Can you preach the Gospel without using words?

[redleghunter]

Spoken or written.

I am of the opinion of Ligon Duncan:

 

[HTacianas]

Spoken or written.

I am of the opinion of Ligon Duncan:

View attachment 255744

That was once a beautiful saying attributed to St. Francis, though he never said it in as many words. The meaning is that we should preach the gospel through our living example of faith. Sadly, someone mutilated it.

 

[St_Worm2]

Albert Chevallier Tayler, "St Francis" (1898)
​

What St. Francis of Assisi Didn’t Actually Say

Glenn Stanton
Last Sunday, our faithful deacon in the midst of his excellent homily used a quote that most of us have heard, perhaps many times.

“Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.”​

It is always attributed to St. Francis of Assisi—founder of the Franciscan Order—and is intended to say that proclaiming the Gospel by example is more virtuous than actually proclaiming it with voice. It is a quote that has often rankled me because it seems to create a useless dichotomy between speech and action. Besides, the spirit behind it can be a little arrogant—which I’m sure our deacon didn’t intend—intimating that those who "practice the Gospel" are in reality more faithful to the faith than those who preach it.

But here's the fact: Our good Francis never said it or anything close.

None of his disciples or biographers have these very quotable words coming from his mouth. It doesn't show up in any of his writings. Not even close, really. The closest comes from his Rule of 1221 on how the Franciscans should practice their preaching:

No brother should preach contrary to the form and regulations of the holy Church nor unless he has been permitted by his minister . . . All the Friars . . . should preach by their deeds.​

Essentially, make sure your deeds match your words. While there's a nice and good sentiment in the statement—be sure you live out the grace and truth of the Gospel—the notion as it is typically presented is neither practical, nor faithful to the Gospel of Christ. It does not align with St. Francis' own practice.

His first biographer, Thomas of Celano, writing just three years after Francis' death, quotes him instructing his co-workers in the Gospel thusly:

The preacher must first draw from secret prayers what he will later pour out in holy sermons; he must first grow hot within before he speaks words that are in themselves cold.
​

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.”

We must know that it's simply impossible to proclaim the Gospel without words and of course our good Francis knew this as well as any. The Gospel is inherently verbal, and preaching the Gospel is inherently verbal behavior.

St. Paul was quite clear in this, asking the Church at Rome (Romans 10:14):

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?​

The New Evangelization is not a silent evangelization. So next time you hear one of your brothers or sisters in Christ use this quote to encourage or challenge you in the labors for our faith, gently guide them from the land of misinformation and into truth.

~What St. Francis of Assisi Didn’t Actually Say

--David

Romans 10
17 Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.​

.

 

[crossnote]

Problem is the Gospel is not made clear by our actions, words proclaimed are necessary.

Romans 1:15-16 ESV
[15] So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. [16] 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.

 

[St_Worm2]

Can you preach the Gospel without using words?

WOW, wouldn't that be nice

If we could just leave all that Good News/bad news stuff out of our witnessing, everybody would always LOVE to see us coming, and we'd never have to worry about being persecuted again

--David
p.s. - Except .. how is anyone going to know what the Gospel is if we don't tell them with words

 

[jacks]

I think it is just saying "Actions speak louder than words." I don't think it literally means not to tell people about the gospel. If we say one thing, but live another way the message is lost.

 

[redleghunter]

That was once a beautiful saying attributed to St. Francis, though he never said it in as many words. The meaning is that we should preach the gospel through our living example of faith. Sadly, someone mutilated it.

Yes I too believe our walk and obedience in Christ can be a powerful witness. Yet even the best personal witness does not convey Christ died and rose from the dead for sinners.

Our witness may lead others to ask questions in which we would be the one with happy feet to bring the Gospel.

 

[Loyce KG]

I think it is just saying "Actions speak louder than words." I don't think it literally means not to tell people about the gospel. If we say one thing, but live another way the message is lost.

Not exactly. While righteous living is a testimony of our redemption to the world,it has no power in itself to transform or bring one to the saving knowledge of Christ. The gospel message is not lost by our actions or inaction because it is the Word of God we proclaim. The Word is powerful by itself and needs no back up or anything else. It is a sword of the spirit.

 

[timothyu]

Loving all as self requires no words. It is the universal language of the Kingdom and the will of God. Actions and gestures speak loudly by themselves in everything from a smile or holding a door open for someone to refusal to seek gain at the expense of another.

 

[redleghunter]

Albert Chevallier Tayler, "St Francis" (1898)
​

What St. Francis of Assisi Didn’t Actually Say

Glenn Stanton
Last Sunday, our faithful deacon in the midst of his excellent homily used a quote that most of us have heard, perhaps many times.

“Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.”​

It is always attributed to St. Francis of Assisi—founder of the Franciscan Order—and is intended to say that proclaiming the Gospel by example is more virtuous than actually proclaiming it with voice. It is a quote that has often rankled me because it seems to create a useless dichotomy between speech and action. Besides, the spirit behind it can be a little arrogant—which I’m sure our deacon didn’t intend—intimating that those who "practice the Gospel" are in reality more faithful to the faith than those who preach it.

But here's the fact: Our good Francis never said it or anything close.

