That is horrible! I can’t even believe I wrote that. But I did and I did because it’s true. The last thing you want is to find yourself walking out of an amazing sermon about witnessing without someone to go witness to. Sure, you can always find strangers on the street or at the coffee shop, but that’s hard. That’s Ph.D. level witnessing right there. You can’t jump to the big leagues right away. You need to work your way up to approaching people at the mall with the life changing message of Jesus.
So keep a ringer in your circle of friends. At least one guy that isn’t a Christian but is willing to let you practice witnessing on him. Run your message by him. Work through the salvation story bit by bit until you’ve got it down pat. By practicing with him, you’re exposing him to the gospel message 20 or 30 times. And by being honest about your intent, “I really want to share the love of Christ with other people, can I please tell you about it first?” you avoid that awkward “salvation segue” we often do.
You know the one where we keep steering people back to Jesus regardless of what the conversation we’re having is actually about. “You think the LA Dodgers have a shot at chasing the pennant this year because of the new batting firepower they acquired from the Yankees? It’s funny you say that, because that reminds me, Jesus died for you and wants to cover you with the blood of forgiveness.”
Let’s stop doing that. Not stop witnessing, clearly that's not what I'm saying. But sometimes when sharing the gospel isn't about sharing the insane love we've been given from Christ with someone else that we love it looks like while the people we’re witnessing to are talking, we’re internally thinking, “Waiting, waiting, waiting, come on, just pause long enough for me to yell ‘Jesus!’ One deep breath, that’s all I’m asking for, you take one long inhale and I am going to gospel you like you’ve never been gospelled before. Waiting, waiting, waiting.”
I’m not sure Jesus was like that. He didn’t seem to do things that way in the Bible. When a woman touched him while he was walking through a crowd in Luke 8 and He felt the power go out of Him, He didn’t say, “Sweet, I healed that lady and didn’t even have to make eye contact with her. That might be the world’s fastest healing. I should just run through the crowd and high five heal everyone like an NBA player coming through the tunnel of fans at a game.”
He stopped. Even as He was on his way to heal someone’s dying daughter. He stopped and made time for the person that needed him. He didn’t do drive by witnessing. And neither should we, which is why it’s always good to keep at least one non believer around to practice on.
p.s. I don't have all the answers, especially when it comes to a topic as hotly debated as witnessing and this will hopefully be one of those posts where the comments challenge/shape/grow what I think about the topic. So what does witnessing look like to you? What does sharing the gospel look like to you?
Another thing I notice:
ReplyDeleteJesus didn't keep hunting the same people down, over and over, when he didn't get through the first time.
There is something to be said for the fact that coming to Christ can be a process. Having on-going conversations can be a good thing.
But people who aren't ready (or who haven't been made ready by The Holy Spirit) it's like we've got the anti-biotic but we're building up their tolerance by constantly spraying them with little doses. When they finally need the medicine we've got, it won't impact them any more because they've become immune to its effects.
Jon, you've made me laugh - and I know this is a tongue in cheek post - but I have to beg to differ on the PhD level witnessing thing. I think it's much easier to witness in the coffee shop - just as was discussed in the post on Facebook-Friend-suggesting Jesus (or whatever it was called). The PhD challenge is witnessing to close friends. 1) They know our weaknesses. 2) However badly our little salvation segues go, somehow we have to get the friendship back on track afterwards. With a stranger in the mall we can walk away, cringe and then forget what just happened. With a friend, we have to stay with the reality of that terrible salvation segue and endure the consequences!
ReplyDeleteI believe witness is something we are and not something we do.
ReplyDeleteI think effective witnessing is unplanned most of the time. I know we can do mission trips and hand out tracts, etc.
ReplyDeleteBut for the most part, it catches me off guard. But knowing that we should always be thinking and be ready to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15) Giving an answer implies that the unbeliever asks a question. And as Christians we have all the right answers to questions unbelievers aren't asking. And we get so surprised that they don't really seem interested. Then we say things like, "It's the holy spirit's leading" or "They're not rejecting me, but God."
Do we ever stop to think that maybe the problem is with us? Why were people so attracted to Jesus, the disciples, and Paul? They all told stories and engaged in their culture.
