Christian Leadership Alliance

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The Gospel-Driven Organization

The "sweet, sweet song of salvation" is the Gospel, the message of "Jesus Christ and him crucified." It is the message Christian nonprofit organizations—their staff, board, and constituents—affirm. In many organizations propagating the Gospel is the entire mission. In others, whether the focus is relief, development, health, or public policy, witnessing to faith in Christ is nonetheless a priority.

Through the Gospel, God saved us when we first believed and began walking with Christ. Through the Gospel, God saves us today. It is not through great works of personal spiritual discipline that we turn from our sin and disordered love to grow in holiness; the Gospel is the power of God for change. And finally on the last day when all things are made new, our salvation from this world of sin, death, and decay will be the Gospel.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him [Jesus], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Col 1:19-20).

Thus it is no wonder that Paul went to Corinth with nothing else to talk about but "Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1Cor. 2:2). The Gospel is the center of Christian proclamation and of Christian living.

In light of that, during my career as a pastor and at several Christian nonprofits, I have asked myself: What does it mean for a Christian organization to be driven by the Gospel?

By that question, I do not mean a Gospel paragraph in the strategic plan. I mean something prior to plans, projects, and programs. Nor do I mean a naïve approach that says that all our problems in the world will be solved if only everyone comes to Jesus. After all, the salvation of members has not solved all the problems in our churches. Rather it is a question of where our hearts are; a question of how we do business, not of what business we do.

The Gospel should pervade Christian organizations in at least three ways.

1. Truth and Truth Telling

First, Gospel-driven organizations affirm that the Christian message is true — eternally and absolutely true. Nothing else can save us though there are plenty of ideas and ideologies lined up and claiming that they possess power to save us:

• Radical Islam
• Feminism
• Environmentalism
• Rewarmed, One-World Marxism
• Sexual "freedom"
• Materialism
• Politics
• Entertainment
• Moralism
• Any religious message that places an exclusive emphasis on the love of God while excluding or concealing any reference to the holiness of God and his judgment.

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