The Parable of the Talents isn't necessarily referring to proselytism. It's referring to good works in general.
You’re right, the parable of the talents does apply broadly to faithfulness in using what God has given us. But that includes the greatest “talent” entrusted to us: the Gospel itself. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 2:4, “we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.” That’s not something to hide away.
So, while it’s not limited to evangelism, sharing Christ is certainly one of the main ways we “invest” what He has given us, because eternal souls are at stake. To bury that responsibility would still be unfaithfulness.
Unfortunately Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses and other cults have “queered the pitch” to use an English cricket-related expression, for everyone else, as far as a direct push approach is concerned. Therefore the best way to share the Gospel is via an inductive approach, which is to do good works in the community making no secret of your Christianity, providing moral support to friends we might make, and also by making our churches and our liturgy as beautiful as possible by following traditional liturgical principles.
False groups have certainly made people wary of anything that feels “pushy.” But we shouldn’t let their misuse silence us from speaking the truth. The apostles faced the same problem: false teachers were everywhere, yet Paul still said, “we believe, and so we also speak” (2 Cor. 4:13).
Good works, beauty in worship, and loving community are important, but they are not enough on their own. Cornelius in Acts 10 was devout and gave generously, but he still needed Peter to come and speak the Gospel to him so he could be saved.
So yes, do good deeds, but the message still must be spoken, otherwise no one hears and believes (Rom. 10:14).
I was thinking about this thread on my walk outside so here is the thought I had.
"anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)
You can preach the gospel, but if people don't believe that there is a creator, and that this creator is benevolent to reward those who earnestly seek Him - They won't care.
The role of good works in the gospel, is to create a world where it would be reasonable believe that there actually is a god.
Actions speak too, sometimes louder than words.
I’m glad this thread got you thinking! You’re right, people need to believe that God exists before they’ll care about the Gospel. But our good works alone don’t prove God exists; rather, they show that we believe He exists.
Today, many have been taught that creation made itself. That thinking has to be challenged with words. When people say they don’t believe in a Creator, I often use this illustration:
“If you see a building, you know there was a builder. No one believes a building randomly assembled itself. The same with a painting, you know there was a painter, even if he died centuries ago. Design always points to a designer.
In the same way, when we look at creation, the stars, the trees, even something as simple as a leaf, we see design and complexity far beyond human ability. Despite all our technology, we still can’t make a living leaf. If it’s absurd to say a building built itself, how much more impossible is it to say creation made itself?”
At this point, many atheists admit there must be a Creator, but then they ask: “Which one? The god of Islam? The God of the Bible? Something else?” That’s where prophecy comes in. I then say:
"If I wrote 300 predictions of future events and all came true with perfect accuracy, you’d know something supernatural was at work. That’s exactly what we see in the Bible. The Old Testament contains over 300 prophecies fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ, His birth in Bethlehem, His betrayal for 30 pieces of silver, His crucifixion, and many more. No other book, not even the Quran, has this prophetic accuracy."
Paul himself used the law and the prophets to prove both the reality of the Creator and our need for a Saviour. Once someone sees this, the Gospel makes sense: that Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and offers salvation to all who believe.
The trick is to use an indirect approach, one that relies on attracting people to church rather than trying to push the Gospel on them, because decades of annoying and intrusive attempts by Mormon, J/W and other heretics to push their false religions on people have made it very difficult and in many cases impossible to spread the gospel simply by talking about it, since the devil has, through heretical cults, trained many people to not want to discuss religion. This is obviously bad, so what we have to do is show them the Gospel by actually loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. Also concerts, weddings and funerals are a great way to introduce people to a particular church; no Christian should have a wedding anywhere other than their church and clergy should refuse to perform weddings in country clubs and other inappropriate locations, since these events, weddings and funerals, are an opportunity for us to welcome our neighbor with hospitality.
I see what you’re saying, love and hospitality are vital, and it’s true that false religions have sadly hardened many people. But while good works and events can open doors, they can’t replace the Gospel itself. Paul reminds us that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
If we only show love but never actually explain the reason for our hope, people may just conclude we’re “nice people,” without ever realising it’s Christ who saves. That’s why Peter says we must always be ready to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15).
Good works can help prepare the soil, but at some point, the seed of the Word must be spoken. Otherwise, people never hear the truth that saves.
Also, sadly, many believers think we must build a close relationship with unbelievers before sharing the Gospel. This limits the amount the Gospel is spoken and it simply isn’t true. There are believers who go to parks, talk to strangers about God, and yes, often they’re rejected, but many times they’re received. Jesus said few will enter through the narrow gate (Matt. 7:13–14).
Personally, I don’t have a special gift of speech, but I go to parks and have many conversations because I believe that I do not have to make friends before saying the Gospel. And many of those people come to faith. So, Christians need to stop thinking they must first form a special relationship before they can share the Gospel. The Spirit works through the simple obedience of opening our mouths.
Unfortunately, the choice of my being a "coward" has already been made on my behalf by another party. So, I shan't be dallying out on the lawns uninvited by this or that group of people.
What do you mean?