I was talking with a friend who's not a Christian the other day and as we were talking he out of nowhere asked, "What do you think of when you think of 316?" Well as Christians I think we all know what comes to mind. And I said the verse in John. He said, "me too."
Naturally I wanted to continue the conversation but I held back. I held back because I think when we see an witnessing opportunity we want go all Encyclopedia Britannica on them and tell them everything we know about Christianity. When we were in college did any of us learn everything in that class the first day?
Mini blog sermon time:
Just like God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply in a physical sense, we are told by Jesus to do the same spiritually "go into the world and make disciples of all nations."
Since sex in God's context is an emotional and intimate experience, in the same way being fruitful and multiplying in the new testament should be the same, a slow, emotional and intimate experience.
I'm done for now, nobody steal my book I'm writing called, "Sex and witnessing, you can make it happen."
Jon, my experience has been the exact opposite of yours.
ReplyDeleteMost people I have encountered (including myself) do not have the problem of talking about Jesus and witnessing too much. In fact, I witness far to little.
It is so easy to claim that witnessing is all relationship and use this as an excuse not to verbally and candidly share the gospel with people. It is far more easier for me to be nice, converse with, build relationships with and otherwise "love" people. It is far more difficult for me to converse with someone about sin, judgement, redemption and grace.
I suspect that many Christians (again, drawing from my own sin) have too much of a tendency to idolise these relationships, even idolising our definition of "love" - in that we put our relationships and our position in those relationships over our responsibility to witness.
So let me say that I don't disagree with your intentions, but for the bulk of mainstream Christianity, I think the issue you are describing is a straw man.
Colin -
ReplyDeleteGreat points. I guess that I'm drawing largely on my experiences going to a Christian college and spending time in the South, where I did see this kind of drive by witnessing.
I completely agree with you that I don't know if anyone would ever say, people have the "problem of talking about Jesus and witnessing too much." Hopefully this post doesn't come off as a "let's witness less" message because that was certainly not my intent. If anything I was trying to say "let's witness more. With more love, with more intentionality, with more patience, with more relationship.
I'm not great at witnessing. It's one thing to write a Christian blog and a completely different thing to walk beside a friend that's going through a painfully messy divorce and asking raw, tangled questions that don't have simple answers. But after I recently dropped of a sermon CD on a friend's desk when he wasn't there instead of waiting until he was there to actually talk through what I wanted to share, I realized that I'm guilty of the behavior (drive-by witnessing) I tried to parody in this post and so I wanted to address it.
Thanks for the feedback
Jon
This is one of those topics that reminds me of annoying times in my life.
ReplyDelete-The time I was so cloistered in Christian culture that I was incapable of having conversations with non-Christians
-The time(s) I think about sharing the gospel with my unbelieving friends, and immediately jump to thinking, "I should just be more AWESOME! Once they see how PERFECT my life is, they'll TOTALLY want to know Christ!"
-The time(s) I actually thought I WAS perfect. (oy)
Well said Jon. I can agree with all of that.
ReplyDeleteBefore I lived in the UK, I spend my first 25 years in the great state of Oregon, which also happens to be the least-churched state. Suffice it to say, I saw the very real consequences of full on "relationship-evangelism" coupled with barely any actual evangelism.
Drive-by witnessing can be a problem. But I expect most Christians would benefit more from making occasional mistakes from over-witnessing (including drive-bys) than only witnessing when we've "loved someone enough" over a period of months/years.
I always appreciate your willingness to dialogue.
I agree with Oh Sew Good on this one. Too many times we try so hard to "do" things as followers of Christ when we should just "be" followers of Christ.
ReplyDeleteI think too many Christians try to force God into their conversation with others, musicians try to force God into their music, and artists try to force God into their artwork. Just talk, make music, and create art and give God the chance to flow out of it instead of stuffing him in there, in the boxes we make for him.
If we try to "do" things as Christ followers we just come off sounding fake.
I believe the greatest "witnessing" we can do is to live our lives. People pay much more attention to what we do than what we say. If Jesus is woven into the fabric of your daily life, people will notice ... and they will want to talk/ask about it ... that's the unawkward segue. That being said, I also believe that we need to open to the moves of the spirit. Of course the Spirit often times directs us straight into the awkward conversation ... and that my friends is the hard part.
