell. That is the problem with the sinners prayer. It is put into the context of saving us from hell. There is no challenge to change. This is the new Great Commission given by the modern day church:

1. Go to church

2. Make converts

3. Lead them in the sinners prayer

4. Teach them that God is upset with their sin so that they become legalistic

5. Make sure you don’t miss church

We are the Church! Where we are, there Church is. Being a follower of Jesus is more about showing mercy than it is about sacrifice. Less rules, more love. Jesus came to set us free. He is indeed our liberator! Let’s get busy spreading His kingdom here on earth. Grace and peace to you.

Because of Jesus,

David Knapp

(photo by  Shermeee)