Maintaining theological clarity will help protect the Lausanne Movement from the Edinburgh Error, keeping evangelicals focused on the goal of world evangelization while navigating the complex realities of our modern world.
Looking Ahead: The Future of the Lausanne Movement
Knowing the history of the birth of the Lausanne Movement can help keep the movement on track. Lausanne was responding to the waning life and loss of purpose of the conciliar missions movement. The Christians in Edinburgh in 1910 believed many of the things that those who will gather in Seoul in 2024 believe. But, sadly, 1910 is considered the end of the great century of missions in the 19th century.
We have decisions to make. We have a view of the gospel to uphold. We have a passion for evangelism to keep front and center. We will need to remind ourselves of these things at L4. We want to see the whole church sharing the whole gospel to the whole world. We will need to prioritize the “traditional” missions emphasis on evangelism and church planting even as we adapt to the changing global landscape. I pray that 2024 will mark a beginning and not an ending for evangelical commitment to world evangelization.
Ultimately, the success of the Lausanne Movement will depend on its ability to mobilize the global church for the task of world evangelization. This will require a renewed commitment to the Great Commission and a clear vision for how to carry out that mission in the 21st century.
As we look ahead to the Lausanne Congress, pray that the movement will be faithful to its calling to make much of Jesus and faithfully follow him in his mission. The task is great, but our God is greater, and he has promised to build his church and to be with us always, even to the end of the age.
