1 Thessalonians 2: Are Actions More Important than Words?

Many Christians hold the view that it is what we do, not what we say, that is most important in spreading the gospel, however this viewpoint is entirely unbiblical.

The phrase “preach the gospel and use words if necessary” spoken by Francis of Assisi is often quoted to back up the view, but Francis of Assisi never actually spoke these words at all. What he did say was, “[we]…should preach by our deeds.” (Rule 1221, Chapter 12). The meaning of this is completely different to the meaning of the phrase we often hear used in our churches today.

Whilst some Christian believers in the ‘actions not words’ approach are sincere and perhaps naïve, the majority who hold strong to this view do so out of cowardice and fear to speak out for Christ. Granted some people are more gifted with public speaking than others, but this should not stop any of those who have chosen to follow the Lord Jesus from speaking up and out for Him: whether it is preaching; encouraging a fellow Christian; speaking privately with friends and family; or making known your beliefs in the workplace or everyday life.

What does the Bible say:

The Bible never ceases to illustrate the power of words. The Lord Jesus himself is referred to as the Word in John 1:1 (“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word is God”). 1 John 5:7 “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one.” We know that God spoke the world into being through His words. James 3 talks about the power of our words; how they have the power to defile the whole body through what we say.

In Mark 16:15 Jesus instructs us: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Jesus is explicit here that we should spread the good news through our words. Of course, this is common sense, for if we do not open our mouths then how will people ever know what it is that we are spreading? We can build as many orphanages as possible or help as many old women across the street as we can manage, but until we open our mouths and make known that we are performing these selfless acts because we are following the testimony of the Lord Jesus who has saved us, nobody would ever know that we were spreading the gospel.

It is without a doubt crucial and pivotal to the spreading of the gospel message that we use words and speak up for Christ, just as He will speak up for us on the day of judgment. Matthew 10:32-33 warns us: “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

1 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”

1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”

What about actions:

Does this mean that we can spread the gospel through word and need not worry about our actions? Of course not.

Today in the modern church people seem to view preaching and being a good Christian witness as two separate things. You arguably could go far as saying that Christians today believe that living right and being a good witness in your every day life is the most important, and preaching the gospel is something additional to earn you brownie points with God. But this view is incorrect too. We must realise that preaching the gospel through our words and living out our faith in Christ through our actions is one and the same thing.

In 1 Thessalonians 1:5 Paul states: “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.”

Here we can see Paul gave the gospel to Thessalonica through his Words, but he also gave it through his actions. His actions backed up the things that he was saying and gave them credibility.  In 1 Thessalonians 1:9 Paul is stating how the countries of Macedonia and Achaia has heard the word of the Lord from the Thessalonians. Verse 9 goes on, “…they themselves declare… how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” It was through words that Macedonia and Achaia heard the gospel from the Thessalonians and it was through the witness of the Thessalonians that they could see its truth and see it demonstrated.

1 Thessalonians 2 talks of the Thessalonian’s conversion and the impact that the actions of Paul and other apostles had on them. “You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe, 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” (verses 10-12).

Application in our own lives:

It is clear that spreading the good news of Christ is done through our words. Words are a powerful thing. The words of Christ are the most powerful - described as a two-edged sword. However our witness is crucial too. Our deeds should back up what we preach with our mouths.

Finally we must realise that it is not by our words or our actions that the gospel is spread at all, but rather it is through the work of God. God is merciful enough to use us for this great task and for that we should feel honored, just like Abraham was overjoyed to be considered worthy enough just to act as a servant to the Lord in Genesis 18.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 states: “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”

1 Corinthians 3:6 states that “[Paul] planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.”

It is God who manifests the power of the gospel in people and it is God who calls people to Him. That is something that we can never do. This is an encouraging fact for any Christian who is nervous about spreading the gospel. There is no pressure on us as Christians when preaching the gospel, because it is God who is doing the work, not us. We are merely vessels to spread the good news to our fellow men.

This is why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 “And I brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech any my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

It does not matter whether you are able to recite sonnets on a big stage or whether you are a bumbling idiot. What matters is that as a follower of Christ you open your mouth and make known the gospel of Christ, through both your words and by your actions. Do this and the work of God will do the rest.

-BACChristian