Is Our Highest Calling Worship or Evangelism?

Subtitle: The Great Commission, the “Great Catechism”, and the Great Commandment

Sometimes we hear people debate a Christian’s greatest calling. A couple of professors from Liberty University (one teaches at the seminary) posted an article that reflects this debate very well. They ask: “So is it worship or evangelism? Which one is our greatest calling that deserves our most fervent effort?” They go on to say that the two are so closely connected that both deserve our top attention. (The article is about two pages and can be found at http://www.lifeway.com/Article/great-commission-worship-witness-evangelism.)

In my experience worship and evangelism have been the activities most mentioned in American Christianity as the most important things we do. But is this what we find in the New Testament? Are worship and/or evangelism taught as the most important things that all Christians are called to?

Strangely, the authors of the article don’t actually cite any verses to support their claim that either one of these activities are the most important. They point out that the Bible instructs us to worship, but there is nothing about it being the most important thing.

On evangelism they refer to Matthew 28:19, the Great Commission, but there is nothing in that passage about evangelism being the most important thing. In fact, there are no passages in the New Testament that teach that all believers should be doing evangelism, let alone that it is the most important calling. Paul’s letters to the churches are notably silent about readers doing evangelism. Scripture teaches that we should be a light, we should be able to answer for our faith, those who are called to evangelism should evangelize, and people should be drawn to our fellowship, but there is nothing in the New Testament that teaches that all believers are responsible for evangelism.

I am not putting down the professors. This blog is not about the professors; it is just about the ideas. I’m thankful people devote their lives to teaching others about Jesus and I’m sure they have helped many. They very possibly may lay up more treasure in heaven than me. I refer to their article because it reflects a deeply ingrained misunderstanding of what has priority in the New Testament. This misunderstanding is so ingrained that professors of Christianity can’t see that there are no passages to support their argument that the New Testament teaches these things! But they are not alone, this thinking is widespread and most believers would read the article and think it makes good sense.

This article also reflects a lack of serious attention to scripture, and a weak hermeneutic. We need to ask ourselves if scripture actually supports what we are saying. Just because scripture tells us to do something doesn’t make it is the most important thing. The passage needs to say something about it being the most important. This is a problem of proportionality in interpretation and hopefully will be addressed in time.

So am I being too perfectionist? Does the New Testament actually state what is most important or does it veil that issue in verses like Matthew 28:19?

The New Testament states many times what is most important. In fact the clearest passage is a passage that is mentioned often today, Matthew 22:37-40, which some people refer to as the Great Commandment. Jesus said that loving God is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it, which is to love your neighbor as yourself.

Paul teaches that love is the greatest, even greater than faith: I Corinthians 13:9-13 “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” I Corinthians 13:13 (NIV). Paul also stated: “For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (NLT) Gal 5:14. John sums up Jesus’ commandments by saying: “And this is His commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.” I John 3:23 (NLT)

Notice that the Pauline passages explicitly state the priority of love. John is not as explicit but when you look at the context and grammar it is clear that he is saying believing in Jesus and loving one another are the highest callings. John also explains that loving people is the proof that we love God. Thus Paul and John both teach that relationships of love are the highest calling. I believe that if we make relationships of love the highest priority then worship and evangelism will be more powerful and the hopes expressed in the article will be more fulfilled. This blog is more of a friendly suggestion for improvement than a critique.

The article goes on to quote Matthew 22:37-40 which actually contradicts the article’s argument. They also quote the Westminster Catechism (I affectionately refer to this as the “Great Catechism” because it is quoted so often.) about the chief end of man being to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. (Glorifying God is too general to be a top priority, making dinner can glorify God, but love is more specific.) The article relates all the ideas together by saying in effect that if we glorify God and love God we will love others, worship God and evangelize others. The article quotes the passage that contradicts its argument but doesn’t recognize the contradiction. It tries to tie it all together then reassert worship and evangelism even though scripture clearly does not support that. Relating the ideas to one another does not help the argument.

Thus scripture does teach that loving God and others are most important. Scripture does not teach that either worship or evangelism are the highest calling of a Christian. This goes to the heart of spiritual theology.

Why does this matter? It matters because what our highest aim radically influences how we do everything else. In this case, think about worship and evangelism. How relational are these two activities? How much love for others do they require? In worship we are relating with God, which is critical, but we do not have to relate with any depth to anyone else. In evangelism, we can operate through relationship, but we can also operate without relationship. We can present Jesus to people we don’t know or we even to people we do know, but not develop an actual relationship with them.

It is easier to do things that don’t require relationship. It is human nature. We are afraid of being vulnerable, admitting need, and risking ourselves. And sometimes we just don’t want to make the effort. So if a fellowship doesn’t focus on relationship then relationship will suffer.

Thus, worship and evangelism can lead to fellowship with little relationship. Pastors can be isolated, members can go their whole lives and never share their weaknesses with others or form close bonds.

But if we believe that loving God and others are the highest calling, then pastors will realize they need to be in true relationship with peers and model that for members. And members will be led into authentic relationships that can deepen over the years. Believers will learn how to listen, speak, encourage, support, heal, teach, and exercise their gifts for others. Out of this environment worship and evangelism (or being a light) makes sense and becomes healthy.

To put it another way, why would I want to invite others to a church where the highest priorities seem to be singing and persuading others to join us as we sing and persuade others? Why would this be attractive to people?

So in the end, if we don’t make loving God and loving others the highest calling then loving one another will suffer. And we will not be the kind of light we are taught to be. More importantly, scripture is very clear that love is the highest calling. If God knows what He is talking about then love may be the best thing for us.

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