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The Commission

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Jesus was clear on his expectations of his followers. In the statement known as the Great Commission, Jesus uttered something on that Galilean hillside before he left this world to his disciples that would make a difference for all eternity. He proclaimed, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV). Those words have become the Magna Carta of the Christian church, the blueprint for his movement. For two thousand years his words have been read and memorized and pondered and applied and obeyed (and disobeyed) and discussed by Christians of every group, sect, organization and denomination. What Jesus said to his disciples that day was perhaps the most important thing he ever said to them. It was his burning passion, his singular focus, his magnificent obsession.

Why should we take Jesus’ commission seriously?

At least in Matthew’s gospel, they were Jesus’ last words. Final words are always important. They represent that which is closest to the heart.

Jesus’ words explain what the followers of Jesus Christ are to do in the long period between his first coming and his second coming. They were his final instructions, the church’s marching orders.

In addition, Jesus’ words apply without exception to all Christians at all times, in all places, in every possible situation. They apply to everyone, everywhere, every place, and every day.

These words of Jesus Christ have a permanent and enduring and universal validity for you and for me. We ought to pay special attention to what Jesus was saying here. Jesus’ words speak to us personally. The implied word in Jesus’ statement is “You.” Jesus directed his words to every follower, not just to pastors and missionaries alone. This command is not a suggestion, not conditional, nor optional. Christians can’t pass them off, delegate the responsibility to someone else, or get a substitute to fulfill them. If we are followers of Jesus Christ, then these words apply to us.

Furthermore, Jesus’ words have a singular command. In the original language, there is a single verb. It might seem as if go, make disciples, baptizing, and teaching are all verbs, implying that Jesus is telling us to do four things—to go, to make disciples, to baptize, and to teach. But, the only verb is to make disciples. The other three words are participles—go (meaning “going” or “as you go”), baptizing, and teaching. These three actions are dependent on the action of the verb—to make disciples. Jesus in his last message to his followers was sharing his heart, as he was about to bid farewell to them forever, said, “Gentlemen, after I am gone I want you to do one thing and one thing above everything else. I want you to go and make disciples.”

By the way, it was never the purpose of the Christian church merely to acquire and retain more church members, or to produce intellectual Christians, or to be content with passive pew sitters and casual onlookers. It has always been the purpose of the Christian church to disembark from its holy huddles to share Jesus’ gospel with those who have not heard his story. By sharing the gospel disciples are made. They are baptized into God’s family and taught the truth of Jesus Christ so they in turn will make disciples of other people. It’s a simple yet effective strategy.

Isn’t disciple making what the church is about? If you were to ask a BMW employee what they make, wouldn’t it be obvious? They make cars. If you were to ask a Boeing employee what they make, I’m guessing they would confidently answer airplanes. Ask a church what they make. I’ve asked this question before only to receive a variety of answers, if not a confused and dumbfounded look. How have Christians missed this disciple-making emphasis?

Jesus’ commission is believer’s mandate. If Jesus’ words were uppermost on his mind, then they ought to be highest on our minds. If at the end of Jesus’ time on earth, his heart was pounding for making disciples, then our heart ought to beat for making disciples. Here is the bottom line: Christians are called to fulfill the Great Commission. We are disciples who make disciples. That is our mission.

Jesus’ last words are our first words.

To get more information and join the South Carolina Christian Chamber of Commerce (SC-C3) movement, go to www.sc-c3.org and become a member today

Rick Ezell is the Managing Partner of Employee Care of America, which provides care, chaplaincy, coaching, and crisis management to the workplace (www.employeecareofamerica.com). Read more of his writings at www.rickezell.com.

Show and Tell….

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The C3 August theme is “The Great Commission,” which is the mandate given by Jesus to his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations… and teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” When I meditate on this verse, which was one of Jesus last communications before ascending into Heaven, I reflect on the importance and meaning that was being communicated. Effective teaching is more about showing, encouraging, and supporting the student than just telling. We in the Christian community have made The Great Commission more about telling than showing. Maybe we could be more effective teachers of the Gospel if we put into practice the wonderful teachings that the Bible provides for us as followers of Jesus and created a culture of learning.

