by Bernard James Mauser
This is a great question. The above quote, spuriously attributed to the founder of the Franciscans, captures the sentiment believed in many Christian circles. Bad theology and our own insecurities help to bolster the idea that we shouldn’t judge, push our faith on others, or share the gospel using words.
I’ve found three things convicting in my own life contrary to this view.
First, I never knew the gospel or evidence for Christianity being true even though I was raised in a church-going environment. When I discovered the truth in my early 20s, I wondered why no one ever told me. I’d gone to church multiple times a week for twenty years and was very active in the church, but had never heard the gospel.
Second, Jesus commands us to make right judgments in John 7:24 and not to avoid judging all together. Some who act like they know the truth don’t, and some whose lives are a mess do. We have to have relationships and conversations with others to discover what they believe to assess whether they know the gospel. After we ask them questions getting to know them we can share the truth. The difficulties in that come from our own fears in sharing the gospel effectively or being afraid we won’t be able to answer questions they may have. However, these can be overcome with preparation. For sharing the gospel, memorize the Scriptures of the Romans road, practice your own testimony for how you came to faith, or equip yourself with resources that teach you how to share. For answering difficult questions about Christianity, avail yourself of the treasure trove of resources available through different apologetics ministries. By the way, the word apologetics comes from the apostle Peter’s admonition to always be ready to give a reason- or apologia in Greek- for the hope that you have.
Third, the Scriptures explain Jesus’ command to go and share the good news (that is the gospel) requires that we use words. Matt. 28 contains the great commission, which in many circles is the great omission. They stay away from the challenge of sharing the truth with others. Personally, when I first read the following in Romans 10:8-17, I believed and was saved:
“But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
Let me encourage all who read these words to believe this message and to share it with others. Practice sharing your testimony and include the good news of our salvation. The famous unbelieving magician Penn Jillette says it well: “How much to you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?” Go Christian, love your neighbor.
It’s only polite, if your neighbor’s home is on fire, to let them know.
This saying is one of my biggest pet peeves. If Francis of Assisi did say it, I doubt he would be okay with how it has been used to avoid actually using words to proclaim the gospel.