I think Francis is badly wrong! The gospel is not the actions that we do. The gospel is a message that can only be spoken with words . This is always the case in the Bible. Just look at any occurence of the word "gospel".

It badly blurs the distinction between the root of the gospel and it's fruit. My works are the fruit. Anything else is works salvation.

Hence, Paul tells the Philippians not to live the gospel but to live lives worthy of the gospel (1:27). My works bear testimony to the gospel, but the gospel is fundamentally about Jesus' works.

We must get this right!

__________________
Marty
Minister / Theological Educator
Anglican Church of Australia
(On Sabbatical) Cambridge, UK.
"There is nothing so necessary to draw us to repentance as good thoughts of God." (Thomas Manton)