It has often been said that St. Francis of Assissi said, “Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words.”

The problem is that nowhere do we find that St. Francis said this.  It seems to be a made-up quote attributed to him.  And at the core, it is false.

As Tony Carule pointed it out, it is like saying that people are hungry tonight and not able to afford food for their children.  “Feed them.  And if necessary, use food.”

??

That would be ridiculous.  The same is true with the gospel.  The gospel requires words, and it requires a message.

In an evangelistic context, Paul says this:

It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God” (2 Cor 4:13-15).

For many years the mantra has been to live such a Godly live that people ask what is different about you.  But this is not in the Bible.  Nor is it the gospel.  The gospel is one of going fishing.  Not sitting on the bank looking pretty enough for the fish to jump out of the link into your lap.