ReplyDeleteColin -
ReplyDeleteAgain, love this idea you just shared:
"But I expect most Christians would benefit more from making occasional mistakes from over-witnessing (including drive-bys) than only witnessing when we've "loved someone enough" over a period of months/years."
Thanks so much for jumping in and mixing it up. I really appreciate that. One of the things I try to get comfortable with when I write is the willingness to be wrong. To make a mistake with an idea, to write something that someone else is going to finish or add to and so I really see the beauty of your idea of "benefiting from mistakes." Don't get me wrong, I approach this site with a healthy degree of fear of sharing broken logic/unhealthy thinking and try to write out of my relationship with Christ, not my relationship with creativity, but at the same time look at a blog as a growing conversation not me sharing a finished product, if that makes sense.
Jon
Being from the South, Jon, you should know that everyone here got saved when they were (supply any age from 5 to 12) at (supply any churchy event from Sunday school to summer camp). Therefore, they'll tell you they are so glad you are out telling people about Jesus, but they don't need to hear it. Some will even show up to church on Sunday to prove it to you. As if.
ReplyDeleteAnd though I've not experienced it, sometimes drive by witnessing does work, but I prefer to be the witness rather than witnessing. Beyond that, if we weren't so worried about telling folks the Romans Road and would just tell'em what Jesus did for us, as an individual, all of our witnessing - whether deliberate or relational - would be much more effective.
-Karen
Jon, of course it makes sense. And it's why I've enjoyed your blog over the past year or so. Anyone who has a sense of humour has to be humble and teachable - and they have to be willing to be wrong and to even to laugh at themselves.
ReplyDeleteI think that's why you blog is more than just funny or a creative outlet - the content hopefully creates an environment where people can approach some serious things (our faith, witnessing, Christian living, etc...) in a way that promotes humility and teachability.
Witnessing is a lifetime of living; hopefully surrounded by a life's worth of non-believers you know and love.
ReplyDeleteI like what Jeff said about the Holy Spirit working in lives. Until the Spirit works, God is not going to save them. But God can also use the Holy Spirit through you. Not through annoying prying into someone else's life, but through His gentle voice. God's love should shine through us so much that people perceive through our gentleness and care for them that we are not trying to cram something down their throats, but that we do genuinely care for their soul. Instead of witnessing for conscience's sake, why don't we pray that God will give us His love and His Holy Spirit's power to present the gospel when the Spirit leads, whether it be a stranger or a close friend.
ReplyDeleteNon-believer here; ready to be witnessed to!
ReplyDeleteHey guys, I was referred here by Gabriel of Regarding Eternity fame, as he spoke highly of you and I must agree, you have a great blog here.
I have been a victim(?) of drive-by evangelism on many occasions and it seems like there are a lot of Christians who see witnessing as being akin to fly-posting - 'as long as I plaster all 1,000 of these posters all over the town, someone is bound to come to my show!'
This is a shame, because every Christian, that I've met, has a different perspective and turn of phrase that makes an honest discussion worthwhile, if only they'd take the time to actually engage.
I also fully appreciate that there are many atheists (especially on the internet) who have, how would you say it, 'hardened hearts' and are just out to get into arguments and want to 'debunk' Christianity at every turn. I can totally understand Christians not wanting to waste their time with these people.
I'm not one of those (I hope!)
In conclusion, hello!
Regards,
Matt
Word Verification: 'lions' - does that make me Daniel? ;)
I like this one:
ReplyDelete"We are not called to do witnessing; we are called to be witnesses." - Paul Anderson-Walsh
Like many things in my Christian walk, this is one of those areas where what I believe doesn't always match up with what I do. Oh, what a wretched man that I am.
ReplyDeleteOver the last couple of years, my philosophy on this topic has changed. The main reason is because I have a clearer understanding of the gospel.
I saw this video a while back and it also impacted the way I think about evangelism:
http://splicd.com/m7LvYCIfM1k/220/432
This post gives me two quick thoughts.
ReplyDelete1 - Jesus was often accused of being a "friend of sinners" but sometimes Christians (especially in America and doubly especially in the South) fear this label.
