Evangelization Myths (4 of 7)

Eric Sammons has authored a new book “The Old Evangelization: How to Spread the Faith Like Jesus Did” and he cites 7 common myths that deter Catholics from evangelizing. 

The fourth myth is: We Don’t Have to Talk About Our Faith; Living It is Enough

“Preach the Gospel always; when necessary, use words.” Eric says this is the most misused quote in Catholicism commonly attributed to St. Francis.

Eric writes:

A few problems with this quote... First, there is no evidence that St. Francis said it. It wasn’t attributed to him until hundreds of years after his death, and it flies in the face of the historical record of his life. St. Francis spent most of his life preaching the Gospel (in words) wherever he went. This is the man who preached to birds when people wouldn’t listen, so yes, he seemed to think words were pretty important.

The more significant problem with the myth is that it’s often used to excuse our hesitation in spreading the Faith to others. We’re afraid that if we tell others about Jesus and his Church, they will mock or reject us. So we just tell ourselves that our actions are all that matter. Somehow our “lifestyle” will magically make converts.

St. Paul says, “how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?” (Rom 10:14). As Eric says: “So let’s get talking.”  Or better yet, let’s start asking the right questions.