closely related to their culture. Culture mustalways be tested and judged by Scripture.Because men and women are God’screatures, some of their culture is rich inbeauty and goodness. Because they arefallen, all of it is tainted with sin and some of itis demonic. The gospel does not presupposethe superiority of any culture to another, butevaluates all cultures according to its owncriteria of truth and righteousness, and insistson moral absolutes in every culture. Missionshave, all too frequently, exported with thegospel an alien culture, and churches havesometimes been in bondage to culture ratherthan to Scripture. Christ’s evangelists musthumbly seek to empty themselves of all buttheir personal authenticity in order tobecome the servants of others, and churchesmust seek to transform and enrich culture, allfor the glory of God.

Mark 7:8,9,13; Genesis 4:21,22; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; Philippians 2:5-7; 2 Corinthians 4:5

EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP

We confess that we have sometimes pursuedchurch growth at the expense of churchdepth, and divorced evangelism fromChristian nurture. We also acknowledge thatsome of our missions have been too slow toequip and encourage national leaders toassume their rightful responsibilities. Yet weare committed to indigenous principles, andlong that every church will have nationalleaders who manifest a Christian style ofleadership in terms not of domination but ofservice. We recognize that there is a greatneed to improve theological education,especially for church leaders. In every nationand culture there should be an effectivetraining programme for pastors and laity indoctrine, discipleship, evangelism, nurtureand service. Such training programmes shouldnot rely on any stereotyped methodology butshould be developed by creative localinitiatives according to biblical standards.

Colossians 1:27,28; Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5,9;Mark 10:42-45; Ephesians 4:11,12

SPIRITUAL CONFLICT

We believe that we are engaged in constantspiritual warfare with the principalities and

powers of evil, who are seeking to overthrowthe Church and frustrate its task of worldevangelization. We know our need to equipourselves with God’s armour and to fight thisbattle with the spiritual weapons of truth andprayer. For we detect the activity of ourenemy, not only in false ideologies outside theChurch, but also inside it in false gospelswhich twist Scripture and put people in theplace of God. We need both watchfulness anddiscernment to safeguard the biblical gospel.We acknowledge that we ourselves are notimmune to worldliness of thought and action,that is, to a surrender to secularism. Forexample, although careful studies of churchgrowth, both numerical and spiritual, are rightand valuable, we have sometimes neglectedthem. At other times, desirous to ensure aresponse to the gospel, we havecompromised our message, manipulated ourhearers through pressure techniques, andbecome unduly preoccupied with statistics oreven dishonest in our use of them. All this isworldly. The Church must be in the world;the world must not be in the Church.

Ephesians 6:12; 2 Corinthians 4:3,4; Ephesians 6:11,13-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; 1 John 2:18-26; 4:1-3; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 4:2; John 17:15

FREEDOM AND PERSECUTION

It is the God-appointed duty of everygovernment to secure conditions of peace,justice and liberty in which the Church mayobey God, serve the Lord Jesus Christ, andpreach the gospel without interference. Wetherefore pray for the leaders of nations andcall upon them to guarantee freedom ofthought and conscience, and freedom topractise and propagate religion in accordancewith the will of God and as set out in TheUniversal Declaration of Human Rights. Wealso express our deep concern for all whohave been unjustly imprisoned, and especiallyfor those who are suffering for their testimonyto the Lord Jesus. We promise to pray andwork for their freedom. At the same time werefuse to be intimidated by their fate. Godhelping us, we too will seek to stand againstinjustice and to remain faithful to the gospel,whatever the cost. We do not forget thewarnings of Jesus that persecution is inevitable.

