Though its Constitution boasts of “freedom of religion,”
that is all but true for the Communist country of Laos.
Christianity is on a tight leash there. The Christian Churches are rare and run by the government. Evangelism is illegal. Christians all over the country are losing their homes, jobs, and sometimes even lives because of their Faith in Jesus Christ. Buddhism and Ancestry worship are everywhere, and people are daily giving sacrifices to lifeless gods and dead relatives. Yet the worship of the One True and Living God is strictly monitored. It’s so hard to see everything but say nothing.
“Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words.” – St. Francis of Assisi
(…or was it?)
Actually, did you know that there is no record of him ever saying anything like that? In fact, it would go completely against his character to have said that, as he spent most of his life as a Catholic evangelist preaching with words on the streets of Italy. More importantly, this is a completely unbiblical standpoint. The word Gospel literally means “Good News.” How do we share the Good News without words? Romans 10:14 asks us the same question:
How then will they call on 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 someone preaching?
So, pardon me, but let’s cut the crap! The Gospel is the Good News of Jesus Christ and it is meant to be told. And if we water the Gospel down to nothing other than good deeds, then Jesus’ death (and life) was in vain.
So Yes. Do good deeds. Yes. Share His love. Yes. Be His hands and feet. And Yes– Use Words.
Now, back to the story.
For the protection of our contacts, we weren’t allowed to initiate any conversations about our faith. But saying nothing didn’t mean doing nothing. We worked to plant seeds of love and hope by living a life of Christ. We were able to depend on the power of prayer and ask God to use our presence to change the hearts and attitudes of the Lao people toward Jesus. And we were able to bring lift to missionary families who were putting their lives on the line for the sake of the Gospel. Being in Laos for a month made me even more eager to seize every opportunity to share my faith with words in the future. I guess sometimes you just need to be told that you can’t do something before you realize how much you want (and need) to do it.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. – Romans 1:16
