First Things First

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has
been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with
you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20

"...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will
be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends
of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

It might be awfully tempting to think, as many actually do, that this is the
most important thing the individual Christian has to do right now.
Evangelization is Priority One... Or is it?

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have
not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until
heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of
a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is
accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and
teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven,
but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the
kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not
enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 5:17-20)

It might be tempting to think that this is the priority. After all, if our
lives do not match what we preach, of what use is our preaching? But is it the
root issue? Is either evangelization or holy living really the primary goal for
the Christian? Are either of these what Christianity is all about? Someone
actually asked Jesus that question, albeit not in those words, but very
close to it.

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied:
"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second
is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets
hang on these two commandments." (Matt 22:35-40)

This is what author Scot McKnight calls "The Jesus Creed."

This is what Christians are all about: Love God. Love one another. Love is
defined for us by God himself. But that's for another post. God designed
us to love. We failed. God redeemed us to so that we could love. Apart
from faith in the grace and mercy of God, it doesn't happen. But himself
God is love. We were made and redeemed to love God... And each other.

To the Church: Let's make sure we get first things first.