2 - Paul spoke of different people planting, watering and harvesting. Sometimes we do drive-by evangelism looking to harvest where there hasn't been enough planting or watering happening. Sometimes we need a little discernment to what is needed in these situations.
Welcome ExPatMatt - I hope you enjoy the conversation!
I'm going to refer back to a Rich Mullins quote. It is one of my all time favorites. Sums it up for me pretty well:
ReplyDeleteThe Nuts and Bolts of Christianity
@kj,
ReplyDeleteexcellent point. i think we focus too much on results sometimes. let's just put the Gospel out there and like Jeff said, let the Holy Spirit do the work. and sometimes a drive-by will be planting a seed and sometimes it will be the time of harvest. we just never know.
One of my favorite quotes ever is from St. Francis of Assisi:
ReplyDeletePreach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words.
I've tried to live my life like that--instead of constantly trying to fit Jesus in EVERY conversation I have with nonbelievers. But Jesus is also so part of my mentality, that He does come up in everyday conversation. I feel like all types of evangelists are necessary for furthering God's kingdom though. There are those who get up on their soapbox and just proclaim the Gospel to people walking by, and there are those who evangelize only in their spheres of influence. I used to be annoyed by people on the soapbox, but I realized that God uses them--someone passing by could do so at a God-ordained moment and hear something he/she needed to hear at that moment, prompting them to seek God. I don't think it's ok to thump people over the heads with the Gospel, but I think we as believers should be on the lookout for opportunities that God gives us to witness to people--whether it's a good friend or a stranger in the airport who just needs someone to talk to (yes, that's happened to my roommate). And those nonbelieving friends we all have who won't believe are still friends with us, so that means we're not offending them & they enjoy being with us. Maybe it's the Spirit that draws them and not our amazing personalities, like we think. =)
Colin and Huck-
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments/video on this. I hear you loud and clear. I am sad to say that many times I have wanted to talk about Jesus with others and even felt the Holy Spirit telling me to share and I ignored it, rationalizing how it wasn't the right time, right place, I didn't have the right words, what if they asked something I couldn't answer and that caused more damage than good...etc. That is fear, disobedience and just plain sin in my life. There's no other way to put it. The BEST resource I have ever read on witnessing is William Fay's Share Jesus Without Fear. It is extremely practical and helped me to get rid of all the excuses I was holding on to. I think most Christians truly want to share their faith in an honest, loving, non-threatening way with friends and strangers alike and just have no idea where to start. Here's a place to start!
Like ex-pat Matt, I've been a victim of the drive by evangelism, and it is no fun. I was at my cousin's wedding and sitting with a friend of his who immediately started witnessing to me. Now, he'd just met me. He didn't know if I was a believer or not. He just started asking leading questions and you could tell that no matter what I said, he was going to keep going.
ReplyDeleteI took that moment to say, "Oh, look, the cake's being cut! I'm going to go get some!"
@lenamarie,
ReplyDeleteGreat comment. Although I do have a little bit of an issue with that quote:
http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/2009/06/557-creating-tracts-that-look-like.html#c6146265103669628525
I love your use of "gospel" as a verb. Kinda reminds of the "love is a verb" hype of a few years back.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing. One of my friends is really anti-Christian, but friend #2 and I have been bringing her to a movie night at my church to hopefully plant some seeds. Friend #3 and I have been talking and I mentioned this a couple days ago in an email. The last email I got included something funny so I forwarded it to our group of friends. I just realized I sent Friend #1 the details about how Friend #2 and I are trying to show her God and that I'm telling people about it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why I felt compelled to spill my guts on a blog about it, but evidently it's my day to say to much.
Lauri-- hopefully this will show Friend #1 how much you care!
ReplyDeletewv: cootant - someone who has cooties
example - Hopefully after reading her email, Friend #1 will not treat Lauri and Friend #2 like cootants.
I am a non-believer who both has several Christian friends and happens to enjoy your blog very much. (Calm down Christian readers, conversion is not in future.) I would like to think that my believer friends both appreciate me as person as well as a friend—albeit a friend who happens to have different beliefs than they do.
ReplyDeletePerhaps having non-believers as friends provides the opportunity not only to witness, as you like to say, but also to challenge your own beliefs through respectful and tolerant discourse. Additionally, non-believer friends are an opportunity to practice that compassion/tolerance Jesus spoke of so highly.
