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Christianity Today, May (Web-only), 2009 |

Soulwork

Speak the Gospel

Use deeds when necessary.

Mark Galli | posted 5/21/2009 11:41AM

I've heard the quote once too often. It's time to set the record straight—about the quote, and about the gospel.

Francis of Assisi is said to have said, "Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, ...

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Alexander Douglas

Posted: June 03, 2009 3:28 PM


I just found an excellent response to this piece by a Canadian: http://www.missional.ca/?p=455

Paul	Posted: June 03, 2009 8:04 AM


No doubt we should preach the gospel in word and deed. The problem is that so many Christians have been conditioned to think that to "preach the gospel" means to inform people that if they don't accept Jesus as their savior they will burn in hell forever after they die, but if they do they'll go to heaven forever after they die.

Greg	Posted: June 02, 2009 11:12 PM

And so the Gospel remains yet another modern proposition. Sure, Jesus preached. Maybe we could take a look at what he told us to do. The nightly news gives us the facts of the day. The Kingdom of God, as it turns out, is more than a series of facts that we are to broadcast, and as someone else put it, "Facts, like the steamboat and wigs on men, are an invention of the eighteenth century." In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gave us a Kingdom social ethic to live by and to define the people of God - not more propositions. I'm with St. Francis on this one.

Brendt Waters

Posted: June 01, 2009 2:39 PM


"The problem is that he did not say it." Hmmm. I think it was 7th grade science class where I learned that it is impossible to prove a universal negative.

Rick Burress

Posted: May 31, 2009 6:10 AM


AMEN! This very topic has become almost a soap-box issue for me as well over the past 15 years. Just read ACTS, for heaven's sake! SPEAK BOLDLY! Way to go dear brother. Speak Truth.

H. D. Schmidt

Posted: May 30, 2009 12:58 PM

However, may I aks the following question to all Christians living in America: Why is it that as reported Christianity in general is loosing ground fast in America, while absolute freedom exist to preach the Gospel? In my book and the more the word abortion is heard everyday, when in reality there is absolutely no consensus as to this issue, no, not only within secular politics but between Christians. So here, let me suggest the following as the true underlier of all is nothing else but American Christians with the aid of contraceptions it has made God look not very intelligent for not providing such when he told Adam and Eve to procreate. The Christian modern marital bedroosm are becoming more and more no better than what goes on in houses of prostitutions. This with all due respect, while stating that American Christians practice procreation way below the animal kingdom and it being the single one gratest reason that Christianity is loosing ground and even affecting the world.

Tecumseh

Posted: May 28, 2009 3:01 PM


The original saying, regardless of the actual source, is clearly better than the suggested new alternative. It may have better served the author's purpose to expound upon the necessity of words for which the original saying takes account.

Tom	Posted: May 28, 2009 11:46 AM

Thank you, Mark Galli. I use to have this quote posted on the wall by my desk. I alternately loved it and was disturbed by it. I love the sentiment of living so great a life that people will just see Christ an desire Him. But I have spent most of my life preaching to the unconverted and challenging other Christians to do so. A life well lived, without the words of my testimony, will just make people think I'm a nice guy. It will rarely lead to their repentence. Words are necessary.

Glenn

Posted: May 28, 2009 10:55 AM


Thank you for an excellent article. Indeed, our deeds are important, but not at the expense of the preached message. Mr. Galli's column is a fine example of a biblically balanced and truly holistic explanation of the Good News.

Sherwood MacRae

Posted: May 28, 2009 9:32 AM

As I appoach my 80th birthday, my 35th year as a Christian, I find myself getting more and more tired by those who - apparently, would judge the hearts of their fellow believers and reduce such thoughts to print. As it is, I spent the first 45 years of my life - going to church, listening to words, but only on a few occasions experiencing the love of Christ, and when I first heard that "quote" from St. Francis, I hastened to memorize it and challenge myself to live by it. While it is true, we also need to experience the word of God, so that it is alive in our own lives, but when it comes from the lips of one who only claims to know the word, without it being apparent to the hearer, it quickly falls to the ground and is soon covered by the dust formed by everyday life. So, maybe St. Francis did not use these words, but history indicates he lived it. Otherwise, little would be known of his ministry to others.

