Francis of Assisi and preaching the Gospel without words – did he say it?
Most likely not. Even if he had, he would have been wrong. The Gospel is an account of real, historic events that must be proclaimed as a command to be obeyed by its hearers. You and I can’t preach the Gospel without words, either. Pagans can perform wonderful philanthropic and humanitarian works, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, providing shelter for the homeless, etc. and they can be indistinguishable from Christians in doing so. If so, then how can our performing these works “preach the Gospel?” The Gospel, in the New Testament, was preached by proclamation. No other manner will suffice.
