Pagan Christianity rebuttal #4

In "Pagan Christianity" by Barna and Viola, we see a strange twist in the chapter on the Bible is not a Jigsaw.

They wrote, using Mr. Joe Household who grew up in the institutional church. "Mr. Joe Household has lifted three verses out of context. In Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15 Jesus is sending His apostles. And in Acts5:42, these same apostles are preaching the Gospel. In the original Greek, the Great Commission reads:'Having gone your way...' Therefore is a prophecy ('having gone'), not a command ('Go'). The Lord did not command the apostles to go, He told them that they would be going."

The Planter speaks: I believe Barna and Viola just violated their own argument against taking Scriptures out of context in the above quote.

In the Great Commission Jesus said, "Go and make disciples... (not having gone your way as they suggest). The word "GO" actually means, "As you are going make disciples..." Jesus was giving a command as God and with all power as the resurrected King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He didn't come back and have an idle speech (chit chat), He came in power and boldness and with great authority as God. It was as if Jesus (if you can picture it) takes time to make a huge point before ascending into heaven to remind the apostles -those dear to Him, those He trusted fully to take this command seriously and teach/preach it to others. This Great Commission command was a culmination of His life and the passing of His mantle of reaching the world He came to redeem through His death and resurrection.

I now believe for some it will take a Holy Spirit "Rhema" or Holy Spirit revelation in order for them to see this truth and all of it's implications for believers. You must not read this passage just in the Logos but it must be read with both the Logos (truth) and Rhema (revelation)of the Holy Spirit.

We treat this passage with little importance when Jesus made the point in the manner He gave it to show it's importance. We have done a great injustice to the life and message of Christ by minimizing His command to suit ourselves at the huge loss of souls we are supposed to reach. Why? Because Jesus said so. :)