We are often encouraged by some to "live the Gospel." What this means, in its most generous interpretation, is to live in light of the Gospel you claim to believe. So far, so good inasmuch as we ought not to blatantly walk in open hypocrisy.
But what is often implied by this "live the Gospel" mantra is also often a "you may be the only Jesus someone may ever meet," or a "show them the Gospel by how you live," which often is an evangelistic methodology divorced from the actual evangel.
After all, how can you have Good News, without sharing it? Imagine watching the evening news on the television, but with the "mute" button on. You would see them live on the scene with b-roll, live footage and scrolling graphics, but you would also see a lot of flapping lips - muted, moving mouths. The news simply does not communicate without words.
Furthermore, Jesus modeled for us that words are necessary.
Matthew 5:1-2
Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him.2 And He opened His mouth and taught them
If anyone's life could preach, it would have been Jesus'. If anyone could have let their actions speak louder than their words, it would have been Jesus.
You may have heard it said,
“Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” - attributed to St. Francis of Assisi
But Jesus did not subscribe to this idea. He opened His mouth and taught. If there ever existed anyone in the history of all space and time who could have let their body of work speak for itself, it would have been Him, and yet we see Him sitting down, opening His mouth and teaching them with words. He used His voice and gave instruction, correction, hope, encouragement, etc... But He most definitely used words.
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