“…I do not think it means what you think it means.”

Are many people who call themselves Christian today unsure or possibly misinformed of what it really means?

It reminds me of the Princess Bride movie when Inigo Montoya says…

“You keep using that word.  I do not think it means what you think it means”

Vizzini, his Sicilian boss, keeps using the term “Inconceivable” to describe different events during the movie until Inigo eventually concludes that Vizzini must not know what the word means.

Inconceivable.

While Vizzini obviously didn’t get the meaning, Apostle Paul would probably use the word quite accurately to describe the way he feels about how many interpret and live out Christianity in America today.   He would likely find it inconceivable that the masses have strayed so far from the great command that Jesus left us with before ascending into the heavens…

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19,20

Our nice homes, new cars, and cutting edge electronics would not have impressed Paul.  Or Peter.  Or John.  Or any of those first Christians who counted it joy to suffer for the gospel and traveled from town to town spreading truth at the risk of losing their life – most of which did.  He would probably find it inconceivable that we become so distracted by the temporary and invest so little of our energy into the mission.

I wouldn’t guess those things impress Jesus, either. 

He has indeed given us a mission – to spread the gospel and make disciples.  This command was the last thing He said before leaving the disciples so it must be pretty important and definitely worth our attention.  So how many disciples have we made since we accepted Christ into our heart?  How many people have we told about Jesus – about the good news of Salvation?

Many of us would have to answer that we have not reached out nearly enough.  We’d confess that we have allowed our focus to be diverted to less important things.  The good news is every day is a new day and we can choose to live out our lives for Christ courageously, unashamedly, and without reservation.  So the question is…

Will we?