is exciting, yet daunting, to know that our marching orders are so expansive and demanding—to share the gospel with the whole world. Jesus knew we would tremble at such a thought, so he gave us his promise, "I am with you always, to end of the age" (Matt. 28:20). Here is the added promise to his earlier one, that when he "went away," he would send the Holy Spirit. And what would the Holy Spirit do? He would empower you to live as you need to live as a Christian. "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you" (Acts 1:8).
The Christian community is to be Spirit-empowered, where love and mutual caring, forgiveness, healing, reconciliation, restoration, deliverance, social witness, and the breaking down of racial, economic, and social barriers are anticipated as the norm—not the miraculous.
The Great Commission and the Holy Spirit go together. We cannot obey the Great Commission effectively without the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit. But also, if we are following the Spirit's leading, we will be engaging in the Great Commission—not just talking about it; doing it. Michael Green has noted this bond as a hallmark of the New Testament church and a sign of poverty in the experience of the church today. He asks penetrating questions:
Could it be that we know so little of the Spirit in any powerful way because we care so little for evangelism? Equally, that we know so little of evangelism in any powerful way because we know so little of the Spirit? These two God has joined together, and we cannot put them asunder. No evangelism, no Holy Spirit; no Holy Spirit, no evangelism. There is a vital link between them; and that explains a good deal of the powerlessness in the modern church. (New Testament Evangelism: Lessons for Today [Manila, OMF Publishers, 1982], pp. 136-37).
Frankly, sharing Christ seems to be difficult, and evangelism seems to evoke too many negative images for many people, perhaps even you. Yet you probably know Christ because someone loved you enough to share Christ with you. Do you love enough to share Christ with others?
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
In what way and to what degree are you practicing disciplines that will transform you into the likeness of Christ? How can you share the good news with your family, your friends, your co-workers, people at church? What needs to happen in your life and in your congregation to reflect apostolic passion?
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WHO NEEDS A DOCTOR?
ISAIAH 57:14-22; MARK 2:13-17
It's a beautiful picture. Levi was so excited. His conversion gave him a love and concern he never had before. He wanted to celebrate that. But not only that, he invited persons whom he wanted to introduce to Jesus to celebrate with him. He had a desire for them to experience what he had experienced. Have you ever had any sort of religious experience that was worth celebrating, that caused you to want to throw a party? Maybe you can deal with it better if I ask you, "How do you celebrate your religious experiences?" or "Is celebration a part of your spiritual expression?"
CELEBRATION TIME
One of my favorite hymns of modern times is "The Lord of the Dance." It is one of the less-traditional hymns in present-day hymnals. I like it not only because of its message but also because it is set to the tune of the American Shaker hymn "Tis a Gift to Be Simple." That's a creative connection because the Shakers used to dance in their worship.
In the mid-1960s, I wrote my most autobiographical book, entitled Dancing at My Funeral. One of my contentions was, and still is, that our real test in facing life is whether we run, fight, whimper, or dance. Though I am a very poor dancer, the dance became a metaphor of the Christian life for me. I was so pleased that Sydney Carter wrote "The Lord of the Dance" about the same time that my book was being published. I'm more than pleased that the hymn was finally included in the official United Methodist Hymnal in 1988.
"The Lord of the Dance" declares that the proper response on learning the meaning of the gospel is to celebrate—to dance. Have you ever noted how much of the gospel has to do with parties and celebrations? When the prodigal son came home, the father wanted to celebrate, so he threw a great party. When the woman who had lost her coin found it, she invited her neighbors to come in and celebrate with her. When the shepherd went out into the wilderness to find the one lost sheep, on finding that sheep and returning home, he shouted out to his neighbors that he had found the sheep that was lost and then he invited them to celebrate with him.
There's a great deal of celebration in the Scripture. In fact, according to the Book of Revelation, when Christ comes again and history is drawn to a close, there is going to be a great marriage feast in the Kingdom. Christ the Groom, and his Bride, the church, will be united; and we will all sit at the banquet table of joy and celebration.
So Levi had a party. Jesus and his disciples were there, along with "many tax collectors and sinners" (Mark 2:15). But not everyone was happy. The Pharisees didn't like it. That's what the third verse of "The Lord of the Dance" talks about. "I danced on the Sabbath when I cured the lame; / the holy people said it was a shame." Jesus' behavior was shameful in the eyes of what the hymn writer calls the "holy people." "Holy people"—the Pharisees—believed that religion should be more like mourning rather than dancing, about judgment rather than celebration, about fasting rather than feasting.
Levi—or Matthew, which would become his Christian name—was a tax collector. This meant that he was disreputable because he worked for the Romans, and therefore was an outcast in the Jewish community. Jesus not only associated with him but called him to be a disciple. The text indicates that Jesus tells Matthew to gather all his tax collector and sinner friends together, and he will eat with the whole bunch of them. The Pharisees were shocked. They asked, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" (2:16). Jesus overhears their comments, and answers, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners" (2:17).
SEEKING YOUR REWARD
Our suggested reading from Isaiah balances God's judgment with the promise that those who are contrite and humble will receive God's blessing, healing, comfort, and peace.
I have seen their ways, but I will heal them;
I will lead them and repay them with comfort,
creating for their mourners the fruit of the lips.
Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the LORD;
and I will heal them. (Isa. 57:18-19)
After this announcement of "peace, to the far and the near," in chapter 58 Isaiah condemns his own people, the "righteous" ones, for their hypocritical worship and their fasting on the Sabbath in disobedience to the commands of the covenant for justice and righteousness. These earlier "righteous" ones were not far from the scribes and the Pharisees Jesus addressed. They assumed they would be recognized and rewarded for the wonderful lives they were living. They also expected God to punish the tax collectors and the sinners for the kind of life they lived. No wonder they were flabbergasted by Jesus' association with Levi and all his sinner friends.
DO YOU HAND OUT PARTY INVITATIONS?
Levi's experience invites a second question. Has a person been genuinely converted by the Grace of Christ if he does not in consequence have a desire that others be converted also? Not only was Levi celebrating the fact that he was converted, he was using that occasion to bring people together in order that they might also meet Jesus. Think about it. How deep is your desire for others to experience what you have experienced in Jesus Christ? If that desire