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some of ourmissions have

been too slow toequip and

encouragenational leaders

1 Timothy 1:1-4; Acts 4:19; 5:29; Colossians3:24; Hebrews 13:1-3; Luke 4:18; Galatians 5:11; 6:12; Matthew 5:10-12; John 15:18-21

THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit.The Father sent his Spirit to bear witness to hisSon; without his witness ours is futile.Conviction of sin, faith in Christ, new birth andChristian growth are all his work. Further, theHoly Spirit is a missionary spirit; thusevangelism should arise spontaneously from aSpirit-filled church. A church that is not amissionary church is contradicting itself andquenching the Spirit. Worldwide evangelizationwill become a realistic possibility only when theSpirit renews the Church in truth and wisdom,faith, holiness, love and power. We thereforecall upon all Christians to pray for such avisitation of the sovereign Spirit of God that allhis fruit may appear in all his people and that allhis gifts may enrich the body of Christ. Onlythen will the whole Church become a fitinstrument in his hands, that the whole earthmay hear his voice.

1 Corinthians 2:4; John 15:26;27; 16:8-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3; John 3:6-8; 2 Corinthians3:18; John 7:37-39; 1 Thessalonians 5:19;Acts 1:8; Psalm 85:4-7; 67:1-3; Galatians 5:22,23; 1 Corinthians 12:4-31;Romans 12:3-8

THE RETURN OF CHRIST

We believe that Jesus Christ will returnpersonally and visibly, in power and glory, to

consummate his salvation and his judgment.This promise of his coming is a further spur toour evangelism, for we remember his wordsthat the gospel must first be preached to allnations. We believe that the interim periodbetween Christ’s ascension and return is tobe filled with the mission of the people ofGod, who have no liberty to stop before theend. We also remember his warning that falseChrists and false prophets will arise asprecursors of the final Antichrist. Wetherefore reject as a proud, self-confidentdream the notion that people can ever build autopia on earth. Our Christian confidence isthat God will perfect his kingdom, and welook forward with eager anticipation to thatday, and to the new heaven and earth inwhich righteousness will dwell and God willreign forever. Meanwhile, we re-dedicateourselves to the service of Christ and ofpeople in joyful submission to his authorityover the whole of our lives.

Mark 14:62; Hebrews 9:28; Mark 13:10; Acts 1:8-11; Matthew 28:20; Mark 13:21-23;John 2:18; 4:1-3; Luke 12:32; Revelation 21:1-5; 2 Peter 3:13; Matthew 28:18

CONCLUSION

Therefore, in the light of this our faith and ourresolve, we enter into a solemn covenantwith God and with each other, to pray, toplan and to work together for theevangelization of the whole world. We callupon others to join us. May God help us byhis grace, and for his glory, to be faithful tothis our covenant! Amen, Alleluia!

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Cape Town 2010: The Third Lausanne Congress PO Box 2001 Cape Town 8000 South AfricaCongress Director’s Office PO Box 24104 Minneapolis MN 55424 USAinfo@lausanne.org

For the Lord we Love: Your study guide to The Lausanne Covenant by John Stott

ISBN 978-1-906890-00-1 The Didasko Files series

The Lausanne Covenant is a covenant with one another, as brothers and sisters in Christ,and a covenant with God himself. John Stott’s study guide, with questions for eachsection, helps church members to study it – on their own or in groups. There is a spaceto sign the Covenant here, for those who want to make it their personal commitment.

Available from Christian bookstores, or in bulk from distributors globally (seewww.lausanne.org for details).

the Holy Spirit is a missionary

spirit; evangelismshould arise

spontaneouslyfrom a Spirit-filled church

INTRODUCTION

We, members of the Church of Jesus Christ,from more than 150 nations, participants inthe International Congress on WorldEvangelization at Lausanne, praise God for hisgreat salvation and rejoice in the fellowship hehas given us with himself and with each other.We are deeply stirred by what God is doing inour day, moved to penitence by our failuresand challenged by the unfinished task ofevangelization. We believe the gospel is God’sgood news for the whole world, and we aredetermined by his grace to obey Christ’scommission to proclaim it to all mankind andto make disciples of every nation. We desire,therefore, to affirm our faith and our resolve,and to make public our covenant.

