It is dangerous to generalize an incidental aspect of an interaction into a general rule. In other words, the Great Commission is a direct command, and thus takes precedence.
I'm reminded of the sermon I heard about the demoniac fortune teller that followed Paul around, declaring that he, "knew the way to God." The same problem you bring up was happening, no one was paying attention to Paul, it all was about this amazing fortune teller and how she was the possessor of some amazing secret. It also makes sense why Jesus told all the demons proclaiming they knew He was the Son of God to shut up. Again, all the attention was on the ones that knew the special secret - not the One they were pointing to. Gives me pause wondering how, in our present day, we get caught up focusing on the celebrity messenger and forget the One they're supposed to be pointing to. Or, how many times we excuse the messenger for all their failings because we tell ourselves, "Hey, the message is getting out. Who cares about the source?" Sometimes we do God the greatest service when we just shut up and seek to quietly follow.
It is dangerous to generalize an incidental aspect of an interaction into a general rule. In other words, the Great Commission is a direct command, and thus takes precedence.
Mark, this is so worth pondering. Wise words and a new way to think about the truth of the gospel.
I'm reminded of the sermon I heard about the demoniac fortune teller that followed Paul around, declaring that he, "knew the way to God." The same problem you bring up was happening, no one was paying attention to Paul, it all was about this amazing fortune teller and how she was the possessor of some amazing secret. It also makes sense why Jesus told all the demons proclaiming they knew He was the Son of God to shut up. Again, all the attention was on the ones that knew the special secret - not the One they were pointing to. Gives me pause wondering how, in our present day, we get caught up focusing on the celebrity messenger and forget the One they're supposed to be pointing to. Or, how many times we excuse the messenger for all their failings because we tell ourselves, "Hey, the message is getting out. Who cares about the source?" Sometimes we do God the greatest service when we just shut up and seek to quietly follow.