1. To Make Talmidim (Disciples) of All
1. "These are the Five Commissions of the New Covenant Assemblies of Yahweh:
2. "To go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, bringing souls unto Me, the Master Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), teaching them to obey all My mitzvot (commandments).
3. "And they who will obey all the mitzvot (commandments) ye shall baptise in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit), confirming them [through the ordinance of Chrism] into the New Covenant.
4. "And those who will not obey all the mitzvot (commandments) ye shall send unto other Christian/Messianic Churches/Assemblies which are true unto Me according to their level of light and committment, that these souls may be nurchured [and prospered] and not be lost back into the world" (Mt.28:18-20)
(NC&C 263:1-4)
The first commission of EVERY Believer is to win souls for Messiah. This commission has nothing to do with bringing converts into a church or a church denomination but to bring them into a personal, saving relationship with the Son of Elohim (God), Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ).
This commission recognises that not all Christians/Messianics are called into a particular denomination. The New Covenant Assemblies of Yahweh is not the 'one and only true church' as is claimed by the Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), Worldwide Church of God (H.Armstrong), Jehovah's Witnesses and a number of others. When a believer is witnessing of Messiah to someone it is not, first and foremost, to bring him to a Church but to a PERSON. This is most important. Salvation comes from trusting in a Divine Person and not from membership in a Church. Membership in a Church is a CONSEQUENCE or FRUIT of salvation and not a part of the salvation act or process.
The first and most important calling of the New Covenant Assemblies of Yahweh is therefore to be a witness of Messiah and not to advertise itself. Any person claiming to be a representative of Messiah but who has as an ulterior motive to win that soul for his own Church or Assembly exclusively is NOT operating in the Spirit of Messiah but in a divisive, sectarian spirit whose ultimate end will be to IMPRISON rather than liberate souls.
Yah'shua (Jesus) rebuked the Pharisees for travelling overseas to make converts to their religion and making them worse children of hell than they were (Matt.23:15). Though this is a trap many Bible-believing Christians have fallen into from time to time (including ourselves) it is one we must actively strive to avoid. Our greatest joy should come from winning a soul for the Saviour and not for our Church! If the Church is the motivating factor something is SERIOUSLY WRONG.
This, then, is the First Commission. To get some idea just what this involves, check out our Are You Saved? series by clicking the torch below:
Every soul won for Messiah should be encouraged to be baptised and attend a local congregation. This will mean being sensitive to the Ruach (Spirit) to know where that convert is to be placed. NCAY has, at different times, placed converts in, or ppointed them in the direction of, different churches than its own because the convert has not felt called into NCAY.
This does not mean we believe that all Churches are true, however, otherwise we would have no basis for existing ourselves. Every denomination believes it is teaching the truest doctrines and practices. NCAY is no exception. We believe we are teaching the truest doctrine and practice otherwise we would disaband and go elsewhere. In this we must be quite honest. No true-hearted Baptist would wish to send a convert he has made to a Lutheran Church, for example, because he believes Lutherans are seriously in error for not having adult baptism by immersion, or to a Pentecostal Church because Baptists are cessationists and don't believe in tongues and other charismata.
Similarly, Messianic Evangelicals are unhappy about sending converts to those churches who, for example, do not observe the Torah. However, we respect the agency of all who come to us and can accept that sometimes people are placed in various churches not because those churches are necessarily teaching the whole biblical truth but because that is where Elohim (God) wants that convert to be for a purpose known only to Himself, even if it is only temporary. Having said this we do not recommend that people change from church to church all the time! Settling down with, and showing long-term comittment to, a church family is important.
Yahweh's Sovereign will must be allowed to prevail over OUR own will. For instance, a Church may have as perfect doctrine and practice as is possible, but if it has no ahavah (love), a new convert will likely spiritually suffocate in it (see 1 Cor.15). That convert may not be called into his or her spiritual 'home' until that Church or Assembly has got its house in order...unless he himself has been called to do the job!
Sometimes doctrine is too meaty for those who are weak and it is better that they are placed in a congregation where the doctrine is milkier in which they can better prosper. Elohim (God) is so loving and compassionate that He provides for ALL His children, the weak and strong alike. If someone's mind is blown by a particular doctrine, then Yahweh does not, in His mercy, abandon that person to unbelief, but places him in an environment where emunah (faith) may grow and mature until such a teaching can be squarely faced. It is for this reason that we believe that many find themselves in the cults and false religion, where they can be nourished by the light that is there, until they are ready to be fully delivered in the freedom of Messiah.
Our own fellowship, born in the crucible of many traditions, suffered such problems in the beginning. The Israelites, as they left Egypt, were steeped in paganism, which had to be gradually burned out of them before they were ready for the Promised Land. Many Christians and Messianics, similarly steeped in wrong thinking and practice, may also require a Sinai Wandering before they are ready to receive a purer Besorah (Gospel). Since Yahweh is working everywhere, we need to be sensitive to such things and make sure we are not, in our mistaken zeal, actually leading souls into greater darkness.
In one interesting story a man was led to NCAY by angelic choirs and a prophetic dream so that he was left in absolutely NO DOUBT where Elohim (God) had called him. Only when he came to NCAY did he hear these choirs singing and everywhere else was dead quiet and he found no joy. But doubt entered his heart and he rejected his calling to NCAY. Yahweh, in His mercy, not wishing that any should be cast aside, led him to a ministry looking after those rehabilitating from alcoholism and drug addiction. He is now happy there but he has completely forgotten his earlier call. Though he is most certainly saved in Messiah, he will receive a reward in heaven in proportion to his obedience here on earth. We have not the slightest doubt that he threw away a wonderful gift and opportunity. We could relate many similar stories. One man, who knew his call to NCAY, would not abide by its rules, and was ultimately excommunicated. We received an unmistakable witness that he was to join a solid Bible-believing local Baptist Church where we attempted to have him placed. He resisted this, got drawn into a New Age-inspired charismatic church, and lost most of the original light he had been blessed with. One woman, who was called by the voice of Yahweh Himself into this work, eventually rebelled against her call, and lost home and family. Doubtless other Churches would be able to tell similar stories.
We are therefore to WIN SOULS FOR MESSIAH and then PLACE THEM WHERE YAHWEH WANTS THEM TO BE. This is the First Commission of the New Covenant Assemblies of Yahweh.
