Do you evangelize? How much, and how?
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charsan
Charismatic Episcopal Church
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Cool. I miss them, they no longer come by my college where I work because of all the liberalism that kicked anything like that out. Sad times these days, sad times.
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Every chance I get. From discussing in conversation, if asked and even when a homeless person comes up to my car for a few bucks. They get a Bible, tract and few dollars.
There is a lot to say by action and deed. Indeed that is an important witness. But one comes to believe the Gospel by hearing.
Romans 10: NASB
17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
There is a lot to say by action and deed. Indeed that is an important witness. But one comes to believe the Gospel by hearing.
Romans 10: NASB
17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
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Look into the Navigators. Great ministry with great tools for churches and individuals.
The Navigators — Life-to-Life Discipleship
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Hi Charsan, I totally get this idea, too much, in fact
I have a personal inclination toward people pleasing, and a strong dislike for the kind of resentment and persecution that often happens when we try to bring God's truth to bear in someone else's life, so when I first read that quote by St. Francis' (the one he is credited with saying, but never did apparently), I was like,
"well, alrighty then" 
The thing is, God didn't call us to be "people pleasers" who make others feel good about themselves, rather, He called us to be His "peacemakers" (which is an entirely different thing).
I've run into a lot of people who, just like me, try to morph the meaning of that quote into something that it does not say, that Christians should choose to both act AND talk like Christians, but all I've ever seen it actually being used as is a justification to remain silent when we are confronted with a person or people who we know desperately need to hear God's truth (painful as that can be sometimes).
Just to be clear, this in no way means that we should ever choose to act poorly around others. How we act as Christians is extremely important, so we should always choose to act accordingly, as we are, in fact, commanded to act .. Matthew 7:12.
If you have the time, here's part of an interesting article about the quote that St. Francis is so famous for making (even though he didn't
).
Albert Chevallier Tayler, "St Francis" (1898)
OCT. 30, 2015
What St. Francis of Assisi Didn’t Actually Say
Glenn Stanton
It is always attributed to St. Francis of Assisi—founder of the Franciscan Order—and is intended to say that proclaiming the Gospel by example is more virtuous than actually proclaiming it with voice. It is a quote that has often rankled me because it seems to create a useless dichotomy between speech and action. Besides, the spirit behind it can be a little arrogant—which I’m sure our deacon didn’t intend—intimating that those who "practice the Gospel" are in reality more faithful to the faith than those who preach it.
None of his disciples or biographers have these very quotable words coming from his mouth. It doesn't show up in any of his writings. Not even close, really. The closest comes from his Rule of 1221 on how the Franciscans should practice their preaching:
His first biographer, Thomas of Celano, writing just three years after Francis' death, quotes him instructing his co-workers in the Gospel thusly:
We must know that it's simply impossible to proclaim the Gospel without words and of course our good Francis knew this as well as any. The Gospel is inherently verbal, and preaching the Gospel is inherently verbal behavior.
St. Paul was quite clear in this, asking the Church at Rome (Romans 10:14):
What St. Francis of Assisi Didn’t Actually Say
Glenn Stanton
Last Sunday, our faithful deacon in the midst of his excellent homily used a quote that most of us have heard, perhaps many times.
“Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.”
It is always attributed to St. Francis of Assisi—founder of the Franciscan Order—and is intended to say that proclaiming the Gospel by example is more virtuous than actually proclaiming it with voice. It is a quote that has often rankled me because it seems to create a useless dichotomy between speech and action. Besides, the spirit behind it can be a little arrogant—which I’m sure our deacon didn’t intend—intimating that those who "practice the Gospel" are in reality more faithful to the faith than those who preach it.
But here's the fact: Our good Francis never said it or anything close.
None of his disciples or biographers have these very quotable words coming from his mouth. It doesn't show up in any of his writings. Not even close, really. The closest comes from his Rule of 1221 on how the Franciscans should practice their preaching:
No brother should preach contrary to the form and regulations of the holy Church nor unless he has been permitted by his minister . . . All the Friars . . . should preach by their deeds.
Essentially, make sure your deeds match your words. While there's a nice and good sentiment in the statement—be sure you live out the grace and truth of the Gospel—the notion as it is typically presented is neither practical, nor faithful to the Gospel of Christ. It does not align with St. Francis' own practice.
