The Great Commission to Worship Book by David Wheeler and Vernon M. Whaley - Book Abstract and Reflection

Abstract

The Great Commission to Worship addresses two commands given to Christians, the Great Commission (Mt 28:18–20) and the Great Commandment (Dt 6:4–6; Mt 22:36–40). The authors open the book by discussing common misconceptions of evangelism. They make it clear that evangelism is not optional,[1] nor is it a spiritual gift.[2] A total of twelve misconceptions are hashed out before they tackle twelve common misconceptions of worship. According to the authors, worship is often thought of as synonymous with fellowship[3] and praise music.[4] After revealing and refuting the common misconceptions of evangelism and worship, the authors point to some biblical models as guides for what evangelism and worship are.

From the second chapter on, the authors get down to the business of presenting practical guidelines for living an obedient life for Christ that consists of both worshipping Him and adhering to His command to make disciples. They parse out the different aspects that they see are vital to great commission worship, with the aid of biblical examples.

The message is clear that there must be good theology as the foundation of living out the great commission to worship,[5] and that when people are obedient to God and pursue a life that brings Him glory, their lives will be forever changed because “God is in the business of changing people.”[6] This change that happens is not change for the sake of change, it is a restoration,[7] and following the restoration that God brings, Christians ought to desire to be obedient to God and be in relationship with others to bring them to Christ, all while presenting their life as a sacrifice of worship to the King.

Reflection

The book does a superb job of getting typical Christians outside their comfort zone concerning the witness of their faith. With regard to the misconception that evangelism is a choice, the authors discuss that their experience shows “the majority of believers rarely share their faith with another unsaved person,”[8] a truth to which I have been a witness to. This book is a bold effort to shine light on The Great Commission in order to make it clear to Christian readers that it is not optional, but imperative to share the truth and love of Jesus.

Despite the call to action invoked by the authors, this call is encouraged in light of the necessity of obedience,[9] more so than out of love. Jesus makes it clear that those who love Him will keep His commandments (Jn 14:15, 21, 23–24), and I believe the important thing to remember is love. If you truly love, you show that love with actions. Outwardly, it may look like sheer obedience, but the inward motivation is love. Yahweh calls His people to love Him, and because of that love they should worship and obey Him alone (Dt 6:4–17). Jesus calls this the Great Commandment, echoing the words found in Deuteronomy He says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Mt 22:37), and He offers a second commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt 22:29). When Christians considers this, knowing that God wants to have a relationship with His creation, and knowing the love of God, it should be an act of love for God and an act of love for others that fuels the desire to evangelize. Evangelism solely for the sake of obedience is not done out of love and is therefore lacking.

Bibliography

Wheeler, David and Vernon M. Whaley. The Great Commission to Worship: Biblical Principles for Worship-Based Evangelism. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2011.

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[1] David Wheeler and Vernon M. Whaley, The Great Commission to Worship: Biblical Principles for Worship-Based Evangelism (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2011), 314, Kindle.

[2] Ibid., 330.

[3] Ibid., 375.

[4] Ibid., 390.

[5] Ibid., 1085.

[6] Ibid., 1384.

[7] Ibid., 1400.

[8] Ibid., 314–22.

[9] Ibid., 2639.