Prime Directive for the Church

Just before the Lord departed this earth temporarily He left the Church with one primary command: "`Having gone to all the world, proclaim the good news to all the creation. He who hath believed, and hath been baptized, shall be saved; and he who hath not believed, shall be condemned." Mark 16:15-16 (YLT) This is the main function of the Christian believer once they have accepted Jesus of Nazareth as their Savior and Lord over their life.

Nothing else we do: feeding others, providing housing, inclusiveness, social programs... can be of as great or enduring value as showing others how to ensure they will have abundant life on earth and eternal life when they are no longer here.

The Lord went further with the promise tied to performance of the "Prime Directive:" "And signs shall accompany those believing these things; in my name demons they shall cast out; with new tongues they shall speak; serpents they shall take up; and if any deadly thing they may drink, it shall not hurt them; on the ailing they shall lay hands, and they shall be well.'" Mark 16:17-18 (YLT) In the book of John Jesus said: "Verily, verily, I say to you, he who is believing in Me, the works that I do--that one also shall do, and greater than these he shall do, because I go on to My Father; and whatever ye may ask in My name, I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if ye ask anything in My name I will do it."John 14:12-14 (YLT) Considering all that He did during His approximately three years of ministry, this promise is awe inspiring for those who truly understand who and what we are in Christ.

When Jesus formally announced His ministry in the tabernacle the young Rabbi read from Isaiah 61: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord," Isaiah 61:1-2 (NKJV) He stopped reading at that point, for the rest of the promise would come after He was crucified, rose from the dead and ascended to His throne in heaven:

"And the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."

"And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the foreigner shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, they shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs."

"For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, and will make with them an everlasting covenant. Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the posterity whom the Lord has blessed." Isaiah 61:2-9 (NKJV)