Confronting Deficient Concepts of the Gospel: Lausanne Theology Discussion (1 of 7)

By Cody C. Lorance Topic: Evangelism TrainingKeywords: ,

Question #1- How do we effectively challenge deficient definitions/explanations of the Gospel which are often so deeply embedded in the hearts and minds of individual Christians and even built into the infrastructures of denominations and mission agencies?

———-

“The Whole Church Taking the Whole Gospel to the Whole World: Reflections of the Lausanne Theology Working Group” (full version) 

1. Regarding the “Whole Gospel”

For me, this first section of this paper was the most helpful (out of three extremely helpful sections), because it did the difficult work of providing a broad Biblical answer to the question, “What is the Gospel?”  The insight that the term “gospel” (Gk. εὐαγγέλιον) often means at least slightly different things at different times in Scripture is invaluable. If we are to give a full answer to the question, “What is the Gospel?”, we must pay attention to and adequately represent all of these nuances. When the Bible as a whole is enabled to answer this question, we find the following (which I’ve reworded from the LTWG paper):

  • The Gospel is the story of Jesus Christ in whole Biblical context.
  • The Gospel is the reality of the new, reconciled humanity manifest in the existence of the Church.
  • The Gospel is the saving message of Christ’s death and resurrection and all God accomplished in that.
  • The Gospel is the fact that we can be changed, transformed by the power of God.
  • The Gospel is the proclamation of truth and the exposure of evil.
  • The Gospel is that God is as He is.

While it is true that these six answers are quite overlapping, they nevertheless each highlight an important dimension of the gospel which much not be neglected.  Oh that God would permit that this broader and more Biblical definition of the Gospel overwhelm the Church and overtake the all-too-popular and dangerously narrow simplifications of the good news!

Question #1- How do we effectively challenge deficient definitions/explanations of the Gospel which are often so deeply embedded in the hearts and minds of individual Christians and even built into the infrastructures of denominations and mission agencies? (for example – “word of faith” or “prosperity” gospels, or the overemphasis on making converts at the expense of true discipleship)