Preach the Gospel…with WORDS!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, a little history first. A long time ago, in a place far far away, lived a man named Francis of Assisi (1182-1286). He became the founder of the Franciscan Monks – but I think he got special consideration because his name was Francis and the monks were Franciscan monks (politics!)

Seriously though, most people know very little about this man… but most of today’s professing Christians know one thing about him. They know he said “Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary use words.” Now, they may not know Francis of Assisi said it, but they know someone said it. It becomes their shield of sorts. This quote probably created “Lifestyle Evangelism.” This quote gives them license, so they feel, to not actually SPEAK about Jesus – they just just smile and say “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!” They say that they are going to “live out” the gospel in front of people. All this is defended with “Francis of Assisi said ‘Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary use words!” But there’s a couple things you should know…

The first thing is: HE NEVER SAID IT!!!!!!!!!!! Ever. Nope, he didn’t. It’s a Christian version of an “Urban Legend.” This quote is not found in ANY of Francis’ writings – I can’t find anyone even attributing it to him until the last 50-60 years (maybe someone attributed it to him earlier, but I can’t find it – and I did look). This fact is becoming more and more known these days – so much so that now people are starting to attribute this quote to other people! Ya see, this quote has become a precious little hiding place for people who don’t WANT to preach the gospel.

The next thing is: THE QUOTE DOESN’T MAKE SENSE!! It’s actually kind of silly. The thinking goes like this, Christians think if they will just be nice and live good lives, then people will… well, Christians can never seem to articulate the next step very well. I suppose some think that if they are nice, other people will just “become” Christians – others may think that if they are nice, people will ask about Christianity, other think that if they are nice, people will want to become Christians, other may think… well who knows what they think. First, I have met many nice Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims, Hindu’s and I have even met nice atheists! They live nice, kind, quiet and (from a human standpoint) moral lives. So now what do we do? Next, answer me this: How many times has someone, unprompted, asked you about “why you are so nice?” I would guess it’s NEVER happened to you, but on the off chance it has, compare the number of times it happened verses the amount of people you have met in your life… Chances are, most people just think you are a nice person, which is good… but it aint the gospel! What IS the gospel?

“Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1Co 15:1-4)

So that’s the gospel. Anyone want to try to explain how being nice and kind will somehow tell someone that Jesus died for their sins and rose from the dead? Remember, the quote in question implies that you can get this message across WITHOUT words. Now, if you want to say that the gospel is about feeding the poor – then, yeah, words quickly become unneeded. But remember, Jesus actually only did this a few times – and even when He did, it was ACCOMPANIED WITH PREACHING – WORDS! The apostles in the book of Acts fed the poor that were IN THE CHURCH, that is professing Christians… and if you read the Epistles, those that were in the Church also had the gospel preached to them. Feeding the poor is NOT preaching the gospel.  If you want to say that the gospel is about taking care of the sick, I would point out: “And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.” (Luk 9:6) Notice there are TWO SEPARATE ACTIONS – and healing is listed as a separate action! Taking care of the sick is NOT preaching the gospel. I maintain that preaching the gospel is IMPOSSIBLE without words! Your lifestyle IS important, but its more along the lines of supporting your message and giving you the CHANCE to preach the gospel – WITH WORDS!!

Finally, THE QUOTE IS UNBIBLICAL. We have seen that the gospel is NOT feeding the poor, it’s NOT taking care of the sick. It’s preaching:

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (2Ti 4:2)

I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD. (Psa 40:9)

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Mat 4:17)

but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (1Pe 1:25)

but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, (1Co 1:23)

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. (2Co 4:5)

--I gotta thank Mark Cahill for the legwork on those verses… speaking of Mark Cahill, he says (and he ACTUALLY said it!) “Funny thing is, that in the Bible, preaching actually means talking with someone. It means parting our lips, opening up our mouths, and speaking forth truth.” (Mark Cahill did a GREAT job of dealing with this very topic here: http://missionaryroad.wordpress.com/2006/01/22/should-we-preach/)

So enough with the Francis of Assisi quote, enough with the “lifestyle evangelism” – get up, get out and share your faith… and in the words of Mark Cahill - “Where are YOU preaching today?”

Thanks for readin!

Rob