Are Actions Alone Sufficient?

by Matthew W. Bates
from Salvation by Allegiance Alone, Baker Academic, 2017

Similarly, the gospel cannot be reduced to behaving in a cross-shaped manner or to social programs. Saint Francis of Assisi is often remembered to have said, “Preach the gospel at all times; use words if necessary.” This is a clever saying (although its origination with Saint Francis is historically dubious), because we all recognize that sometimes actions do speak more forcefully than words. But it is dreadfully wrongheaded to suggest that the gospel is best (or even adequately) proclaimed by actions unencumbered by words.

It is also off-base to think that Christian social activities, such as providing assistance to the poor, are the gospel—even though it is popular in some quarters to call such activities the “social gospel.” Such actions might serve to remind those who benefit of part of the gospel story once they hear it elsewhere or if they already know it. But the actions themselves only become a gospel proclamation derivatively when the recipient hears the full gospel elsewhere and then is able to make the link between the actions and the full narrative.

Because we are uncomfortable sharing the gospel, afraid that we will turn someone off or be perceived in the wrong way, we can convince ourselves that the gospel is best communicated with actions, not words. But the true gospel is not reducible to Christian activities.