“Many, mistakenly, have thought that an explicit proclamation [of the Gospel] is no longer necessary, and that personal testimony is the only tool of the new evangelization.”
Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization
These are very needed words in the Church. Essential words for the new evangelization because Catholics can be very reticent to share their faith.
Commenting on this quote, my friend Ashley Collins said, “While important, people have pulverized St. Francis’s saying, “Preach the gospel… if necessary use words.” It’s time to use those words.”
I agree!
The really funny thing about this is St. Francis preached to everyone.
That’s what the brothers did in the beginning. That’s almost all they did.
St. Francis even preached to the birds…and they listened!
But, that wasn’t all they did. They also lived a totally authentic life completely devoted to God and gospel simplicity.
It was the witness of his radical conversion and his conviction in the truth of his message that set the stage for Francis’ preaching success. Everyone knew he lived what he preached and it was powerful.
His reputation preceded him into villages and the people were already primed for conversions before he even arrived.
But he did preach the gospel. And, it was his preaching that really clinched it.
Both are needed and both are indispensable. You can’t have effective preaching without the witness of life, but the preaching is absolutely necessary.
Archbishop Fisichella also stated that “it is time to open the doors and to proclaim again the Resurrection of Christ, of which we are witnesses.”
To be a witness of the resurrection is to proclaim how Christ has changed your life and why you follow him. It also means to proclaim the truth of what Christ has done and is doing in the world. You should understand the basics of the Catholic Gospel message.
Preach the gospel always through the witness of your life, and never be afraid to give a reason for the hope that is within you. That’s evangelization!
Archbishop Fisichella has a point. I find that more Catholics know how to present apologetics from the teachings of the Church than know how to give a personal testimony to the power of God in their lives or how to give evangelizing witness to the message of the Gospel. We need more people who can unroll the scroll and say with confidence that the Spirit of the Lord has anointed them to bring the Good News to a dark and hungry world.
You know that is so true! So many folks equate evangelization with apologetics, and while apologetics has a necessary part, it just doesn’t seal the deal on it’s own. You need exactly those two elements you mentioned, personal testimony to the power of God and witness to the message of the Gospel.
Unroll the scroll–I like that! 🙂
“it just doesn’t seal the deal on its own”
Right. In 20+ years of discussing Catholicism with evangelicals and fundies, I can recall only one person (a fundie preacher) with whom the conversation was more of an apologetic argument than a non-threatening dialogue.
I think of apologetics as good training, but outside of a debate haven’t seen it work well at the personal level.
Yes, my experience as well. Although, a good knowledge of apologetics is useful to understand how to approach the conversations and what to emphasize, it’s doesn’t work well on the personal level.
Thanks for the mention! And as usual, you’re spot on!
oh… here ya go : http://asonofjohnbosco.drupalgardens.com/content/preaching-gospel-its-necessary-use-words
Thanks!