Honestly, I shutter to think about my Christian friends "witnessing" to me. The notion of "witnessing" has always struck me as highly condescending, as it presupposes one person, the Christian, has all the definitive answers. It is not necessary for my friends to share my beliefs about what our ultimate purpose on this planet is or what happens once we die. However, what is essential is a mutual respect for our differences as individuals and a genuine interest in promoting each others' well being; as a profound non-believer, being reminded of Jesus at every turn or point of crisis would not support my sense of well being. That would just make me feel like my friend didn’t know me or was refusing to listen.
That’s one non-believer’s point of view. Discuss amongst yourselves.
i'd like to think that the lifestyle i lead is a witness (good or bad!) but i'm also not naieve enough to think that anyone will "accidentally" be saved just because they see me go to church a few times a week or pray before i eat lunch in the office breakroom. what i do around others is of equal importance to what i say TO others. it doesn't have to be this logistically planned out manuever to Witness (with a capital W) but can be in the everyday conversations we have with non-believers. maintaining those relationships so that when the opportunity presents itself (and then taking advantage of the opportunity and not keeping our mouths shut) makes us more credible in our witness (lower case w!). i want to be genuine and honorable in my witness to others - whether it's intentional or passive.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite way to witness is to serve. Serve the needy or with redfrogs @ schoolies week (huge event in Australia www.redfrogs.com.au )
ReplyDeleteI find that when you love someone, for no reason, not cos they can do or give something to you, but just to love, people begin to ask questions...
when sharing about my beliefs, I generally start with grace... rather than sin.. and I use the Prodigal son parable to help...
i love this topic today.
ReplyDeletei also try to live the the St. Francis quote, but from time to time i have found it necessary to use words and i think i'm pretty lousy at that part.
right now though, a distant cousin in prison for murder is reaching out to me. not to know Jesus, but to know his family and i feel called to share the Jesus part of our family.
i definitely don't want to do a driveby, and would prefer to love people to Jesus and BE a witness.
i am at a loss for words though. my distant cousin believes we were created by aliens.
Seeing "non-Christian friends" simply as witnessing cannon fodder is absolutely wrong. One should value them for all that they are, and not look for "witnessing" opportunities.
ReplyDeleteThe best approach to witnessing is simply to become a happy, joyful human being, and not to look for opportunities or try to create them. Don't try to be perfect, just be who you are, warts and all.
Doesn't the word "witness" mean to tell about events with your mouth? What if a witness came to the stand, swore, and then didn't to speak? Would that be affective? It's putting our faith in the events of the gospel that save us. People won't figure out the substitutionary death of Christ on our behalf by watching us be faithful to our spouse.
ReplyDeleteJon, I loved your story of the woman healed in the crowd. Really cool. However, there are also many biblical examples, especially in Acts, of the Apostles "drive-by" witnessing, confrontationally, offensively, intensely, without being asked. I'm not comfortable with this, but it's there.
~Michele
I think there's certainly a balance to be struck here. Living an exemplary life (which includes admitting you're not perfect and apologizing for mistakes!) is essential to witnessing; not only does it catch the eye of non-believers, it also confirms the transformational power of Jesus. But without explicit conversations about the gospel, many people will go on believing the messages they've inherited from culture and the media that distort and replace the gospel with something incorrect. Most people, I suspect, have a fundamental misunderstanding of the gospel. If you ask people what they think a person must do to get into heaven, they'll start with "belief in Jesus" but it will ultimately boil down to "being good." But if you dialogue with them about how the gospel works, they'll at least hear that it's not about what we do - it's about what Christ did.
ReplyDeleteExPatMatt and Anonymous @9:15- Thanks for stopping by and giving me your perspective. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteHere's my thoughts for whatever it's worth. I agree with the previous posters, witnessing is not something you do, it is who you are. For example, Jesus is such a part of my life, He comes up in small ways in my every day conversations (even with non-christians). It's not the full gospel message, but it's more like what He's shown me in my life or something along those lines. I just feel like we as Christians leave out the Holy Spirit in all of this. We are the messengers but it's the Holy Spirit who does the transforming of lives.
Carrie, AMEN to that.
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 9:15, I feel that, big time.
