ALWAYS use words...

St Francis of Assisi once said "Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words."

I reply:
"Malarkey"
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To see Jesus one must hear the gospel message. It is necessary.

Romans 10:17
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of God.

I also believe that the hearing of the gospel should be a complete hearing That is, the good news is of little import without the bad news.

In order to fully appreciate what Christ did for us at the cross we must deeply understand:

How good God is.

How bad we are.

How angry that makes God.

Only by seeing the truth behind these statements can we grasp what grace and mercy amount to. If we fail to recognize the bad news of our natural state, the good news of the cross will be accepted yet shallow at best/ unconsidered at worst.

I had a conversation this past Monday with a co-worker which brought this to mind. He was rightly lamenting the failure of many conservative evangelicals to stress social action. He was frustrated that so many believers are eager to condemn the unregenerate as "sinners" and preach hellfire sermons while they simultaneously dodge the example of Christ meeting the needs of the unsaved.

I agreed with him that meeting needs for those who are lacking is the duty of believers. Since all people are created in the image of God, we should respect and love them as ourselves. I also explained that I believed very heavily in relational evangelism.

Despite our apparent consensus, I could feel that there was still some divide between us. With some coaxing it came out - my co-worker is a strong advocate of doing good for others that they might be so impressed by our generosity that they will ask about the hope within us and thereby open a door to conversation about Christ.

I, on the other hand, see that as true but incomplete. I am more inclined to do the good deed and then share the gospel message regardless of if the recipient asks about Christ or not. I don't mean in a mechanical or pushy way - but with straightforward honesty, well-put questioning. and sincere concern.

While my friend at work believes that unbelievers will convert when they see the joy that Jesus brings, I tend to think that conversion is unlikely unless they see BOTH the hope we have in our Saviour and the despair of their own situation. It would be very easy for someone who is not presented with the truth about their spiritual deadness to simply say "oh, thanks for the food and the water, I am glad that Jesus makes you happy, I will now go back to the animism (materialism, etc) that makes me happy - be happy!"

We must show those who are unsaved that they are in desperate need of a rescue operation, not just that Jesus can make us happier and better people. Its a both/ and NOT an either/or.

I think that my friend has had some bad personal experiences with Protestants who were self-righteous and haughty. Too often the personal interaction we have with others will produce feelings and convictions within us that may or may not be biblical. Ultimately, it is the black, white, and red in the Bible which should dictate how we fulfill the Great Commission.

My reading of the text informs me that neither the Lord nor the apostles were reserved in declaring the tragic condition of humanity and its ultimate fiery end without grace, so we must not be either.
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Matthew 13:40-42
Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:49-50
So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

Romans 6:21
What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

Romans 6:23a
For the wages of sin is death,

Romans 8:34a
Who is He who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen,

Revelation 20:15
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:8
But the cowardly, and sinners unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
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In light of all these texts, and they are but a few, it is obvious that there is bad news. If we don't share BOTH the bad news and the good news with folks, they are likely to go on with their idolatry and immorality while they accept our Christian charity. Trying to soften the message of the cross or to make it more palpable is close to denial of that message. I would urge those who stress social action at the expense of biblical teaching and gospel proclamation to be aware of their path lest they slide into a place where they cannot say with Paul:

Romans 1:16a
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes

If what we preach about Christ does not offend the natural man within the hearer then it is not the gospel. As children of wrath and disobedience, unregenerate people should be either broken by the Spirit unto repentance when they hear of Gods mercy thru Christ OR they should be outraged. Which one they will display is for God to work out. We are only to plant and water the seeds, God will handle the rest. (1 Cor 3) The wind blows where it wills. (John 3)

Lastly, I am not advocating that we should be mean or disrespectful...only straightforward. As Paul says:

2 Timothy 4:1-2
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

May God grant us all the strength to preach the word in our daily lives AND to live that word out thru our love and compassion for others - just as Christ had compassion on us. May the importance of proclaiming the entire gospel be revealed to my co-worker. May God get the ultimate glory in all things.