“Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words,” said Saint Francis never.

I first read that quote in my teens. A great burden lifted off my shoulders. Does this mean I don’t have to leave gospel tracts on public bathroom urinals? Or ask the clerk while I’m checking out if she knows what will happen if she dies tonight?

Well, perhaps. There are better ways, no doubt, to invite people to receive Jesus as their Life. But that quote, which led me to reexamine what it means to preach the gospel, itself needs examination.

It’s true that words, to be palatable, should be served on a platter of loving action. And Saint Francis, to whom the quote is wrongly attributed, loved in action like few ever will. But when it comes to proclaiming Christ and him crucified, words were essential for Francis — and they’re essential for us.

All this has me praying about how to tell people about Jesus and the Kingdom of God. Because it’s good news, news that’s quite literally out-of-this-world. No matter how much it has been overtold or mistold or wrongly sold — it is, the true message of Jesus, news that is good. 

Oh, but how I forget. I take it for granted. In my darker moments, I even entertain the enemy who whispers, ​“Look around at the people who claim to believe this stuff… does that look like good news to you?” But today I’m choosing to remember what’s true, that…

In Jesus the great burden of attempting to earn God’s approval is lifted;
in Jesus our vileness and selfishness and greed are erased from our account in heaven and the grace is made available to erase them also from our bodies on earth;
in Jesus our restless souls find rest;
in Jesus and in him alone is life, zoë, the eternal abundant life we all long for and were created to inhabit.

This, friend, is good news! And words are the conduit through which this good news travels. I could feel my soul reviving even as I typed out the words above. 

This week wraps up our swim in the stream centered on Word, the Evangelical Tradition. Richard Foster defines its three great themes and reminds us that the God of Scripture still speaks. Jon Bailey wants to help us reclaim the art of listening to Scripture. And Chris Hall invites us to meditate on Scripture like a cow chews its cud. 

Joining you in proclaiming Christ in word and deed,