Creating a Culture of Learning

When we think about the environment Jesus provided to teach others, we can glean some insights into the major components of creating a culture of learning. The first component Jesus used was to create an environment of acceptance and love. Although the 12 disciples had very different personalities and backgrounds, He loved them and accepted them. The Apostle John stated in John 3:17, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

The second component Jesus used to teach His disciples the truth principles was the use of parables, which are stories they could easily relate to and understand. When we package the truth in practical and easily understood stories, others are more likely to embrace the truth, especially in a society that is hungry for truth and authenticity.

The third component Jesus used was modeling the truth principles He was teaching them. This is an essential element since the application of the truth is more important than just knowing the truth. James 1:22 states, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

The fourth component Jesus used to create a culture of learning is the power of prayer, and this was beautifully modeled for us. Jesus went away to spend time in prayer with our Heavenly Father and is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us today. We cannot expect The Great Commission to manifest without laying a foundation of prayer.

The fifth component necessary for fulfilling The Great Commission is a dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus had spent three years teaching and modeling for the disciples a belief system and lifestyle they were to carry into the world. However, Jesus told them to wait for the Holy Spirit because the power would come from the Spirit. Many times, we try to live the Christian life in our flesh, independent of the Holy Spirit.

A Picture of Results

A parable that reflects the principles of creating a culture of learning is the Parable of the Sower found in Matthew 13, Luke 8, and Mark 4. The seeds of truth were cast on four different soils, all with differing preparation and results. The first soil was the hard soil, and nothing grew. The second soil was the rocky soil and the seeds grew, but the hot sun destroyed the growth. In the third soil, the seeds grew among the thorns and thistles, but were choked out. The fourth soil was the prepared soil where the rocks were removed, the thorns and thistles were removed, and the soil was cultivated and enhanced with the necessary water and nutrients. The prepared soil produced a 30, 60, 100-fold harvest and, put in business terms, was a 3,000%, 6,000%, and a 10,000% increase.

The Power of Show and Tell

This parable is an excellent example of what happens when we create an environment that allows others to learn and grow in the truth of God’s principles. The results of applying these principles will be exponential and necessary to fulfill The Great Commission.

Please join me this month as we apply these Biblical principles in our circle of influence beginning personally, in our family, in our workplaces, and in our communities. The application of these principles will manifest the power as we show and tell others through our daily lives and a lifestyle that reflects Jesus.

To get more information and join the South Carolina Christian Chamber of Commerce (SC-C3) movement, go to www.sc-c3.org and become a member today!

Jamie Jordan is the State Director for the South Carolina Christian Chamber of Commerce (SC-C3). His passion is to see unity and excellence exhibited within the Christian community. Jamie can be reached at jjordan@stravicom.com.

Truth, Justice, and The American Way?

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If any of you are comic book fans, you might recognize this phrase. It is most commonly attached with the first superhero, Superman. I’ve been a fan of superheroes for as long as I can remember. It started with the infamous Larryboy from Veggietales. “I am that hero!” was his catchphrase. I even showed up to a first-grade costume party as Larryboy. I ever so slightly matured and moved onto Spider-Man! This opened the world of Marvel Comics and movies to me, and the wonderous mysteries within: The X-Men, The Avengers, and so much more. However, it wasn’t until 2013 that I even cared about anything from DC Comics.

2013 was the year Man of Steel was released; a controversial film that “modernized” the story of Superman. It was then that I truly discovered the character behind the “Big Blue Boy Scout.” I had always been attracted to the idea of superheroes because of their “out of this world” stories and abilities, but with Superman, it was about his morality and integrity. Ironically, as an alien, he is the pinnacle of what is best about humanity. He was raised to do good and be good, no matter what. Superman became my role model.

 “Truth, Justice, and the American Way.” These values are what so many armed/unarmed service men and women have fought for. These values are the basis of our freedom. The problem today is this: what are their actual definitions? The unfortunate circumstance is these values have become so convoluted that our forefathers would likely be embarrassed beyond measure. Truth has become relative, justice is warped, and the American Way is now frowned upon.

