In church planting and replanting today, there is a dominant focus on effectively sowing the seeds of the Gospel within the core community. Unless the Gospel is sown, there can be no new disciples who eventually become multiplying leaders. The true Gospel bears fruit by the Spirit (Col. 1:6). Yet there seems to be a lack of visible fruit.
Could it be that there is an incongruence in Gospel witness today in our post-modern and pluralistic world, leading to incomplete results? This article explores several considerations and possible responses. But first, what does “incongruence” mean?
“Incongruence” is a noun that means a state of being out of place, incompatible or not in agreement.
The apostle Paul identified incongruence in the context of the Cretans in Titus 1:16 (CSB): “They claim to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.” The faith and practice that Paul highlighted were incongruent. Words unaccompanied by actions often yield limited results.
When considering the incongruence of Gospel witness, a few viewpoints should be noted. This article will address four reasons for incongruence and suggest responses. The focus is not on changing the core message but on adapting the contextual bridges for greater impact. Additionally, the integrity of the planter/messenger will be examined. The truth is that the Gospel is countercultural and inherently incongruent with today’s world. Proclaiming it requires wisdom and humility so that many may come to know Jesus Christ, the only hope of the world.
Reasons for Gospel Incongruence Today
1. The Gospel Lost in Translation
The Gospel of Jesus has, for many, been lost in translation. The rich vocabulary of the Christian faith has been misrepresented and altered in society. When sharing the Gospel, terms like “sin,” “salvation” and “grace” often require clarification. Paul states that the Gospel is the power of God for salvation for all who believe (Rom. 1:16). While the truth of the Gospel has not changed (1 Cor. 15:1-4), its connection to today’s audience often feels strained. A growing number of ‘nones’ — those who claim no religious affiliation — argue that they do not need salvation. For them, sin is a relative, personal judgment without eternal bearing. This disconnect underscores the need to contextualize Gospel terms. Paul’s approach in Acts 17 exemplifies this: he connected the concept of the “unknown god” to the truth of the Gospel, meeting his audience where they were. Similarly, when someone calls people to repent and believe in Jesus, they must first address why sin matters.
2. Traditions Overshadowing the Gospel
The church has often added traditions and cultural adaptations to the Gospel. Instead of proclaiming the Good News, Christians frequently invite people into their church culture, activities and ministries. The hope is that they will eventually understand the Gospel. However, this approach risks obscuring the message, as traditions can become barriers rather than bridges. This syncretism results in a confused mix of good principles rather than saving faith.
3. Integrity on Display
Planters/messengers of the Gospel can sometimes neglect to preach the Gospel to themselves daily. Their lives may lack the transformative grace they proclaim. Words that do not align with convictions create confusion. Broken marriages, families and abusive leaders within the church contradict the Gospel message, leaving the world questioning its authenticity. When a messenger’s life reflects the Gospel’s power, it strengthens their witness.
4. Consistent Gospel Sowing
Gospel clarity usually requires multiple encounters between the messenger and the lost. The challenge is that Christians may give up when a person does not respond favorably the first time. Informal surveys of missionaries and planters reveal that only 1 in 100 people respond to the Gospel the first time they hear it. Most of the missionaries heard the Gospel many times, in many settings, before responding to it. Paul’s missionary journeys demonstrate perseverance: he clarified the Gospel daily until his audience gave a clear “yes” or “no.” This persistence often led to persecution but bore fruit, nonetheless. Gospel impact will happen in our communities as the messengers persevere and do not look at one-time evangelism outreaches without follow up to solve the lack of favorable Gospel response.
Key Responses to Gospel Incongruence
1. Clear Messaging
Slick wording and programs are not the keys to effective Gospel sharing. Paul emphasized:
“I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.” (1 Cor. 2:3-5, CSB)
A clear and relevantly articulated message allows hearers to respond. Messengers must be Spirit-filled, relying on God’s power and using words and concepts that clarify the Gospel. A clear Gospel will lead to fruitfulness.
2. Confronting Distractions
In our Christian heritage and practice, there are many helpful practices and traditions that affirm our faith and proclaim the Gospel. The messenger must work to not allow traditions about Christianity and the Gospel to replace the essence of the Gospel. Two questions that can help in clearing distractions are:
What would a lost person value in the traditions that are practiced in the Christian faith, and how do they fully lead them to saving faith in Christ?
The role of the messenger is to remove the blinders over the eyes of the unbelievers (2 Cor. 4:4) and shine the light on Christ.
3. Daily Preaching to Oneself
Paul wrote, “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them — yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Cor. 15:10, CSB). Preaching the Gospel to oneself fosters humility and openness, creating a life that longs for Christ’s return. The messenger’s life will grow as they are invested in a growing church body where they experience authenticity and accountability in their walk with Christ. The Gospel mirror then can be raised up daily to encourage and challenge us to confess our sins, closely follow the Master, and give and receive grace from others from the foundation of faith.
4. Consistent Gospel Sowing
“How will they believe unless someone shares the good news?” (Rom. 10:14). Faithful and repeated sharing is essential. Peter and John’s bold declaration in Acts 4:12 — that salvation is found in no one else — reminds us of the urgency of Gospel proclamation. Messengers should persevere, sharing with humility and gentleness while pleading for the lost (1 Pet. 3:15). There is sacrifice in relationships and activities in the life of the messenger for there to be an intentional ongoing Gospel impact in the life of the lost. The rewards are eternal and worth the effort to persevere.
Several Encouraging Examples of Gospel Witness
A former drug dealer and homeless man in Seattle came to Christ after numerous Gospel encounters. Weekly, he heard the Gospel message in word and deed. When asked what made the Gospel real to him, he cited the hugs and care of believers who accepted him as he was. He experienced a church that embodied the Good News and stepped out of its walls and into the world’s brokenness on a regular basis.
A 22-member team of messengers planted the Gospel in a town in Oregon – a church was started in one weekend, leading dozens to Christ and baptizing them. Before the team left the town a couple from the group committed to stay and continue discipling and growing up leaders in the new church. The Gospel does bear fruit.
A missionary in a Muslim country shared the Gospel 2,900 times one on one with men in his town, resulting in one salvation and seven in Bible study. Some might be concerned that there was a lot of investment but little immediate fruit, yet that seed has continued and continued to grow into a church today. Faithfulness in lifting up the cross (John 12:32) allows Christ to draw people to Himself.
Conclusion
The Gospel does not return void (Isa. 55:11). Barriers to understanding must be addressed, and messengers must align their lives with the message. Paul’s example of becoming all things to all people (1 Cor. 9:22-23) challenges us to adapt our methods without altering the Gospel. May the Lord align His people with His Gospel message, bringing a greater harvest of Jesus followers in these days.
State Missionary Brian Harper serves as lead church planting strategist. He may be reached at 1-800-264-1225, ext. 2332, or 334-613-2332, [email protected].
