Jesus commissioned his disciples, and through them, all Christian believers, to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” (Mt 28:19 – “The Great Commission”)
This does not mean that we are all going to be missionaries on the other side of the world, nor street preachers, but it does mean that wherever God has placed us, in whatever way He enables us, we must go in friendship to unbelievers (“all nations”), and speak to them the truth about Jesus that we believe (“teaching… everything that I have commanded”).
If we think that we are going to fulfil the Great Commission by sitting at home and thinking nice “Christian” thoughts but being unwilling to befriend unbelievers and speak about our faith in Jesus to them, we’ve got “Buckley’s”, and we’ve signed the “death warrant” on our congregations! Therefore, this is not an option.
What is most important for me to tell you is that we are able to do what Jesus has commanded us (Mt 28:18-20). This is because, “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to [Jesus]” – i.e., He is at work in all the world to bring all people to faith in Him; and He says to us, “I am with you always” – i.e., He is at work in us by His mighty grace to make our least word and act of faith effective to touch the lives of unbelievers with His love and truth.
Grace and great hope, Jonathan.