Armageddon 2026? Part Six Picking up where we left off at the end of Part Five . . . There are many activities in which the Christian Community has chosen to spend its time and resources. In some cases it has involved itself in such activities to the extent that it has neglected or compromised the primary job that it was given to do. The Church was not designed to be politically correct, conforming to the ways of the world in order to obtain or retain financial support. It is there to be a beacon of light in an ever-darkening world. While providing such things as food, clothing, and shelter for those in need are indeed “Christian” things to do, there is something wrong, if in the process, the primary job that the Church was given to do is not included in such activities. A local church or ministry that spends its time and resources on things other than the Great Commission, can be likened to a child whose mother gives money and sends him to a local store for some flour for her to make supper for the family. Instead of coming back with the flour, the child returns late and with a bag of candy to share with his siblings. While there is nothing wrong with the candy, or the child’s desire to share with his siblings, the child failed to complete the task that the mother gave him to do, and the mother was without the funds or the time she needed to prepare the night’s supper. When the father returns home, expecting to see supper on the table, he is not going to be pleased with anyone. Providing for the body, while not providing for the soul, is not what God has in mind for the Church that He designed. Simply by including a tract on , or in, the bag, box, or tray of the food or clothing being distributed, or providing contact information that a recipient can later use to reach out to receive answers to his spiritual needs, could change the earthly life and eternal destination of the ones who choose to respond. Disciples are not accountable for the response that people choose to make, but they are accountable for making the best out of every opportunity we are given to participate in the Great Commission. I would like to see a sign posted at Christian-sponsored food banks and shelters that reads, “You’ve fed, sheltered, and clothed your body that will turn to dust; now let’s feed your soul that will live on throughout all of Eternity!” Inquire within. For a variety of reasons, the government, and non-Christian organizations feed, clothe, and shelter the poor, as do Christians and Christian organizations. So what should the difference be? The difference is that the Christian priority should be on the soul of the people they serve. The devil appreciates the help from anyone who tries to make his world a better place to live through human effort, but not when it includes promoting the Great Commission. The mission of the Church that God designed that began in Jerusalem around 33-34 AD, was to extend to the far corners of the Earth. It has nothing to do with the recipients’ age, race, gender, nationality, socio-economic environment, profession, occupation, or political background or environment. Enthusiastically providing our enemies with the unadulterated Gospel Message or edifying passages of Scripture is what Jesus meant when He commanded (not an option) His followers to, “…love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who hurt you, pray for those who are abusive to you (Luke 6: 27, 28 NASB2020).” The Great Commission calls for proclaiming the *unadulterated Gospel Message (1) for salvation, and the making of disciples (students and appliers) of the Word of God. *Unadulterated means that it has not been compromised by having added to it ANY further requirements to obtain or to retain salvation. Preserving and promoting the unadulterated Gospel Message has been a struggle from the very beginning of the Church Age (2). Gal.3: 1 identifies this as being demonic (bewitching) activity. Some of the different sub-divisions (denominations) within the Christian Community clearly do a better job than others when it comes to making disciples (students and appliers) of the Word of God. Where, how, and how often one feeds (edifies) his or her soul, and the souls of other people, are daily choices that we make. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…Hosea 4: 6 NASB2020.” We would have serious issues with someone who possessed, but did not share, information that could save or improve the earthly lives of other people. But how much more so, would God have issues with born-again believers who possess the unadulterated Gospel Message, or with advancing disciples who possess accurate Bible Doctrine, that could save and or edify the souls of other people, but do not share it when God gives them the opportunity to do so? On the individual level, we are to participate in the Great Commission wherever we find ourselves on a daily basis, be it at home, work, or play (recreation). This does not require that we go about looking for people to evangelize or to edify. If we are walking the walk as well as we talk the talk, inquirers will come to us when they see that we have something that they would want to have for themselves, even though they don’t know what that something may be, or what we went through to be where we are today. People are not naturally-inclined (3) to like or to understand much of what The Bible has to say, but generally do not get upset when it is they that bring up the subject or ask the questions. Advancing disciples develop the spiritual discernment to know when it is God that has given them the opportunity to share the unadulterated Gospel Message or an edifying principle of Scripture. We might be surprised to learn that it was not the person you were speaking with directly, but it was someone else within earshot of the conversation that God wanted to evangelize or to edify. From divine viewpoint, it is our different professions, opportunities, domestic roles, types of labor, social interaction, and recreational choices are what places us where God wants us to be on any given day or period of time, in order to participate in the Great Commission while we are there. Participation in the Great Commission has got nothing to do with WHERE a born-again believer will spend all of Eternity, as this matter was settled on the day he or she was born again (4). However, participation in discipleship (or lack of it) has everything to do with the quality of one’s post (after) salvation spiritual life. The quality of one’s post salvation spiritual life has much to do with HOW he or she will experience Eternity, with or without the rewards and privileges that are reserved for born-again believers who chose to become advancing disciples This participation is what glorifies God, and is what fulfills the primary purpose for a born-again believer’s presence here on Earth, throughout the course of his or her post salvation spiritual life. Biblical discipleship is initially for the spiritual edification and spiritual growth in oneself, but with the long-term objective of participating in the salvation and edification of others. (1)John 3: 16, 18 (2) Gal. 3: 1 (3) Rom. 8: 7/1Cor. 2: 14 (4) John 3: 16, 18/Rom. 8: 1 End of Part Six End of Series