I once heard this quote: “Preach the Gospel. If necessary, use words.”
Here’s the thing….
That seems to me a bit like knowing a comet is hurtling towards Earth… Ready to obliterate all life, and instead of shouting from the rooftops, You just…shrug, try to “Live a good life”… and hope someone notices and asks why you’re so calm.
Does that make sense? Do you see the dissonance in that line of thinking?
To rely solely on actions to convey a message so complex, so profound?
Here’s the thing about the gospel:
It’s not just about actions.
It’s not just about living a good life.
The Gospel is a story.
A narrative.
About love, redemption, sacrifice, and hope. Moreover, it’s explains the entire meaning of life, good, evil, and all human existence.
How do you convey the depth of God’s love,
The sacrifice of Jesus,
The complexities of grace and redemption,
Through actions alone?
Can a smile alone tell the story of the cross?
Can a kind act alone fully express the resurrection?
Words are necessary.
Essential.
To articulate the intricacies of faith,
The nuances of grace,
The depth of forgiveness.
Imagine if the disciples had just smiled and served, but never spoke of Jesus.
Never told His story.
Christianity would be a footnote in history,
Not a global faith.
Words without love are empty… And faith without works is dead. Don’t misunderstand me. Living a good life is important! BECAUSE of Jesus’ words, we know HOW to live.
But it’s only half the equation.
The Gospel requires words.
To explain, to invite, to challenge, to comfort.
This quote, often attributed to Francis of Assisi, might be well-intentioned,
But it misses the mark.
The Gospel is a message of cosmic importance.
In light of that message, you don’t just live well and hope people figure it out.
You speak.
Loudly.
Clearly.
With love and with urgency.
Because some messages are too important,
Too complex,
Too life-changing,
To be left to actions alone.
Why I Can’t Stand The Phrase “Preach The Gospel, and If Necessary Use Words.” was originally published in GoodLion Theology on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
