Our solar panels produce double the amount of needed electricity. Our front door boasts a plaque that designates our property as sustainable, resource-saving, and healthy for living. My wife and I received this award from the Secretary of State for the Environment for outstanding services to protect the climate. Do we fulfill Christ’s commission through our commitment to preserve God’s creation?
The World Council of Churches declares “justice, peace, and the integrity of creation” as the churches’ commission. In 1983, its plenary assembly birthed a conciliar process to this effect in Vancouver. However, is all of this specifically Christian?
Speaking of justice and social commitment, as the head lay judge of a big criminal court, I endeavored to bring about justice. For many years, I volunteered as a council member and the deputy mayor. But is this in line with Christ’s commission?
To promote peace, I was responsible for aid projects in Afghanistan, helped distribute emergency help when natural disasters struck, and initiated international voluntary services with hundreds of young people on all continents. Today, they work in children’s homes, slums, and feeding programs, and care for the marginalized, neglected, and outcasts.
I did all of the above as a Christian—motivated by Christian love for my neighbor and guided by Biblical values. Yet, irrespective of worldview and religion, is this not possible for everybody? Are my actions specifically Christian?
It would appear to me that many Western Christians are confused with regard to Christ’s commission. Fortunately, a simple theological differentiation, namely the difference between two God-given mandates, can clarify matters swiftly. The first mandate was issued for all people, whilst the second mandate is limited to Christ’s followers. The first mandate can be found at the beginning of the Old Testament, whilst the second mandate is placed at the start of the New Testament.
The First Mandate – for all people
Immediately after mankind’s creation God gave them a cultural commission. They were to “work and take care of” creation (Gen 2:15) and to “subdue” it in a positive manner (Gen 1:28). This commission encompasses all areas of human life: family, upbringing, education, technology, communication, politics, economy, recreation, art… Its organization is a privilege pertaining to all of mankind, not only Christians. To implement this successfully, God issued helpful guidelines in the following Old Testament books (Ex 20:1-17; Deut 5:6ff). Later, prophets appeared, who reminded not only the people of Israel of them, but also called other peoples to account (cf. Jonah). Jesus himself mentions humanitarian activity as an important aspect that He will use to judge peoples (Mt 25:31ff).
Of course, “justice, peace, and the integrity of creation” rank among the duties of Christ’s followers, but they are not the only ones. In fact, the cultural commission applies to all people. Christians will make every effort to put Christian values into practice in a culturally relevant manner. For example, Christians set up orphanages and housed street children, and the British politician William Wilberforce fought against the slave trade until it was abolished legally.
The Second, Additional Mandate – only for Christ’s followers
With this, we come to the decisive differentiation: Christ’s church cannot and should not be limited to the cultural commission. After His resurrection, Jesus left his followers a commission, that only they can carry out: the Great Commission, which occurs in all four Gospels. In the Gospel of Matthew, it is expressed as this imperative: “Make disciples of all nations!” (Mt 28:19). It is implemented by Christians teaching everything that Jesus has commanded them and by baptizing new followers. This mandate does not apply to all people.
To help with the implementation of the imperative, Jesus is endowing His followers with spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12, Romans 12), which go beyond the natural talents given by God at birth. They enable Christ’s followers to build His church. Whilst alive on earth, Jesus sent out His 12 disciples and later 70 disciples to proclaim the kingdom of heaven, heal the sick, and drive out demons (Mt 10:1ff).
As a follower of Jesus, I therefore invest my time and donations predominantly into the implementation of the second mandate, without neglecting the first mandate (as shown above). However, in the case of, for example, catastrophes or famines, the first mandate must take precedence for a certain period of time. And sometimes God calls and empowers individual Christians to fulfill crucial roles in politics or caring professions. But, as followers of Jesus, we must always bear both mandates in mind. Only Christians can fulfill the Great Commission. Wellbeing here on earth is only one aspect of eternity. Eternal salvation is linked to the second mandate and is promised to those, who follow Jesus. Therefore, its content takes priority.
Tabular Overview:
The Cultural Commission (Gen 1-11) | The Great Commission (Mt 28:18ff) |
“subdue” | “Make disciples!” |
“work and take care of” | “by baptizing and teaching” |
Includes working for peace | Proclaims peace with God |
Is concerned about justice | Reconciliation with God |
Preserves the earthly creation | Proclaims eternal salvation |
Socially active | Loves God and one’s neighbor |
Provides internal and external safety | Builds the church |
Through natural gifts | Through spiritual gifts |
Applies to all people, including Christians | Applies only to Christians |
Results:
- The distinction between the first and second mandate allows us to view all people as made in the image of God, irrespective of their worldview.
- Through the first mandate, Christians can and should work together with all people. In this context, they will advocate Christian values.
- The distinction between the two mandates prevents big wrong developments, which history unfortunately testifies of time and again. If Christians obey only the first mandate, we end up with worldly peace, justice, and climate activitists, who neglect their privilege of communicating the life-transforming message of eternal salvation and inner peace.
- For Christ’s followers, the Great Commission has a higher priority than the cultural commission. But we should not neglect the latter either.
Dr. Andreas Franz