We look at a number of methods that Christians might use to communicate the gospel with others in the article [How can I promote the gospel in the Millennial Age?]. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus gave His disciples the directive to “make disciples of all nations” through sharing the gospel. The Great Commission is included in this passage, and it calls on Christians to share the gospel with others like the disciples did when they were first called. Speaking the Word to others is necessary because hearing the Word is essential to gaining faith (Romans 10:14). But what if we struggle to find the right words? What if we are not courageous enough to share the gospel with others? What happens if the folks we’re attempting to reach are unwilling to listen?
1. Words can be difficult…
Many of us find it difficult to share the Gospel especially if other people show no interest in discussing faith matters. Our inability to share our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, even with people we love, can be a real struggle. We mustn’t feel ashamed, though, as we are in good company. The great Apostle Paul, writer of most of the New Testament, said of himself that he was “unskilled in speaking” (2 Corinthians 11:6). And Moses, writer of the first five books of the Old Testament, exclaimed: “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since You have spoken to Your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue” (Exodus 4:10). In fact, Moses even tried to avoid the job God was asking him to do.
2. … but God does help!
God provided assistance to Moses by designating his brother Aaron as his official spokesman. “Do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit,” Jesus reassured His followers as they prepared to stand trial and testify to their beliefs (Mark 13:11). When faced with a challenging conversation, a great prayer to say is “Lord, give me the right words.” The Lord may perhaps even encourage us that sometimes it’s better to remain silent than to speak. He is always willing to grant us insight! James 1:5
But we always have the opportunity to witness without words, whether it be “in addition to words” or “instead of words.”
3. Witnessing with actions rather than words
One quote that is frequently—though apparently incorrectly—ascribed to St. Francis of Assisi is, “Preach the Gospel at all times; use words when necessary.” This insightful suggestion offers a catchphrase that highlights the significance of [demonstrating Jesus’ love to people]. The quotation suggests that words are not always essential.
The core of Jesus’ ministry is love, which led Him to give up His earthly life in order to save us (John 3:16). Even without speaking, we can influence others to think on the Source of our actions if we can continuously model kindness and selflessness, be the first to forgive, offer friendship, and be “slow to anger” (James 1:19). Furthermore, Jesus states that “whatever you did for one of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me” in Matthew 25:40. We have demonstrated Jesus’ love to others if our deeds are beneficial to them.
Let the Holy Spirit direct your activities if you want to witness without using words. Galatians 5:22–23 lists “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control” as the “fruit of the Spirit.” The world can only try to imitate His fruit because it lacks the Spirit. Because of this, continually showing others love, joy, peace, kindness, and gentleness is the ideal approach to “witness in action.” It is always our decision to act as “the good Samaritan” and, as Paul states in Philippians 2:3, “in humility, count others more significant than yourselves,” whether it means lending a helping hand or just keeping our composure in the face of hostility or upset.
4. Can actions replace words?
The apostle Peter thought it was crucial to live out the teachings of the Bible. He speaks to a group of women in 1 Peter 3:1-2 who have husbands who do not believe in him. In order “to win some even if they do not obey the Word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct,” he exhorts the wives to choose a “respectful and pure conduct” toward these husbands. According to Peter’s counsel, deeds speak louder than words, and deeds have the advantage of being far less likely to spark a fight!
5. How effective can witnessing without words be?
Even if we do find ourselves in a debate with someone or, worse, a conflict, kind actions can be a testimony. Consider Romans 12:20-21, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” It is understandable to be nervous about witnessing with words, because if we can’t explain in words what Jesus Christ did for us – that He redeemed us by atoning for our sins on the cross – our message to others will not be fully effective.
But we can pray, and we have Jesus, “the Founder and Perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) So, if we can deliver only half the message, we can always pray that God will send someone or indeed the Holy Spirit, to ‘grow the seed’ that we planted.
