Is it Time for the "Great Commission" to Go Away?

Is it time for the Great Commission, that is, the command that Jesus gives to his followers to "go into all the world and make disciples of all people" to go away? Or, at least take a break for awhile? Or maybe be less of a focus for American Christians?

There are many biblical principles that might have risen to prominence in American Christianity. For example: taking care of widows and orphans, the Beatitudes, vows of poverty, foot washing, or handling poisonous snakes. But for whatever reason, the Great Commission has risen above all of these to underpin many of our collective understanding of the goal of Christian life: converting the heathens.

However, in our current political context this offers some pitfalls. I mean this not as Republican or Democrat, but as members of the most influential, powerful, and wealth nation that has ever existed throughout all time. The Great Commission, accompanied by an American passport, will be inherently heavy-handed, forceful. Like it or not, we are a cowboy people. We like to ride in, quickly solve problems and ride off into the sunset. But this is not how disciples are made, at least not disciples of Jesus Christ.

The Great Commission was spoken to people who, socially speaking, had very little influence. America is the opposite. We have tons of influence. Which is why I am proposing that for the next couple of years, we let go of the Great Commission as a core principle of our faith and pick another one to focus on. I don't care which one, though handling poisionous snakes might be fun. Maybe another country can take up the call to conversion. Brazil might be a good choice. Or Kenya. Let's let them take the lead in the Great Commission and we can stick to what we are better fitted for, help the poor with our vast financial resources. Then, after a couple of years we can re-assess see how things are going.