W. Spiker

Posted: May 28, 2009 7:57 AM


Too ecumenical and too liberal at the price of scriptural integrity. You can keep it for your own self deceived egos.

Glenn

Posted: May 27, 2009 6:01 PM

Too often, that saying attributed to Francis gives people an excuse to live godly lives but never share the gospel with those around them. In Mark 16:16, Jesus said "Go into all the world and PREACH the gospel to every creature." Not "live" the gospel but "preach" it. So whose command takes priority, Christ's or Francis'? I'll preach WHILE I live it, not just now and then. Thanks for this article, Mark.

David B

Posted: May 27, 2009 2:07 PM

The Gospel is the good news of our sin being paid for by the atoning death of the God man Jesus Christ. This message cannot be communicated by deeds or actions, in fact Jesus commanded that the Gospel be preached.How do we communicate the gospel in a culture where people are resistant to what we have to say?” A question asked in Craig Ewoldt's post. We preach it in spite of how people receive it. Only the Holy Spirit can bring life. All of the aposle's except one were killed for the Gospel Matt.5: 11,12 Acts7:52Most people are to worried about being popular, and relevant. God's wrath and God's love need an equal of preaching.

Julie

Posted: May 27, 2009 12:30 PM


Let's make sure we are doing both, speaking and living. Nobody will listen if our lives don't reflect what we preach. Live in the power of the Holy Spirit and you will have the most powerful gospel preaching.

Rev. Z. Bartels

Posted: May 27, 2009 10:12 AM

"...someone wants to suggest that Christians talk about the gospel too much, and live the gospel too little.Fair enough—that can be a problem." I'm going to have disagree with the above statement. It can never be a problem when we "live the Gospel" to little. You CAN'T "live the Gospel." The Gospel is good NEWS; and must be PROCLAIMED. You can LIVE the LAW (what God requires of you), but you can't LIVE the GOSPEL (what God has done through Jesus Christ). It's already done. It's the old, old story. Sure, I'm splitting hairs, but the author means that we bear witness to the Gospel with our lives too little. We fall short of that sacred duty to be living epistles. But ultimately, if THE GOSPEL is to come to the fore, it must be by PROCLAMATION, not ~living~. All the same, great article. I think I'm going to re-start my print subscription. There's been too much really good stuff coming from CT lately to be without it. Soli Deo Gloria, Zachary www.pastorzach.com

Tesfatadelle

Posted: May 26, 2009 2:45 PM

It sure is a troubling conclusion, "Preach the gospel—use actions when necessary; use words always". The preaching of the gospel creates ambassodors and is preached by ambassadors of Christ. The first century Christians preached the gospel and enjoyed the favor of all the people. Such favors (light) are a product of more good works/actions and not of much words. When the people saw these Christians meeting together, "..they were highly regarded by the people". Acts 5:13. The Word preached without proof of holiness is as empty as any philosophy. Making such statements and applying them in real life is what has brought the Church to unfruitfulness.

Dennis

Posted: May 26, 2009 9:36 AM


Thanks for the much needed clarification.

Bill from Denver

Posted: May 24, 2009 7:17 PM


To: andytuckerhi linds arnold emily anders. HUH, say what?

andytuckerhi linds arnold emily anders

Posted: May 24, 2009 7:00 PM

making holy decisions but lucifer torments and tricks and plots most of the day.Also it looks like? in the usa the occult, white supremist, jailed sexual assaulters .foreign mobs,anti christ mobs centurions maybe forming to stop christianity.Gov must be lazy but i thinkwill not recognizebecause they like the occults beleifs.Scare tactics by all mobs.Tactics to takover businesses.It happned in IN areas?I think out east.Maybe groups in west.Soat least over 1000 persons ineach state using bully tactics.hostage tactics too.Which is tough.Most politicians are too uninformed.Not decent prisons to stop rages?Create christian righteous not fair security teams.A story about helping but was just a cover up to destroy and or kill oppositon.A groupcalled themselves secruity but some guys hated theneedy or victims.Some were drunks and theirrelatives were also violent assaulters.Thank you for. psa99:9-outside pray.when in doubt or choose total holiness!murphy,IL!?Enid!careful!em.anderson!lin arnold!