THE PURPOSE OF GOD

We affirm our belief in the one eternal God,Creator and Lord of the world, Father, Sonand Holy Spirit, who governs all thingsaccording to the purpose of his will. He hasbeen calling out from the world a people forhimself, and sending his people back into theworld to be his servants and his witnesses, forthe extension of his kingdom, the building up

of Christ’s body, and the glory of his name.We confess with shame that we have oftendenied our calling and failed in our mission,by becoming conformed to the world or bywithdrawing from it. Yet we rejoice that, evenwhen borne by earthen vessels, the gospel isstill a precious treasure. To the task of makingthat treasure known in the power of the HolySpirit we desire to dedicate ourselves anew.

Isaiah 40:28; Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 1:11;Acts 15:14; John 17:6, 18; Ephesians 4:12; 1 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 4:7

THE AUTHORITY AND POWEROF THE BIBLE

We affirm the divine inspiration, truthfulnessand authority of both Old and NewTestament scriptures in their entirety as theonly written word of God, without error in allthat it affirms, and the only infallible rule offaith and practice. We also affirm the powerof God’s word to accomplish his purpose ofsalvation. The message of the Bible isaddressed to all men and women. For God’srevelation in Christ and in Scripture isunchangeable. Through it the Holy Spirit still

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www.lausanne.org

IN COLLABORATION WITH THE WORLD EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE

THE LAUSANNE COVENANTThe Lausanne Covenant grew out of the 1974 Congress on WorldEvangelization, held in Lausanne, Switzerland. John Stott, the Britishpastor theologian, chaired the drafting committee and is best described asits chief architect. The text appears here in its original form, with scripturequotations echoing the Revised Standard Version of the Bible (RSV).

The Covenant defines what it means to be evangelical – to have Scriptureas our final authority in what we believe and in how we behave; it hasbecome one of the most widely used documents in modern church history.

speaks today. He illumines the minds ofGod’s people in every culture to perceive itstruth freshly through their own eyes and thusdiscloses to the whole Church ever more ofthe many-coloured wisdom of God.

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; John 10:35;Isaiah 55:11; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Romans 1:16; Matthew 5:17,18; Jude 3;Ephesians 1:17,18; 3:10,18

THE UNIQUENESS ANDUNIVERSALITY OF CHRIST

We affirm that there is only one Saviour andonly one gospel, although there is a widediversity of evangelistic approaches. Werecognize that everyone has someknowledge of God through his generalrevelation in nature. But we deny that this cansave, for people suppress the truth by theirunrighteousness. We also reject asderogatory to Christ and the gospel everykind of syncretism and dialogue which impliesthat Christ speaks equally through all religionsand ideologies. Jesus Christ, being himself theonly God-Man, who gave himself as the onlyransom for sinners, is the only mediatorbetween God and people. There is no othername by which we must be saved. All menand women are perishing because of sin, butGod loves everyone, not wishing that anyshould perish but that all should repent. Yetthose who reject Christ repudiate the joy ofsalvation and condemn themselves to eternalseparation from God. To proclaim Jesus as‘the Saviour of the world’ is not to affirm thatall people are either automatically orultimately saved, still less to affirm that allreligions offer salvation in Christ. Rather it isto proclaim God’s love for a world of sinners

and to invite everyone to respond to him asSaviour and Lord in the wholeheartedpersonal commitment of repentance andfaith. Jesus Christ has been exalted aboveevery other name; we long for the day whenevery knee shall bow to him and everytongue shall confess him Lord.

