Perspective #84
Two Great Commissions?
Greetings.
Today I am writing about a new topic. It’s based on the old idea that ‘the church has failed’ and that the only way to serve effectively today is through the government. That may sound strange, but it is an Enlightenment idea that is about 200 years old. It explains some difficult-to-understand aspects of political activism, ideology, state overconfidence, and even bizarre states, such as in Latin America, which have been in the news lately.
This almost utopian confidence in the state leads people to live their lives to serve it, as we see in the news. If that puzzles you, as it puzzles me, then read on. My suggestion is to read it slowly. I searched for the name I gave to the ‘other great commission,’ and it’s the first time I’ve stumped Google.
I see this Perspective as the first in a series of essays on new topics for the new year.
Thanks for reading.
Blessings,
John
As the church lost its relevance, Enlightenment thinkers noted that history, exemplified by the American and, especially, the French Revolutions, was driven by a force entirely independent of divine providence. They came to recognize that life is shaped by history and driven by the zeitgeist (spirit of the times and by men like Napoleon), a term coined by the German philosopher Friedrich Hegel in the early 1800s.
He advocated for the Enlightenment’s vision of the nation-state, emphasizing that it was time—actually, past time—to abandon control by powerful European monarchies and churches, whose divisive and harmful theology had become irrelevant. Alongside John Locke, he saw history emerging as the new and significant means of serving the people under enlightened political leadership — a remarkable shift in the West.
The new nation-state was supposed to serve individuals and protect liberty. Over time, however, the secular state’s emphasis on service and protection has largely been forsaken in favor of a power-oriented approach that embodies the common good and pursues utopian ideals. This approach is characterized by increasingly unrestricted coercion, reminiscent of the darkest days of the church. I owe a debt to AI for helping to distill Hegel’s writings in a way that clarifies our current overreliance on the state.
“The state is not simply a tool for maintaining order, but rather the embodiment of the universal will, the rational-objective force that guides history and society,” Hegel stated,
Hegel believed that true freedom and purpose could be found through participation in the state, which he viewed as the “highest expression of ethical living.” He argued that “individuals attain true freedom not through abstract rights or individual autonomy but by engaging with the collective will.”
He famously described the state as the “March of God on earth,” emphasizing its role as “the highest expression of reason and ethical life.” Hegel differentiated between the state and civil society, viewing the state “as a higher, more rational sphere, while civil society was the realm of individual interests and particular needs.” He perceived the state “as a totality in which all parts are interconnected and interdependent, allowing individual freedom to be realized through participation in the state.”
While it is easy to recognize the rights, freedoms, and the concept of the “collective will” in Hegel’s vision of the nation-state, his ideas were later expanded by political leaders who sought to shape the world in their own image. The central role of the power-state is now taken for granted; we are expected to prioritize it.
This leads to what I term a “Secular Great Commission.” This new commission stands in stark contrast to the Great Commission of Jesus. We now face a choice about which commission to follow.
In the absence of a personal God to whom we could dedicate our efforts through the Great Commission of Jesus, this new commission urges individuals to strive for significance in their lives. While old familial and friendship ties may hold some value and personal meaning, they argue that our true significance lies in enacting the “universal will” through service to the state and active engagement in government. Why waste your life?
A genuine danger. The previous grassroots Great Commission to “go into the world and make disciples” is now regarded as obsolete and even delusional. Surprisingly, it is not uncommon for Christians across the political spectrum to yield allegiance to this secular great commission, and this presents a genuine danger.
Today, we witness Hegel’s ideals in individuals who might have once considered becoming pastors, priests, or missionaries but have since turned away from the church in favor of the power-state.
These individuals have become activists, some are deeply committed to a new secular religion of government and to a new Secular Great Commission, centered on political activism and political ideology. They argue that the kingdom of God is an illusion created by a failing church. They propose or have been deluded into thinking that a utopian, secular kingdom is attainable through state power.
As we observe the confident zeal and determination of political actors today, we see individuals dedicated to a Secular Great Commission. They believe that all injustices can and must be addressed and cured by the state with what they understand as compassion. If that requires laws and regulations enforced through coercion, they view that as the price of justice.
Is the state really “the March of God on earth?” Are any of us significantly committed to a Secular Great Commission? I hope not. Does this leave you with questions? Yes, it does. That’s why I’ll write more next time.