His first biographer, Thomas of Celano, writing just three years after Francis' death, quotes him instructing his co-workers in the Gospel thusly:
The preacher must first draw from secret prayers what he will later pour out in holy sermons; he must first grow hot within before he speaks words that are in themselves cold.
Our man clearly spent a great deal of time using his words when he preached, “sometimes preaching in up to five villages a day, often outdoors. In the country, Francis often spoke from a bale of straw or a granary doorway. In town, he would climb on a box or up steps in a public building. He preached to . . . any who gathered to hear the strange but fiery little preacher from Assisi.” He was sometimes so animated and passionate in his delivery that “his feet moved as if he were dancing.”
We must know that it's simply impossible to proclaim the Gospel without words and of course our good Francis knew this as well as any. The Gospel is inherently verbal, and preaching the Gospel is inherently verbal behavior.
St. Paul was quite clear in this, asking the Church at Rome (Romans 10:14):
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
The New Evangelization is not a silent evangelization. So next time you hear one of your brothers or sisters in Christ use this quote to encourage or challenge you in the labors for our faith, gently guide them from the land of misinformation and into truth.
--David
p.s. - I love Christian quotes, and I particularly like what Spurgeon has to say here. Is this not (e.g. witnessing, preaching/teaching, evangelism, & apologetics) the principle reason that the Lord leaves us here (rather than immediately taking us home to be with Him in Glory as soon as He saves us)?
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Loyce KG
Everyone MUST hear the gospel of Christ!
My life is all about evangelism. I use the opportunities God gives me to proclaim the gospel. Every friend of mine and close family members have repeatedly heard the gospel from me. As a result, some say am "too christian" while others avoid me. Thankfully, some have come to Christ and are being discipled. Glory to God who gives us the strength.
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Thanks, my mind is set on the Gideons. I don't think that The Navigators exists in Sweden where I live.
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Gideons great organization. You just reminded me to contact them to contact the hotel I’m staying at. No Bible in my room.
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I have been much more involved in the past living in the intercity, bus captain, boy scout leader in the intercity, and Sunday morning Bible class at a prison (which was extremely challenging, heart wrenching, and one of the best things I ever did, but those I was teaching way out grow me), it is a long story I moved with my job and the prison changed up there system and I was most of the time involved in one on one studies.
Right now, I have one on one studies going on with foreign college students at a Local university. This came out of Friendspeak which is a great way to get started. I do a group of Chinese students and one on one with Chinese only students (I am not Chinese, but have involvement with Christians in China and mission work in China (long story). We have around 30 Chinese student each week and it keeps growing. I still go to work everyday, take and pick-up four kids from school, and try to put in at least seven hours of preparation for each class or one on one study.
Friendspeak might be the easiest way to get started.
Right now, I have one on one studies going on with foreign college students at a Local university. This came out of Friendspeak which is a great way to get started. I do a group of Chinese students and one on one with Chinese only students (I am not Chinese, but have involvement with Christians in China and mission work in China (long story). We have around 30 Chinese student each week and it keeps growing. I still go to work everyday, take and pick-up four kids from school, and try to put in at least seven hours of preparation for each class or one on one study.
Friendspeak might be the easiest way to get started.
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The Gideons in Sweden is now called "Goda Nyheter (Good News)". It's the same members, and basically the "same" organisation, but they were not allowed to keep the name Gideons, since they allow women to be members on the same bases as men. The international Gideons only allow a woman married to a Gideon man to be a member. Sweden, UK and Canada have left the international Gideons. Canada and UK were allowed to keep the name Gideons, but not Sweden for some reason. This has given them the possibility to work together with other Christian organisations, which wasn't allowed before.
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charsan
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Hi Charsan, I totally get this idea, too much, in fact
I have a personal inclination toward people pleasing, and a strong dislike for the kind of resentment and persecution that often happens when we try to bring God's truth to bear in someone else's life, so when I first read that quote by St. Francis' (the one he is credited with saying, but never did apparently), I was like,
"well, alrighty then"
The thing is, God didn't call us to be "people pleasers" who make others feel good about themselves, rather, He called us to be His "peacemakers" (which is an entirely different thing).