Galatians 1:6-9; Romans 1:18-32; l Timothy2:5,6; Acts 4:12; John 3:16-19; 2 Peter 3:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; John 4:42; Matthew11:28; Ephesians 1:20,21; Philippians 2:9-11

THE NATURE OF EVANGELISM

To evangelize is to spread the good news thatJesus Christ died for our sins and was raisedfrom the dead according to the Scriptures,and that, as the reigning Lord, he now offersthe forgiveness of sins and the liberating giftsof the Spirit to all who repent and believe.Our Christian presence in the world isindispensable to evangelism, and so is thatkind of dialogue whose purpose is to listensensitively in order to understand. Butevangelism itself is the proclamation of thehistorical, biblical Christ as Saviour and Lord,with a view to persuading people to come tohim personally and so be reconciled to God.In issuing the gospel invitation we have no

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On 24 July 1974, the last full day of the Congress, Billy Graham and

Bishop Jack Dain (Anglican Bishop of Sydney, Australia, and Honorary

Executive Chairman) signed The Lausanne Covenant publicly. Others

were invited to do so privately – but first to take time to reflect on each

section, and to search their hearts before the Lord. To make such a

covenant with God is a solemn matter.*

evangelism itself is the

proclamation ofthe historical,

biblical Christ asSaviour and Lord

* John Stott gave a fascinating presentation a few minutes before this photograph wastaken, describing how the Covenant’s final form was reached. To listen, go towww.lausanne.org/1974audio You will find other key addresses here too. Then clickthrough to a range of video and print archives from that historic gathering of Christianleaders from 150 nations. Enjoy!

liberty to conceal the cost of discipleship.Jesus still calls all who would follow him todeny themselves, take up their cross, andidentify themselves with his new community.The results of evangelism include obedienceto Christ, incorporation into his Church andresponsible service in the world.

1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Acts 2: 32-39; John 20:21; 1 Corinthians 1:23; 2 Corinthians4:5; 5:11,20; Luke 14:25-33; Mark 8:34; Acts 2:40,47; Mark 10:43-45

CHRISTIAN SOCIALRESPONSIBILITY

We affirm that God is both the Creator andthe Judge of all men. We therefore shouldshare his concern for justice and reconciliationthroughout human society and for theliberation of men and women from everykind of oppression. Because men and womenare made in the image of God, every person,regardless of race, religion, colour, culture,class, sex or age, has an intrinsic dignitybecause of which he or she should berespected and served, not exploited. Heretoo we express penitence both for ourneglect and for having sometimes regardedevangelism and social concern as mutually

exclusive. Although reconciliation with otherpeople is not reconciliation with God, nor issocial action evangelism, nor is politicalliberation salvation, nevertheless we affirmthat evangelism and socio-politicalinvolvement are both part of our Christianduty. For both are necessary expressions ofour doctrines of God and Man, our love forour neighbour and our obedience to JesusChrist. The message of salvation implies alsoa message of judgment upon every form ofalienation, oppression and discrimination, andwe should not be afraid to denounce evil andinjustice wherever they exist. When peoplereceive Christ they are born again into hiskingdom and must seek not only to exhibitbut also to spread its righteousness in themidst of an unrighteous world. The salvationwe claim should be transforming us in thetotality of our personal and socialresponsibilities. Faith without works is dead.

Acts 17:26,31; Genesis 18:25; Isaiah 1:17;Psalm 45:7; Genesis 1:26,27; James 3:9;Leviticus 19:18; Luke 6:27,35; James 2:14-26;John 3:3,5; Matthew 5:20; 6:33; 2 Corinthians 3:18; James 2:20

THE CHURCH ANDEVANGELISM

We affirm that Christ sends his redeemedpeople into the world as the Father sent him,and that this calls for a similar deep and costlypenetration of the world. We need to breakout of our ecclesiastical ghettos and permeatenon-Christian society. In the Church’s missionof sacrificial service, evangelism is primary.World evangelization requires the wholeChurch to take the whole gospel to the wholeworld. The Church is at the very centre ofGod’s cosmic purpose and is his appointedmeans of spreading the gospel. But a churchwhich preaches the cross must itself bemarked by the cross. It becomes a stumblingblock to evangelism when it betrays thegospel or lacks a living faith in God, a genuinelove for people, or scrupulous honesty in allthings including promotion and finance. Thechurch is the community of God’s peoplerather than an institution, and must not beidentified with any particular culture, social orpolitical system, or human ideology.

