“Accomplish the mission and take care of your soldiers.” That is the ultimate task of an Army soldier as stated in the Army, Field Manual 22-100. Everything in the Army strives to accomplish these two tasks.
In a previous post, I wrote about the two tasks of a leader; to courageously lead people out in the cause and to bring people in to take care of them. I would like to reflect on this in more detail. In all my years in campus ministry, I have observed two elements that must be present on a campus to see real progress in advancing the kingdom of God.
1. Students must be clear on their mission.
2. Students must bond together in a small group of deep friendships that are committed to the same mission.
If one of these elements were missing, there would be no significant change in the ROTC, Academy, or campus. There may be individual growth in the Lord, but no cultural changes on a campus.
Mission – The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I
am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
The imperative verb in this passage is make disciples. Go, baptize, and teach are participles that modify the main verb, make disciples. They tell how to make disciples. So, we are to make disciples by going, baptizing, and teaching. For now, let’s focus on what it means to make disciples. Later, I will expand on what it means to go, baptize, and teach.
In the military, you are a learner. You learn how to behave and act as a military person. Even in peacetime, you are learning to make war. You are also a teacher. You are teaching others how to behave and act as a military person. This is a great picture of what discipleship looks like.
The word disciple simply means learner. A disciple learns how to behave and act. Jesus calls us to be His disciples. We are to learn from Him. We are to act like Him. We are to become Christ-like. As disciples, we are to make disciples. We are to make learners of Jesus.
The military is full of volunteers. They volunteer to enter the military and be trained to become a military man or woman. We are to make disciples of those who desire to follow Jesus. And we are to recruit more volunteers in order to make more disciples.
This mission begins where you are. It begins in your company, in your dorm, in your circle of influence. But that is just the starting point. It goes to all nations. We are to make disciple of all nations. If you make disciple where you are, and they in turn make disciples of others wherever they go for the rest of their lives, think of the impact all over the world as we all fulfill the mission to make disciples throughout our entire lives.
Are you a learner of Jesus? Are you a disciple? Begin by reading the stories of the life of Christ, the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke , John).
Are you making disciples? Begin by talking to others about Christ. Teach them what you are learning. Challenge them to learn about Jesus and follow Him.
People – Love one Another (John 13:34).
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
Just before Jesus gave this command to His disciples, He washed their feet and told them to go and do the same for each other. If this group of disciples were going to accomplish the mission, they would need each other and would have to take care of each other.
When I joined the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M, one of the first things they taught us as freshmen was to love and take care of each other. We were no longer individuals looking out for our own interests, we were a group looking out for each other. We did everything together, even cleaning the bathroom floors with our toothbrushes (yes, I got another for my teeth). Only when we were acting as one could we accomplish all the missions that were required of us.
The Great Commission cannot be accomplished on our own. The mission of making disciples on your base or campus cannot be done alone. Who do you know that you can bond together with to pursue our Lord’s mission? Simply start by asking your friends to join together once a week to pray that God would use you to make disciples of others. Pray for people, your base or campus, and nations. Begin a study of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
