Evangelism and Culture

Today’s reading is Section 10 of the Lausanne Covenant - Evangelism and Culture. Read Section 10 here.

The development of strategies for world evangelization calls for imaginative pioneering methods. Under God, the result will be the rise of churches deeply rooted in Christ and closely related to their culture. Culture must always be tested and judged by Scripture. Because men and women are God’s creatures, some of their culture is rich in beauty and goodness. Because they are fallen, all of it is tainted with sin and some of it is demonic. The gospel does not presuppose the superiority of any culture to another, but evaluates all cultures according to its own criteria of truth and righteousness, and insists on moral absolutes in every culture. Missions have, all too frequently, exported with the gospel an alien culture, and churches have sometimes been in bondage to culture rather than to Scripture. Christ’s evangelists must humbly seek to empty themselves of all but their personal authenticity in order to become the servants of others, and churches must seek to transform and enrich culture, all for the glory of God.

Culture

Culture is like a tapestry—woven from a people’s beliefs, customs, and traditions—that shapes identity and community. Because each of us is deeply shaped by our culture, it is difficult to stand back and evaluate it through a Christian lens. Yet if Jesus is Lord of all, that includes our cultural heritage.

Churches must be oriented toward both Christ and culture, testing all culture (the product of human society) by Scripture (the product of divine revelation). Jesus taught that God’s Word outweighs human traditions (Mark 7:8-9, 13). So all culture must be tested.

Culture reflects human dignity as God’s image-bearers, but also human fallenness, so it contains both beauty and brokenness. While some aspects—art, music, creativity—honour God’s design, others are corrupted by sin or even inspired by darkness.

The gospel affirms what is good, rejects idolatry, resists oppression, and insists on God’s moral absolutes. Human customs are relative; God’s moral law is not (Revelation 21:26-27).

Historically, cross-cultural missions have sometimes imposed foreign culture as if it were the gospel. Paul modelled a different way, adapting to the culture he served (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Churches should avoid both over-submission and over-rejection of local culture, instead creating expressions of worship, art, and witness in their own idiom—while seeking to influence culture for God’s glory. Following Christ’s humility (Philippians 2:5-7), we lay down privileges to serve others (2 Corinthians 4:5).

Reflection:

Are you willing to lay aside your own cultural preferences so that the gospel can be clearly heard?

Prayer:

Lord, help me humbly serve across cultures, honouring what is good and holding fast to your truth.