In His Name Devotionals
TELLING VS LIVING?
In His Name Devotionals
TELLING VS LIVING?
Have you ever heard someone speak on how to share the gospel? Was the focus usually focus on ‘telling’ somebody something; speaking directly or subtly; quoting Scripture or poets; public speeches or one on one—the spoken word. Could it be that many ‘how to’ studies begin with a mistaken assumption?
Jesus was God among us, God on a mission. He was here to announce the coming of the kingdom of God—with all the benefits attached to its arrival. Certainly He knew the best way to communicate. What was His method? As far as we know, for more than thirty years He said nothing. He became one with us in flesh and blood, living among ordinary people. He attended the synagogue and only then did He use the spoken word. He modeled joy, goodness, peace and concern for other.
Jesus lived the gospel before He spoke about it. He preached it by His life before interpreting it in spoken words. Are we too lightly dismissing His method? Do you think we would be wise to adopt it?
No question that the message ultimately must be taught and received in words. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). But are spoken words the best starting point? They may only generate disputes and defensiveness, and argument seldom brings people to the truth. But love breaks down barriers, models the gospel, and develops eagerness for truth.
Too many preachers and church leaders are ineffective teachers because the tendency of both is to emphasize spoken words rather than life. Sadly their sincere efforts at teaching are spiritually unproductive because they are not rooted in life. They have not earned credibility in the eyes of the people they want to teach. They somehow think spoken words can replace love, kindness, self-control, patience, selfishness and example.
Peter gave this counsel to wives of non-Christian men. “The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs. There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated by your life of holy beauty” (1 Pet. 3:1-2, The Message). Are families, classrooms, offices and neighborhoods inclined to listen to lectures rather than to look for examples? Without the appropriate actions, will they consider the words empty? Will they have interest in hearing them?
Though some doubt his authorship, Francis of Assisi is usually credited with this powerful message: “Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” People want to see the gospel at work in us. They want to know Christ really makes a difference in the lives of His followers. They must see the evidence of Spirit-transformed personalities and relationships. Only then will they hear what we so desperately want to say to them about Jesus.