None of his disciples or biographers have these very quotable words coming from his mouth. It doesn't show up in any of his writings. Not even close, really. The closest comes from his Rule of 1221 on how the Franciscans should practice their preaching:

No brother should preach contrary to the form and regulations of the holy Church nor unless he has been permitted by his minister . . . All the Friars . . . should preach by their deeds.​

Essentially, make sure your deeds match your words. While there's a nice and good sentiment in the statement—be sure you live out the grace and truth of the Gospel—the notion as it is typically presented is neither practical, nor faithful to the Gospel of Christ. It does not align with St. Francis' own practice.

His first biographer, Thomas of Celano, writing just three years after Francis' death, quotes him instructing his co-workers in the Gospel thusly:

The preacher must first draw from secret prayers what he will later pour out in holy sermons; he must first grow hot within before he speaks words that are in themselves cold.
​

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.”

We must know that it's simply impossible to proclaim the Gospel without words and of course our good Francis knew this as well as any. The Gospel is inherently verbal, and preaching the Gospel is inherently verbal behavior.

St. Paul was quite clear in this, asking the Church at Rome (Romans 10:14):

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?​

The New Evangelization is not a silent evangelization. So next time you hear one of your brothers or sisters in Christ use this quote to encourage or challenge you in the labors for our faith, gently guide them from the land of misinformation and into truth.

~What St. Francis of Assisi Didn’t Actually Say

--David

Romans 10
17 Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.​

.

Thanks for that.

 

[redleghunter]

Loving all as self requires no words. It is the universal language of the Kingdom and the will of God. Actions and gestures speak loudly by themselves in everything from a smile or holding a door open for someone to refusal to seek gain at the expense of another.

Sure I agree our witness is “speaking” yet even in Acts of the Apostles it was the proclamation of the Gospel which led to the salvation of souls.

 

[timothyu]

Sure I agree our witness is “speaking” yet even in Acts of the Apostles it was the proclamation of the Gospel which led to the salvation of souls.

Jesus' entire mission was teaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. His spoken parables about the good news of the Kingdom, His only gospel, were confusing to the people but His non-verbal actions in healing and feeding and treating the people justly as they would be treated in the Kingdom, spoke volumes. They saw salvation from oppression and flocked to it.

 

[redleghunter]

Jesus' entire mission was teaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. His spoken parables about the good news of the Kingdom, His only gospel, were confusing to the people but His non-verbal actions in healing and feeding and treating the people justly as they would be treated in the Kingdom, spoke volumes. They saw salvation from oppression and flocked to it.

Yes the Good News is that the Kingdom has truly come.

The key statement is this:

Matthew 5: NASB

48“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 

[timothyu]

The key statement is this:

Matthew 5: NASB

Yes and spent 3 years showing how it's done

 

[redleghunter]

Yes and spent 3 years showing how it's done

Exactly. Jesus is the standard to enter the Kingdom of God.

Which means no matter how good we are we will never be Him. So no one enters the Kingdom as “good enough.”

That is why Jesus said this:

Luke 24: NASB

44Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.48“You are witnesses of these things.49“And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

 

[timothyu]

Which means no matter how good we are we will never be Him

Probably not , but there is no reason we can't put the will of the Father ahead of our own and love all as self, rejecting the self serving world man has built in our image through our daily actions. He saved us and the least we can do is try and live by the governance of God, rather than the governance of man as taught. It's all He asked of us. The rest He would take care of. Actions speak louder than words and our actions are noticed long before we get a chance to explain them.

 

[redleghunter]

Probably not , but there is no reason we can't put the will of the Father ahead of our own and love all as self, rejecting the self serving world man has built in our image through our daily actions. He saved us and the least we can do is try and live by the governance of God, rather than the governance of man as taught. It's all He asked of us. The rest He would take care of.

Your last sentence above. Jesus Christ indeed did take care of it all by His own precious Blood.

The Blood of Christ cleanses us from our sins.


Colossians 1:20

Acts of the Apostles 20:28

Ephesians 1:7

Hebrews 9:14

Hebrews 9:22

1 John 1:7

Hebrews 10:19

Hebrews 13:12

Leviticus 17:11

Luke 22:20

Matthew 26:28

Revelation 1:5

Revelation 7:14

Revelation 12:11

Romans 5:9

Romans 3:24-25

1 Peter 1:18-19

1 Corinthians 11:24-30

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Spoken or written.

I am of the opinion of Ligon Duncan:

View attachment 255744

1Co 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

 

[FireDragon76]

The irony is that Francis did alot of preaching.

But I understand the sentiments, even if I wouldn't necessarily express Christian vocation exactly that way myself.

I think this bit is particularly noteworthy

No brother should preach contrary to the form and regulations of the holy Church nor unless he has been permitted by his minister . . . All the Friars . . . should preach by their deeds.

Franciscans sought structures for accountability, and presumably they recognized not everyone had the vocation to preach.

 

[bekkilyn]

Of course, this post has me looking at all of the other ways outside of speech and the written word to express the gospel, so I am thinking of expressive dance and pantomime as well as the visual arts, textile arts. There are probably some other ways that haven't immediately come to mind.

While it is of course much easier to use words, I don't believe it would be impossible to use other methods.

Of course, the whole point really isn't about what medium we use for spreading the gospel, but the fact that there are a lot of Christians out there who prattle on and on about Jesus this and Jesus that, but you would never know they had anything to do with Jesus due to actions that are in direct conflict with Jesus' teachings, while non-Christians are going about singing modified hymns such as, "You Will Know They Are Christians By Their Hate".