This week, someone whom I admire and respect a good deal really shot down one of my favorite quotes ever. I think it’s overused and he quoted it poorly and he certainly didn’t know it was of such importance or inspiration to me, but he denigrated it nonetheless and it got me thinking. The quote, which you’ve probably heard many times is, “wherever you go, preach the Gospel, but only when necessary use words.” Spoken originally by St. Francis of Assisi, this summed up his idea that many Christians were saying a lot about the Gospel but not living it out. In his context, this was a corrective, a way to encourage people to live out the Gospel more fully. I think it can serve and does serve a corrective for our age. However, there are now two major problems. One is that many preachy Christians aren’t living out the Gospel and the second is that many people living out Christian lives or lives of service are too unconcerned with, scared to, or too politically correct to share their faith.
I think my friend who is concerned that this quote is no good is much more concerned with this second group of Christians, those not sharing their faith in word because they think their deeds are sufficient. I’m not sure this was a common problem in Francis’ context and more importantly, outside of my experience this summer, I encounter far more Christians who do more talking about the kingdom than acting as the kingdom. I encounter, particularly in my denomination, which I adore for its commitment to education, many deeply academic people sharing the “word,” but not necessarily living lives that are unmistakably Christ-like, lives that literally convert people.
I think that in the case of the many I live among and talk to and worship with, myself included, hearing that quote is a good reminder that things as simple as me not wasting money on trivial things or as difficult as moving into Church Hill can be the most powerful testimony and must accompany preaching. The concern that those things replace proclaiming the word is a valid one, and his point is well taken, but in the circles I travel in, the Francis quote is a much needed reminder that our lives will always speak more loudly than our mouths. They say that being loud is great, it’s the next best thing to being right. This is particularly true with actions. Being right in action can be so much more effective than being right but empty in word and lacking in righteous action.
It would be wrong of me to go into every Christian situation, particularly to East End Fellowship or a CHAT board meeting and say the Francis quote as a challenge to the people there. It would come out sounding like they should tone down their proclamations and focus more on deeds. The cause of evangelism would not be served. However, if I don’t suggest it in circles where the word is taught and proclaimed, but they shy away from major life and lifestyle changes, then people can go on being essentially and completely academic, check-writing Christians. I have too much hope for my denomination to be satisfied with this, and I believe my fellow Presbyterians would say the same.
Saint Francis of Assistance
