Recently, at our national convention, messengers voted that Southern Baptist churches, if they prefer, may begin using the name “Great Commission Baptists.” This new name places the emphasis on vocation rather than location. The change expands our borders in a way that does not confine the average person’s notion of who we are. It tells them who we are according to the New Testament. Our faith is grounded in Christ’s words to “go into all the world -“
So be prepared to answer the question when someone unfamiliar with the gospel asks, “What does ‘Great Commission’ mean?” For those of us who have been in and around the church most of our lives, this may be a phrase we take for granted and think everyone knows. Something as simple as changing our name may actually open more opportunities to share the gospel. The Great Commission opens wide the way to share why we believe in and worship Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
I cannot think of a more appropriate way to begin a conversation about our faith in Christ. The Great Commission is who we are and what we believe, and to the world it is the answer to its deepest need. The name is our charge, our duty and responsibility before God; we must live our name and answer for our name. This name change was more than symbolic; it is our commitment to Christ. Changing our name means we will be held accountable for it.
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