“Just showing it” is not evangelism
Recently I heard it again:
“I evangelize because people can see that I am a Christian by the way I live. I don’t need to tell them the gospel with words. If they are curious, they will ask.”
And this comes very close to another well-known (and often debated) saying:
“Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.”
This may sound humble and sympathetic. Yet, if this is all there is, it is absolutely not biblical evangelism. The Bible is remarkably clear that the gospel should not only be visible through our behavior, but above all it must be proclaimed with words.
Let’s take a look at what the Bible says about this.
The gospel is a message that literally has to be heard
The word gospel means good news. Good news has to be shared, otherwise it remains unknown. In Romans 10:14-17, Paul explains how people come to faith.
“How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?”
You can see that Paul gives a clear chain of thought here:
- People must call on the Lord.
- To do that, they must believe.
- To believe, they must hear.
- To hear, someone has to preach / tell them. Literally.
Verse 17 then says:
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
The Bible therefore does not say that faith comes into existence because people simply see a good example. Faith comes because the Word is heard. If someone never literally speaks, then someone else cannot literally hear the message.
Jesus gave an active command
In Matthew 28:19 and 20, Jesus gives the Great Commission.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.”
The command contains clear actions.
- Go.
- Make disciples.
- Teach.
Nobody can be taught without explanation. Making disciples requires words. Jesus did not say that His followers should only be a good example. He gave an active mission. “People can see it in my life” is passive.
The first Christians actually spoke about Jesus
In the book of Acts, we see how the first believers evangelized. In Acts 8, the Ethiopian eunuch was reading “the Scripture.” Philip did not respond by simply being friendly and present. It says:
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.” (Acts 8:35)
Evangelism here literally means that Philip started speaking and explained Jesus. In Acts 4:20, the apostles say:
“For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Their testimony consisted of speaking, not only visible behavior.
This point becomes even clearer when we think about missionaries and missions. If someone calls themselves a missionary but does not actually proclaim the gospel, are they truly a missionary? The word “missionary” literally means someone who is sent to bring the gospel. Without words, that calling becomes empty. It becomes problematic when we give ourselves such a title without carrying out the core task.
Paul saw speaking as necessary
In 1 Corinthians 1:21 it says:
“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”
God has chosen to save people through preaching. That is a spoken message. Paul even says in 1 Corinthians 9:16:
“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.”
If simply living a good life was enough, Paul would not have felt such a strong necessity to speak. His persecution came precisely because he openly proclaimed the gospel.
A good life is important, but absolutely not enough
The Bible certainly teaches that the behavior of Christians matters. Jesus Himself says in Matthew 5:16:
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Good works are important because they give credibility and show that faith is real. But good works do not automatically explain:
- that Jesus died for sins
- that repentance is necessary
- that faith is essential
This message has to be explained. It has to be told literally. These things cannot be “communicated” through behavior alone.
The idea “they will ask if they are interested” is not realistic according to the Bible
The Bible makes it clear that people are spiritually blind by nature. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says that the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers. Romans 3:11 says that no one seeks for God on their own. That is why believers in the New Testament took the initiative to actually speak. Even 1 Peter 3:15, which is often used to defend passive evangelism, says:
“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you; yet with gentleness and respect.”
Again, this is about giving a verbal answer. Furthermore, this passage is written in the context of suffering and opposition, not about passively waiting for people to become curious.
Conclusion
Showing that you are a Christian is good and biblical. A life filled with good works can give credibility and make people curious. But if that is all there is, then it is not evangelism. The Bible consistently teaches that the gospel must be heard, proclaimed, and explained. Faith does not come through appearance or morality alone, but through hearing the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).
The principle that words are essential does not only apply to missionaries. Of course, a missionary has a special calling, but every Christian is called to share the gospel. Those who think that “showing it” is enough often use it as an excuse to avoid their responsibility. If even a missionary would only show the gospel without proclaiming it, the essence of that calling would disappear, and they would no longer truly be doing the work of a missionary. The same applies to you and me: it is not about status or titles, but about the message of Jesus that must be heard. Evangelism is not an optional activity; it is at the heart of our faith and our calling.
Those who truly understand what Christ has done for us cannot remain silent. His sacrifice, His salvation, and His grace are too profound to keep to ourselves. If we intentionally keep the gospel silent, we need to ask ourselves: what kind of god (with a lowercase g) are we actually believing in? Is it the living, saving God of the Bible, or a comfortable “god” version that mainly makes us feel good?
Evangelism is not a polished extra or simply a nice example; it is the natural expression of a life that has been touched by Christ. Those who actively share the gospel fulfill their calling and show the power and urgency of the Christian faith. A Christian life without words is a testimony, but evangelism is only complete when the message of Jesus is actually spoken, so that people can hear, believe, and be saved.
“Someone who truly knows Christ cannot remain silent; someone who keeps the gospel to themselves should ask whether they truly understand God and His calling.”
A call to missionaries
Maybe you notice that your work is increasingly focused on humanitarian efforts and good deeds, while evangelism in the true sense of the word has moved completely into the background? Maybe this feels painfully close to home? It is understandable that the challenges of ministry, culture, or personal pressure can make it difficult to actually speak about Jesus. Yet God calls you to more than just doing good things. He calls you to actively share His message, so that people can hear, believe, and be saved.
If you notice that your missionary work is becoming more and more of a humanitarian service and that proclaiming the gospel has almost disappeared, we invite you to explore together with us how you can return to the calling God has given you. This way, words and actions can come together again in true evangelism.