Jesus said that we should let our light shine so others will see our good works. When we set a good example of living according to the Bible, we should appear different to the people we know. Those whom God is calling (God isn't calling everyone now) will be motivated to ask us questions. That is one of the best forms of personal witnessing.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who does not practice Christianity may I please make a humble request? (please don't think I mean this in a confrontational kind of way, I really don't).
ReplyDeleteNot everyone who is not a Christian is an atheist. In otherwords it's kind of hurtful to call us "non-believers". I very much believe in God, as do the majority of people who are not Christian.
I would never refer to a Christain as a "non-beliver" just because they don't practice my religion and I would really appreciate the same coutosy in return, as would many other people of faith I think.
Ihave learned beautiful things from the writings of great spiritual teachers from the Christian Faith, I know of and respect Christianity and have many Christian friends, but I don't think I could be friends with someone who constantly desired/tried to change my deeply held religious beliefs, nor would I ever dream of trying to change someone elses beliefs or convert them to my religion. That's not really a friendship, it's a sales pitch. I don't want to be someone's "non-christian friend" I want to be their friend.
@A Humble request from a person of a different...(sorry the rest of it post got cut off) :)
ReplyDeleteI see your point and that is why I try to avoid the word "non-believer". Therefore, I use the term non-christian. Answering your thoughts towards the end, as a follower of Christ I'm told to tell others about my faith. So...naturally that's what I try to do. However, I can agree with you that we should not base friendships solely on the basis of conversion. I personally base my friendships on whether I like to hang with that person or not:) If they happen to be a non-christian, that's fine. But they gotta understand that they're gonna be hearing how Jesus changed my life. Not because I'm trying to sell them something, but because He has done so much for me, He just comes up in my conversations. Blessings to you and thank you for honestly posting your thoughts. That's awesome.
@ "A humble request from a person of a different faith",
ReplyDeleteYou are right that we Christians say and do a lot of strange things. There are over 500 posts on this site to prove that! And sometimes we get so used to saying certain words and phrases that we don't even think about what they mean!
I can't speak for everybody here, but when I use the term "non-believer", I'm not necessarily referring to someone who doesn't believe in God, but someone who doesn't believe in the God of the Bible. The God that says he is only true God. The God that Jesus himself claimed to be. The Jesus that claimed to be the only way.
And I agree with Carrie. The fact that you are a different religion will have no affect on our friendship. But if I believe the Bible and the words of Jesus (and I do), then I cannot keep silent even if some may disagree.
Thanks for your comment!
Perhaps you should just stick to calling everyone heathens instead? ;)
ReplyDeleteI actually don't prefer either non-believer or atheist, I like to be defined by what I am, rather than what I'm not.
I am Matt, nice to meet you!
Hi Matt, nice to meet you too!
ReplyDeleteI see how people don't like to be labeled, especially when it involves a stereotype. But if a Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, or Flying Spaghetti Monsterist wants to call me a "non-believer" because I don't follow their religion, I'm fine with that. In fact, I'm glad for the distinction.
And I'm from the southern US, so we like to say "heatherns". ;)
The Holy Spirit gives out different gifts to different people. So long as we are listening to Him and using those gifts for Him, it's all good.
ReplyDeleteIf we do it for any other reason, all on our own, none of it is any good...
Hey, thanks for sharing, "Humble." I often forget that the jargon that's useful in conversation with other Christians doesn't come across the same way at all with non-Christians (see? I can be taught!). "Non-believer," is of course, absurdly over-broad. There are different religious beliefs, and then there is every other sort of belief - I believe that Jesus is God, I believe God exists, I believe I'll be a doctor someday, I believe I'll have another beer. According to Descartes, no one can really be a non-believer in the most straightforward sense of the word! ...
ReplyDelete...I guess that's another thing Christians like - using weird, specialized vocabulary that isn't accessible to everyone. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteand by "accessible" I actually mean "accessible and inoffensive." Time to stop posting...
ReplyDeleteI know what witnessing is but I can explain it better when I say what it's not.
