"... INTO ALL THE WORLD ..."

If our current rate of losing the saved continues, I can see a time in my childrens' lifetime when faithful brethren in other countries will be sending "missionaries" to this country.

The great commission (Mt. 28: 19-20) applies to every Christian, as evidenced by the last clause of the command: "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you." Some have interpreted our title to mean that those who carry out the great commission must themselves go into all the world. Others feel that they can satisfy it by sending others.

In reality, our Lord was not talking about geography, he was talking about nationality. Matthew put it this way: "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations ..." (Mt. 28: 19). This is totally consistent with the breaking down of the "middle wall of partition" that had previously separated Jew and Gentile (see Ephesians 2: 11-18).

The question which we wish to address is: what is the best possible way for us to fulfill this command? Here an excerpt from an article by brother Ed Knapp [The Circuit Writer, August, 1994] is in order:

"This country [United States] has the largest population of Jewish and Irish people in the whole world. Except for Nigeria and Africa, it has the largest black population in the world. Except for Mexico, Spain and South America, it has the largest population of Hispanics in the world. There are more Filipinos in the U.S. than anywhere in the world except in the Philippines. ..."

It seems clear that we have the capacity to make disciples of all nations without leaving our own country. In fact, in a university town with so many foreign students, it is possible to make disciples of all nations without leaving our own city.

The command itself does not necessitate that we go out of our way to target particular individuals based upon race or nationality. In fact, it does just the opposite. It teaches us that we are to take the gospel to all men and women, and not to allow nationality to enter into the determination of who we teach in any way.

It is clear that language, custom, familiarity and other factors enable certain people to better communicate with some than with others. An excellent example of this is given to us, beginning in Acts 8: 26 where Philip taught the Ethiopian. Here was a man of a different race and color, but Philip had no reluctance and no problem in communicating with and converting him to Christ.

In essence, Philip was "going into all the world" since when he converted the Ethiopian, the Ethiopian "went on his way rejoicing" obviously to tell his countrymen of his new birth in Christ. While there is no doubt that great benefits can be obtained by physically going to foreign lands, I cannot but believe that Philip's example is the most effective approach to personal evangelism for most of us.