J.	Posted: May 24, 2009 11:29 AM

Larry is flat out wrong about Calvin. Calvin warned Servetus against coming to Geneva, and when he did and was arrested for teaching his unitarian heresy, Calvin asked him to repent. He also asked the Genevan City Council to execute Servetus in a more humane manner than burning, but they didn't listen. Calvin was a *witness* in the matter, not its author. Calvin wasn't even a *citizen* of Geneva, much less her tyrant. If Calvin was so quick to execute those who disagreed with him, I imagine it would have been quite easy for him to establish a city council who would allow him to celebrate the Lord's Supper on a weekly basis. Instead, he never won that battle. Ironic that bad history is being spread in a comment on an excellent article that is correcting other bad history!

Carl Franzon

Posted: May 24, 2009 8:58 AM

I wonder how many other "urban legends" are out there in Christianity - quotes and acts attributed to people that have no basis in historical fact. Maybe CT should devote a section of the website to Christian urban legends. Kristen - in this context, I am not seeing a big distinction between "if" and "when". I have seen it used both ways and in every case, the implication is that the gospel can be communicated without words. In any case. If it's unlikely Francis said it, we should probably stop using the quote.

Steve Skeete

Posted: May 24, 2009 8:26 AM

I agree wholeheartedly with Mark Galli: the Gospel must be "taught not caught". I am yet to here someone being accused of "preaching" with their lives. All kinds of people - the religious as well as the non-religious, are capable of "good deeds" and honest living, but none of that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Someone may conclude that you are "religious" or even "christian" because of your good deeds but that will not lead them to Jesus Christ or the God of the Gospel. In places where preaching or teaching the Gospel is dangerous or difficult the same is true; the gospel is propositional, it is particular truth which must be explained and not simply lived. I believe many like the "use words if necessary" philosophy because for them it takes the "offence" out of the gospel anpersonal witness. However the best apology for the Gospel is words, not deeds. We must overcome our fears and always be willing to give an answer to those who inquire about our hope in Jesus Christ.

Br. James-Aidan, FOCD

Posted: May 24, 2009 7:20 AM

I really appreciated Galli's article, however, we could easily miss the point of Francis' way of life. He was more of a reformer and revolutionary than he has been given credit for. His prayer was to be as much like Christ as possible in his life, his message and his theology. His theology of works was very different from much of the prevailing "Works" theology held by the church of his time, and often today, which was more focused on increasing the prestige of the providers, power and yes the wealth of the Church, Clergy and the laity that wished to be seen by their peers as being righteous. He was first and foremost a man of prayer, yes, a preacher, and a model of a Christ-like life style. His service came out of love for his savior, not out of some form of works-righteousness

Bill from Denver

Posted: May 23, 2009 11:41 PM


So, sounds like many of you are saying that a person without a tongue or hands is not part of Our Lords call to preach the Gospel? Jesus is God for goodness sake-don't use the "blather" I see in some of these posts to contain His will.

Larry

Posted: May 23, 2009 8:57 PM

If you need a hero make sure thay have been dead for at least 20 years. Our biblcal heroes were the extremists of the day. Calvin like many muslims today would kill you if you did not see it His way. Micheal Servitus for example. Luther was the pioneer of the grace movement but took it as license in many cases. Annointing is not an endorsement of character. Look at the powerful men who have fallen in our day. It doese not take away from the truth that they have spoken. (I know some cases the message was warped as well.) I guess my point is, let the quote inspire you! Most know the quote, few know the auther of it. Nor do most care. Just because it may or may not have been truth in the life of the one who coined it does not mean that it cannot be life in ours.

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