Editor's Comments

Walter J. Chantry


Matthew's Gospel closes with the description of a scene in Galilee following our Lord's resurrection. In it Jesus and his remaining eleven disciples were gathered on a mountain, where the Master had prearranged this meeting. The Saviour's own words on that occasion bring the gospel account to a dramatic close.

A mandate is issued to the apostles to 'go and make disciples of all the nations' (not of the Jews only). It is an assignment that our Saviour anticipated would employ the conscious energies, not only of the eleven, but also of all the future generations of those who would hold the apostolic faith 'to the end of the age'. This was the strategic plan of action issued by the Son of God to employ all who follow him between his resurrection and his second coming to the earth.

Jesus? call to action anticipates that his people will be gathered into churches as they obey his edict. Discipling men and women of every nation to Jesus Christ involves administering the church sacrament of baptism and fulfilling the church task of "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you" (the apostles). In particular then, it is expected by the risen Lord that his churches will be in the forefront of organizing and executing this agenda.

There are many reasons why churches decline spiritually. High among these reasons why the Lord is afar off must be the departure by congregations from the obligation to advance the cause of missions upon which the Lord himself insisted. His promise, 'Lo, I am with you always' is attached to this set of directions. Therefore they forfeit the promised blessing who abandon the task to which it is tied. Through the millennia since Christ rose, he has specially blessed with his presence those churches which zealously disciple all nations.

Articles to follow speak of missionary enterprise in the 18th and the 20th centuries. How are you and your church engaged in the greatest task on earth, since Jesus walked among us? Are your prayers, gifts and labours dynamically contributing to our Saviour's agenda? Is your church defined by its devotion to Christ's explicit scheme? Are missionaries and their labours high on your church prayer list and in your church budget? Is information about discipling the nations given in your church with keen interest?

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