Truth

The truth is simple, right? At least, it should be. Due to our sinful nature, the truth is not always easy to distinguish. This is where our greatest asset comes into play: The Bible. Carefully observe the following verses. John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,” and John 14:6, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” We can easily conclude that Jesus is the Word, and the Word is truth. The Word should not be taken for granted, and yet, we are all guilty of just that. His Word can guide us through the trials of this world, if only we would read it. The greys we experience can become black and white as they should be. We will never have all the answers, but each one of us can be a piece of the puzzle as we discover the truth of God through Jesus. I find it amazing that The Bible is a single book, but it touches all that read it in an infinite array of ways. That is the undeniable power of God. That is the undeniable power of pure truth. 

Justice

The definition of justice is not as easy to define. The Bible teaches “an eye for an eye,” but also says “’vengeance is mine’ saith the Lord.” Which is it? Jesus cleared up the confusion, and it boils down to this: when Jesus came, he fulfilled the Law of Moses, and a new Law was placed. He became the eternal blood sacrifice and “The Way” to salvation. Matthew 5:38-41 shows us one of the changes to the Law in the words of Jesus: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.” Revenge is often the immediate thought when being wronged, but as Christians, we are tasked with showing restraint and responding in love. Unfortunately, we can still have a corrupt justice system when it comes to court and prison, but we do the best we can to reflect the light and truth through the corruption.

The American Way

The 20th century saw the rise of “The American Way.” If you have the spirit and determination, you can work your way up from nothing and make something out of yourself. You can have the perfect cookie-cutter family, perfect cookie-cutter job, and perfect cookie-cutter car. While perfection is a fantasy, and the cookie-cutter mold has been broken in numerous ways, the dream should not change. Again, the corruption of sin rears its ugly head. Many now view those that have money with disdain. It is automatically assumed that the rich did not rightfully earn the money, that it must be shared, and life is unfair. These thoughts stem from a jealous and entitled mindset that has proliferated millions of people, namely millennials like me. Yes, there are those that may have cheated, lied, and stolen for the money, but we do not view them with hatred or jealousy. The same goes for those that honestly earned their wealth. Instead, we should take inspiration from those that earned their money and be thankful that we are firm in our own integrity.

The American Dream does still exist, and we can still strive for it. However, we must remember to keep Christ at the center of our life.

To get more information and join the South Carolina Christian Chamber of Commerce (SC-C3) movement, go to www.sc-c3.org and become a member today!

Cameron Jordan is a mechanical engineering student at Trident Tech, getting ready to finish his last two years at The Citadel. Cameron can be reached at camjordan1025@gmail.com.

Faith and Freedom

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When I think about true freedom as a Christian, I think about our faith and how Jesus Christ has paid the price for our freedom. The Apostle Paul stated in Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” It is our faith in Jesus that provides all we need to travel the journey of freedom.

Faith Defined

The 11th chapter of Hebrews is known as the Hall of Faith and begins with a definition of faith, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” When we understand the power of our faith, we can apply it in areas can strengthen and change our lives.

Applying Our Faith

Faith is like many things in life; it is not unleashed until it is applied. The following are examples of the benefits that can be unleashed as we learn to apply our faith in our everyday lives:

1. Faith gives you the strength for obedience.

In 1 Kings 17:2-4 Elijah was given revelation, “Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah “Leave here, turn eastward and hidden the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”

  • Faith will allow you to take only the steps you need now.
  • Faith will allow you to see the details of God over even what might appear minor.
  • Faith will allow you to walk confidently in a direction which might not make sense to others.

2. Faith drives you to have a new look at life.

The story of the woman found in John 4:7-14 provides a great example of how and encounter with Jesus can provide a new outlook on life as we place our faith in Him:

“A Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?“ The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. ) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” Sir, the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

  • Faith will change the way you do life.
  • Faith will change the way you see people.
  • Faith will change the way you see the circumstances.
  • Faith will change the what you pay attention to.
  • Faith will change your witness.

3. Faith will provide a new confidence for the future.

The author of Hebrews speaks of the confidence we have in verses 10:19-23, Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

  • Faith will change the facts.
  • Faith will see beyond today.
  • Faith knows the end of the story.
  • Faith operates from an eternal perspective.

The Next Step

The next step when we hear the truth of God’s Word is to apply it to our lives. James 1:22 states, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Let’s commit to apply these truths to our lives and walk by faith so we can work together to reflect His light and encourage others on the journey.

To get more information and join the South Carolina Christian Chamber of Commerce (SC-C3) movement, go to www.sc-c3.org and become a member today!

