Evangelastic: When Exaggeration Undermines the Gospel
Let’s be honest. Many ministries under the banner of “evangelical” Christianity are guilty of a subtle but dangerous habit: “evangelastic” storytelling—the tendency to stretch or inflate numbers, outcomes, and spiritual wins in order to sound more faithful or fruitful than we really are.
We’ve all heard it (and maybe even done it):
“Thousands came to Christ…”
“A massive move of God…”
“Countless lives changed…”
But if these reports were consistently accurate, we would be seeing a sweeping surge into churches, baptisms, and transformed communities. Yet, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Church attendance is declining. The credibility of Christian witness is waning. The fruit doesn’t match the reports.
The Problem with Punching Up
Why do we feel the need to exaggerate?
At the root, it’s insecurity. We fear that quiet faithfulness won’t look impressive. That real discipleship takes too long to measure. That simple acts of love and service won’t get attention or funding. So we bend the truth slightly—rounding up our impact, giving stories a bit more flair, padding our ministry stats.
But here’s what’s really happening:
•We erode trust—in our ministries, in each other, and in the Church as a whole.
•We discourage real laborers—who are working faithfully and slowly in hard soil.
•We disconnect from the way of Jesus—who avoided hype and chose humility.
The Way Forward: Reclaiming Integrity in Evangelism
So how do we fix the evangelastic impulse and become more effective, honest witnesses to the world?
Here are practical recommendations:
1. Tell the Truth—Even When It’s Small
Faithfulness isn’t always flashy. Share real numbers. Say, “We prayed with three people today,” or “One person seemed truly moved.” Let God’s Spirit give the increase—and resist the urge to market what hasn’t actually happened.
2. Celebrate Seeds, Not Just Harvests
The majority of ministry is seed-planting. Jesus told parables about hidden growth, small beginnings, and long processes. Let’s reframe success around obedience, not outcomes. Highlight the effort, not just the results.
3. Create a Culture of Honest Wins
Leaders set the tone. Make it normal and honorable in your ministry to say, “We didn’t see big numbers, but we loved people well.” When leaders tell honest stories, it gives everyone else permission to do the same.
4. Resist Ministry as Performance
The world is watching—and what it needs to see is authenticity, not theatrics. Our goal isn’t applause, it’s transformation. Drop the smoke-and-mirrors approach to ministry. Stop measuring your worth in metrics.
5. Invite Accountability
Regularly review your ministry reports, testimonials, and language with others you trust. Ask: “Are we overstating anything here?” Accountability protects our witness.
6. Redefine Fruitfulness
Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruit.” But the fruit He meant was love, joy, peace, patience—not attendance spikes and viral videos. Let’s pursue the fruits of the Spirit over the fruits of success.
Final Thought: Humility Is Our Greatest Power
We are living in a skeptical, post-Christian culture. The world is not impressed by numbers—it’s craving realness. The more we inflate our impact, the more we disqualify ourselves from being taken seriously, by both our benefactors and the watching world.
Jesus doesn’t need hype. He needs people willing to tell the truth, love deeply, serve quietly, and trust Him with the results. Do that and you will put a dent in the world.
<a href=”https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/luck”>Luck Stock photos by Vecteezy</a>