I've run into a lot of people who, just like me, try to morph the meaning of that quote into something that it does not say, that Christians should choose to both act AND talk like Christians, but all I've ever seen it actually being used as is a justification to remain silent when we are confronted with a person or people who we know desperately need to hear God's truth (painful as that can be sometimes).
Just to be clear, this in no way means that we should ever choose to act poorly around others. How we act as Christians is extremely important, so we should always choose to act accordingly, as we are, in fact, commanded to act .. Matthew 7:12.
If you have the time, here's part of an interesting article about the quote that St. Francis is so famous for making (even though he didn't
Albert Chevallier Tayler, "St Francis" (1898)
OCT. 30, 2015
What St. Francis of Assisi Didn’t Actually Say
Glenn Stanton
Last Sunday, our faithful deacon in the midst of his excellent homily used a quote that most of us have heard, perhaps many times.
“Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.”
It is always attributed to St. Francis of Assisi—founder of the Franciscan Order—and is intended to say that proclaiming the Gospel by example is more virtuous than actually proclaiming it with voice. It is a quote that has often rankled me because it seems to create a useless dichotomy between speech and action. Besides, the spirit behind it can be a little arrogant—which I’m sure our deacon didn’t intend—intimating that those who "practice the Gospel" are in reality more faithful to the faith than those who preach it.
But here's the fact: Our good Francis never said it or anything close.
None of his disciples or biographers have these very quotable words coming from his mouth. It doesn't show up in any of his writings. Not even close, really. The closest comes from his Rule of 1221 on how the Franciscans should practice their preaching:
No brother should preach contrary to the form and regulations of the holy Church nor unless he has been permitted by his minister . . . All the Friars . . . should preach by their deeds.Essentially, make sure your deeds match your words. While there's a nice and good sentiment in the statement—be sure you live out the grace and truth of the Gospel—the notion as it is typically presented is neither practical, nor faithful to the Gospel of Christ. It does not align with St. Francis' own practice.
His first biographer, Thomas of Celano, writing just three years after Francis' death, quotes him instructing his co-workers in the Gospel thusly:
The preacher must first draw from secret prayers what he will later pour out in holy sermons; he must first grow hot within before he speaks words that are in themselves cold.Our man clearly spent a great deal of time using his words when he preached, “sometimes preaching in up to five villages a day, often outdoors. In the country, Francis often spoke from a bale of straw or a granary doorway. In town, he would climb on a box or up steps in a public building. He preached to . . . any who gathered to hear the strange but fiery little preacher from Assisi.” He was sometimes so animated and passionate in his delivery that “his feet moved as if he were dancing.”
We must know that it's simply impossible to proclaim the Gospel without words and of course our good Francis knew this as well as any. The Gospel is inherently verbal, and preaching the Gospel is inherently verbal behavior.
St. Paul was quite clear in this, asking the Church at Rome (Romans 10:14):
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?The New Evangelization is not a silent evangelization. So next time you hear one of your brothers or sisters in Christ use this quote to encourage or challenge you in the labors for our faith, gently guide them from the land of misinformation and into truth.
--David
p.s. - I love Christian quotes, and I particularly like what Spurgeon has to say here. Is this not (e.g. witnessing, preaching/teaching, evangelism, & apologetics) the principle reason that the Lord leaves us here (rather than immediately taking us home to be with Him in Glory, as soon as He saves us)?
It doesn't mean being a people pleaser, if it did I would agree with everyone here. What it does mean is to live a life of a Christian. As Fr. Chapin, a priest that gives homilies on world harvest television, says "The best vitamin for a Christian is to B1". If a person behaves as a Christian than there will be no ambiguity in anyone's mind where that person stands and God can work through that. I do not do as evangelicals and talk a lot, I live the life of a Christian as best I can and let God do the talking
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It doesn't mean being a people pleaser, if it did I would agree with everyone here. What it does mean is to live a life of a Christian. As Fr. Chapin, a priest that gives homilies on world harvest television, says "The best vitamin for a Christian is to B1". If a person behaves as a Christian than there will be no ambiguity in anyone's mind where that person stands and God can work through that. I do not do as evangelicals and talk a lot, I live the life of a Christian as best I can and let God do the talking
Great, but why not also share the gospel vocally?
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