Kathy Lewis is the Founder and Executive Director of Why Not Charleston, which is a non-profit organization located in Charleston, SC focused creating opportunities and experiences that connect believers on mission to reach and serve their communities. Kathy can be reached at kathy@whynothisway.com.

A Symbol of Freedom….

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The American flag is a symbol of freedom that is recognized around the world due to the beliefs and values it represents. This powerful symbol has been pledged, honored, and in some cases desecrated by many around the world because of what it stands for.

I have always loved and respected the American flag because I am thankful to be a citizen of the United States of American and the privileges that ensue citizenship. I created an eBook entitled “Flag Etiquette for Corporate Use” to help those in the corporate world understand and properly display this beautiful symbol of American freedom. Below are some of the thoughts from this book:

The Current Flag

The 50-star flag became the “Official flag of the United States” on July 4, 1960. Put into place by President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Executive Order number 10834, it was published on August 25, 1959.

The flag of the United States is comprised of 13 horizontal strips, alternating red and white. The strips represent the 13 original colonies. The Union of the flag is the blue field with the fifty white stars. The stars are symbolic of the 50 states.

Red was selected for courage, white for purity and blue for perseverance and justice.

The gold fringe that is sometimes seen on a flag is considered an honorable enrichment.

Whether the flag is hung vertically or horizontally, the Union of the flag is always in the top left.

Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge of Allegiance may be recited in meetings and as part of events. The following are a few points to remember:

When the Pledge of Allegiance is recited, citizens should stand at attention and salute by placing the right hand over the heart with the first word and hold the salute through the last line of the Pledge.

Those in uniform give the appropriate formal salute as specified by the uniform service.

The salute is directed to the flag by facing the flag during the Pledge. If there is no flag present, then the audience faces the front of the room and recites the pledge.

Men wearing a head cover (a hat or cap) are to remove it. If the head cover is part of the uniform, it does not need to be removed during the Pledge of Allegiance or the playing of the National Anthem.

Women may wear a head covering (unless it is a baseball cap, and then it needs to be removed).

The Pledge of Allegiance clearly states the foundation of our nation:

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

The National Anthem

It was the valiant defense of Fort McHenry by American forces during the British attack on September 13, 1814, that inspired 35-year-old lawyer and poet Francis Scott Key to write the poem that was to become our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” In 1931 the Congress of The United States enacted legislation that made “The Star-Spangled Banner” the official national anthem.

The following link is a powerful video of the history of the Star Spangled Banner, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaxGNQE5ZLA.

When the national anthem is played or sung, citizens should stand at attention and salute by placing the right hand over the heart at the first note and hold the salute through the last note. The salute is directed to the flag, if displayed; otherwise to the music.

If in uniform, the person should salute in the formal manner. It is proper to salute whenever the national anthem is played, whether in a public park, in a church, at a sports event, etc.

If you have international guests, they should stand and face the flag with their hands at their sides.

If you are at an international corporate event and the anthem of another country is to be played, allow it to be played first and the national anthem of the United States to be played after that. If there are several countries at an international corporate event, play the anthems in alphabetical order with the United States played last. Ex. In order: England, Spain, Venezuela then the United States.

Whether you recite the Pledge and the Anthem or just the Anthem, do the same for all countries involved.

The flag of the United States is saluted as it is hoisted and lowered. The salute is held until the flag is unsnapped from the halyard or through the last note of the national anthem, whichever is the longest.

Respecting the Symbol

Without understanding the protocol associated with the proper display of the American flag, it is true that in trying to show respect for the flag, many individuals and corporations have in fact, shown disrespect.

There are no flag police…no enforcement that will fine or imprison people.  But just like knowing proper business etiquette, proper flag etiquette also speaks about the professionalism of you and your company.  If you disrespect the flag, it may be reflected as a general tone of lack of respect that you, personally and your company, professionally display.

I encourage you today to be thankful for the blessings God has bestowed on this great nation and the many sacrifices that have been given for the freedoms we enjoy today. Be generous as we freely give the love, grace, and mercy we are shown each day.

To get more information and join the South Carolina Christian Chamber of Commerce (SC-C3) movement, go to www.sc-c3.org and become a member today!

Cynthia Grosso is the founder and President of the Charleston School of Protocol and Etiquette, Inc. For more information, please visit: www.charlestonschoolofprotocol.com.