A commonly used quote is often (mistakenly) attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi – “Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary use words.” This article lays to rest the delusion that Francis said anything like that and actually demonstrates the bold preacher of truth that he was.
Here is a helpful excerpt from the article:
“Our man clearly spent a great deal of time using his words when he preached, ‘sometimes preaching in up to five villages a day, often outdoors. In the country, Francis often spoke from a bale of straw or a granary doorway. In town, he would climb on a box or up steps in a public building. He preached to . . . any who gathered to hear the strange but fiery little preacher from Assisi.’ He was sometimes so animated and passionate in his delivery that ‘his feet moved as if he were dancing.’
Duane Litfin, president emeritus of Wheaton College, recently addressed the trouble with this preach/practice dichotomy in an important article. Of preaching the Gospel in deed, he explains,
‘It’s simply impossible to preach the Gospel without words. The Gospel is inherently verbal, and preaching the Gospel is inherently verbal behavior.'”
Here is a better version of that quote:
- Preach the gospel as often as possible. It’s necessary to use words.
This is not to downplay the importance of walking what we talk or delivering our message with sincerity and compassion. But it is to clarify the fact that we have not done evangelism until we use words. One of my professors said the Gospel is like an umbrella – a super powerful one that can shelter people from the wrath of God. But for anyone to take hold of it, we need to pass them the handle by explaining the good news with clear and compelling words.
A pastor friend of mine likes to say that our lives adorn the Gospel but they cannot explain the Gospel. Only our words can do that. So let’s pray for opportunities to boldly and lovingly proclaim the truth of all that God has done for us in Christ. That is the only way to plant Gospel seeds and unleash the power of God’s Word to accomplish His life-changing work in the hearts and lives of people.
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16
“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” Romans 10:13-14