Matthew 28:19-20
In 2016 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America passed a “Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery.” The Doctrine of Discovery had begun with a Papal Bull in 1452 that granted a king the right to enslave “pagans” (specifically Africans at the time) and take their land. That doctrine took many other forms in subsequent centuries and even made its way into American laws that deprived indigenous people of rights to land and even recognition as full human beings. Oddly, that abuse of power often went hand in hand with the evangelical impulse—the desire to spread Christianity throughout the world. In recognition of that past, the ELCA repudiated the Doctrine of Discovery in favor of “electing to practice accompaniment with native peoples instead of a missionary endeavor to them.” That’s a remarkable shift in the history of Christianity and an important modification of “The Great Commission” from Matthew 28:19-20:
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (NRSVA)
The Repudiation recognizes that often the best form of evangelism is walking beside people as equals, respecting their traditions, and learning from each other. It also means working to rectify past abuses of power.
Christians have had a sometimes beautiful, sometimes tortured relationship with the words “evangelize” or “evangelical.” I’ve been on the uncomfortable side of several conversations in which people inquired about the breed of my dog or my travel plans only to end up asking me if I had accepted Jesus as my personal savior. Those conversations always feel manipulative, though I understand that their motives are to save what they interpret as my imperiled soul from eternal damnation. I’ve also known self-described evangelicals who are some of the best examples of humble self-sacrifice and who seem to me to represent the best kind of evangelism through example.
So what does it mean for us, today, to “make disciples of all nations”? In a world in which so many are already aware of the Good News, and in which so many people suffer from poverty, war, disease, and depression, perhaps the best evangelism is “accompaniment” through compassion, generosity, empathy, and love.
For more information on the Doctrine of Discovery and the ELCA’s repudiation of it, visit https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Repudiation_Doctrine_of_DiscoverySPR16.pdf?_ga=2.192178600.300349026.1729604280-947099113.1725995398
Questions for Reflection:
- What does the “Evangelical” in “Evangelical Lutheran Church in America” mean to you?
- What are the best ways you’ve experienced to live out the Great Commission?
Prayer:
God of All, help us to experience the unity of all people and all creation. Teach us to communicate with compassion and inspire us to act with self-sacrifice as we try to reveal your love through our actions. Amen.
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