The Church and Evangelism (Part 2)

Today’s reading is a continuation of Section 6 of the Lausanne Covenant - The Church and Evangelism. Read Here.

But a church which preaches the cross must itself be marked by the cross. It becomes a stumbling block to evangelism when it betrays the gospel or lacks a living faith in God, a genuine love for people, or scrupulous honesty in all things including promotion and finance. The church is the community of God’s people rather than an institution, and must not be identified with any particular culture, social or political system, or human ideology.

The Integrity of the Church

In the middle of Section 6 comes a necessary challenge—one that raises the question of the Church’s credibility. We may faithfully engage in evangelism, but will the world truly hear and believe our message? The answer depends on whether the Church retains its own integrity. To be heard, we must practise what we preach. Paul urges us to let our conduct be ‘worthy of the gospel’ (Philippians 1:27). This applies not only to our personal lives but also to the corporate witness of the Church. As God’s people, we are called to be a radically different community—marked by new priorities, a transformed view of wealth and possessions, a humble posture toward power, a Spirit-empowered witness, and an altogether new quality of love and care.

The cross must remain central to both our message and our lives. We preach ‘Christ crucified’ (1 Corinthians 1:23), and this demands that we live out the humility, self-denial, and self-giving that the cross represents. Without this, the very Church called to bring the gospel to the world can become an obstacle to the gospel being received (2 Corinthians 6:3).

Four potential ‘scandals’ (the Greek word for stumbling blocks) that may trip the Church up in fulfilling its mission and calling:

• Betraying the gospel by distorting its content
• Lacking a living faith in God by placing trust elsewhere
• Lacking a genuine love for people through indifference or neglect
• Lacking honesty in all things both inside and outside the Church

Because we bear God’s name, our lives and witness must reflect his truth and holiness. The credibility of our mission depends on the integrity of our message and the integrity of the people who proclaim it.

Reflection:

How can you contribute to your church’s witness truly reflecting the integrity of the gospel we proclaim?

Prayer:

Lord, purify my heart and our church, so that our lives match the message of your cross.