THE GREAT COMMISSION: Are Churches Doing It the Right Way?
Updated: Jul 22
"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."--Luke 19:10
A QUOTE says it all, “Too many Christians are no longer fishers of men but keepers of the aquarium” (Vance Havner). These words may sound harsh, but they force us to ask an uncomfortable question:
Have many churches become more concerned with preserving themselves than proclaiming the Gospel?
When Jesus called His first disciples, He did not invite them to build comfortable religious communities. He gave them a mission:
“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).
His focus was outward, not inward. The disciples were sent into cities, villages, and nations to announce the good news of the Kingdom of God.
Yet in many places today, Christianity has become increasingly centered on maintaining existing members. Churches often invest enormous energy into programs, facilities, entertainment, and attracting believers from other congregations, while relatively little effort is devoted to reaching those who have never truly heard the Gospel.
Instead of casting nets into the world, many simply rearrange fish already inside the tank.
The difference is important.
A fisherman accepts uncertainty. He goes where the fish are. He faces storms, setbacks, and long hours. Likewise, genuine evangelism requires courage, sacrifice, and persistence. It means entering a world that may reject the message. It means sharing God's truth beyond the safety of church walls.
An aquarium keeper, however, works in a controlled environment. The fish are already present. The focus becomes maintenance, comfort, and appearance. While caring for believers is important, a church that only looks inward eventually loses sight of its purpose.
Yet the solution is not to choose one extreme over the other.
The Church must both nurture believers and seek the lost. Jesus commanded Peter, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:17), but He also commanded His followers, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). Healthy churches do both. They strengthen the flock while continually expanding the mission.
The book of Acts provides the model. The believers devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, prayer, and spiritual growth (Acts 2:42). At the same time, they boldly proclaimed Christ wherever they went. As a result, “the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).
The Great Commission was never intended to be a slogan hanging on a church wall. It is the reason the Church exists.
The call of Christ was never merely to preserve a comfortable gathering of familiar faces. It was to launch disciples into the deep waters of a world desperately needing hope, truth, and salvation.
The Church was born for the open sea, not enclosed glass.
May we never become content merely watching the fish already in the tank when Christ has commanded us to cast the net into the world.
"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). If that was His mission, it must remain ours!
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