John 17:18; 20:21; Matthew 28:19,20;

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a church whichpreaches the

cross must itselfbe marked by

the cross

Acts 1:8; 20:27; Ephesians 1:9,10; 3:9-11;Galatians 6:14,17; 2 Corinthians 6:3,4; 2 Timothy 2:19-21; Philippians 1:27

CO-OPERATION INEVANGELISM

We affirm that the Church’s visible unity intruth is God’s purpose. Evangelism alsosummons us to unity, because our onenessstrengthens our witness, just as our disunityundermines our gospel of reconciliation. Werecognize, however, that organizational unitymay take many forms and does notnecessarily advance evangelism. Yet we whoshare the same biblical faith should be closelyunited in fellowship, work and witness. Weconfess that our testimony has sometimesbeen marred by a sinful individualism andneedless duplication. We pledge ourselves toseek a deeper unity in truth, worship,holiness and mission. We urge thedevelopment of regional and functional co-operation for the furtherance of theChurch’s mission, for strategic planning, formutual encouragement, and for the sharing of resources and experience.

John 17:21,23; Ephesians 4:3,4; John 13:35;Philippians 1:27; John 17:11-23

CHURCHES IN EVANGELISTICPARTNERSHIP

We rejoice that a new missionary era hasdawned. The dominant role of Westernmissions is fast disappearing. God is raising upfrom the younger churches a great newresource for world evangelization, and is thusdemonstrating that the responsibility toevangelize belongs to the whole body ofChrist. All churches should therefore beasking God and themselves what they shouldbe doing both to reach their own area and tosend missionaries to other parts of the world.A re-evaluation of our missionaryresponsibility and role should be continuous.Thus a growing partnership of churches willdevelop and the universal character ofChrist's Church will be more clearlyexhibited. We also thank God for agencieswhich labour in Bible translation, theologicaleducation, the mass media, Christianliterature, evangelism, missions, churchrenewal and other specialist fields. They too

should engage in constant self-examination toevaluate their effectiveness as part of theChurch’s mission.

Romans 1:8; Philippians 1:5; 4:15; Acts 13:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8

THE URGENCY OF THEEVANGELISTIC TASK

More than 2,700 million people, which ismore than two-thirds of all humanity, haveyet to be evangelized.** We are ashamedthat so many have been neglected; it is astanding rebuke to us and to the wholeChurch. There is now, however, in manyparts of the world, an unprecedentedreceptivity to the Lord Jesus Christ. We areconvinced that this is the time for churchesand para-church agencies to pray earnestlyfor the salvation of the unreached and tolaunch new efforts to achieve worldevangelization. A reduction of foreignmissionaries and money in an evangelizedcountry may sometimes be necessary tofacilitate the national church’s growth in self-reliance and to release resources forunevangelized areas. Missionaries should flowever more freely from and to all continents ina spirit of humble service. The goal shouldbe, by all available means and at the earliestpossible time, that every person will have theopportunity to hear, to understand, and toreceive the good news. We cannot hope toattain this goal without sacrifice. All of us areshocked by the poverty of millions anddisturbed by the injustices which cause it.Those of us who live in affluent circumstancesaccept our duty to develop a simple life-stylein order to contribute more generously toboth relief and evangelism.

John 9:4; Matthew 9:35-38; Romans 9:1-3; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; Mark 16:15; Isaiah 58:6,7; James 1:27; 2:1-9; Matthew 25:31-46; Acts 2:44,45; 4:34,35

EVANGELISM AND CULTURE

The development of strategies for worldevangelization calls for imaginative pioneeringmethods. Under God, the result will be therise of churches deeply rooted in Christ and

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God is raising upfrom the youngerchurches a great

new resource for world

evangelization

**Now 40% of the world's population live in societies with noknown Christians, or with only a tiny minority of believers.(Joshua Project: 2.72 billion with 0-2% evangelicals)