Credibility is the quality of being trusted, believed in, or accepted as true and honest. It measures how reliable an information source, person, or organisation appears to others. Clearly, credibility is a vital ingredient of effective outreach. The more credible a person is perceived to be, the more others are likely to believe them, trust them, and follow their advice. Albert Bandura’s social learning theory (1977) showed that people imitate credible role models whose lives visibly embody the message they proclaim. The apostle Paul encouraged others to imitate him, not because he was a narcissist (which he was not), but because he wanted them to learn and grow in their faith. He knew that what he represented was credible, and that if others copied it, they would be blessed and the kingdom of God would advance. It is good to ask ourselves whether we are giving people enough information for them to copy us. If no one knows what you stand for, you have not begun to evangelise.