ReplyDeleteWitnessing is not saying "repent or go to Hell." Witnessing is not arguing political hot-button issues like abortion or gay rights. Witnessing is not asserting the Christians live worriless lives free of pain. Witnessing is not insulting another person's core values. Witnessing is not a claim of perfection or all encompassing knowledge. Witnessing is not an opportunity to display your superiority. Witnessing is not violent or confrontational. Witnessing is not biased, racist, or elitist. Witnessing does not contradict its speech with its actions.
Witnessing is like the Nirvana song Come As You Are. It is a reflection of God's power to work in your life - faults and all. witnessing is a living imperfect example. Witnessing is "becoming all things to all men."
Very funny post. I agree with the comment that we are suppose to be witnesses not just do witnessing.
ReplyDeleteI found that witnessing is easier after those in your life watch you stumble and rebound. People are watching us go through troubled times and want to know how we got through it. So I don't agree when Christians seperate from unbelievers, live in a bubble and then go witness or missionary date.
I also think we need to discern the 'space' of our relationships. Jesus had the 70 disciples he sent out (does anyone know their names?), then the 12 disciples, the 3 that saw him transfigure and then the 1, the beloved John. If a non-believer is in my life, I figure they are there to read my life, which may be the only bible they ever read. I may not pull them so far into my life like Jesus did with John. But I don't ignore them.
Lets get real, there are folks in church who ain't so ... oh nevermind.
I'm not sure how my non-Christian friends would feel about being "practiced on", (lol, I started writing this before I read some of the other comments and I think they would probably feel the same as many of the non-Christian commenters stated) but this story reminds me of a time some years back when a long-time friend of my husband, who was not a Christian, after having known me for some years, said to me "I wish more Christians were like you. You don't shove it down our throats; you just LIVE it!"
ReplyDeleteI was really touched and encouraged by that comment as I had often felt that I don't "witness" verbally often enough, but he showed me that, as many others here have stated, our lives can speak much more about Christ than our mere words. Not to deny that words are also important, but they are not the MOST important thing. After all, if Jesus is really living in us, His love and Light will shine out through us.
Didn't Jesus tell us the most important commandment, after Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, is to love your neighbor as yourself?
And I would like to welcome Ex-pat Matt and thank you, Matt for your thoughtful and respectful contribution to this discussion. It is appreciated. :-)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt's tough when you work in the church to make real friends that are not christians. I have often found it necessary to get my christian friends re-saved in order to practice efficiently. Example. "You were HOW old when you got saved??? Do you really think at that young an age you are capable of making such a radical decision? Let me tell you about a Jewish carpenter I know.."
ReplyDeleteTo find the right balance, I think you have to look at the phrase Jesus used in his instruction, where the phrase "witness" comes from. He said "you shall BE my witnesses", not 'do my witnessing'. What's a witness? Someone who watches, sees, experiences. Gotta start there. Second, they are sometimes called on to share what they saw. So the focus is on experiencing Jesus first-hand, then secondly when called for talking about your personal experience (not some canned lines or tract - ugh). Non-Christians, does the idea of a friend telling you about their personal faith experience seem offensive or intolerant? I love to hear others of different religions talk of their faith, and learn of their worldview, even if they never ask about mine.
ReplyDeleteA second thought for our non-Christian friends: a religion worth following is one you are 100% convinced of. And if your Christian friend is 100% convinced there is an afterlife and only one way to get the good afterlife, even if you think he's misguided doesn't it show love rather than arrogance that he'd want to discuss it with you? That's what makes the idea of "tolerance" so troublesome to the Christian: it is a core belief that there is only one answer (Jesus was quoted as teaching that). (I personally hate the concept of tolerance, as it suggests begrudging acceptance, versus open-armed love- ie I tolerate my flu shot each autumn.) so a gentle correction to anon 9:15; Jesus didn't teach tolerance, but you are correct that he taught compassion and always love for everyone (regardless of beliefs!).
Just wanted to comment after reading some of the posts about the need to overtly witness with words.(eg anon@11.01). Many people here have argued the case both ways ("with words" or "by lifestyle") so I'm not going to do that. But I can't help feeling that how we ourselves came to follow Jesus will influence how we witness to others and I want to give a quick bit of testimony.
ReplyDeleteI became a Christian 7 years ago at the age of 37. I was a hardened cynic about Christianity and although I believed in God, it was in a very distant way. Then, my husband's lapsed faith got fired up and he started going to church. At first I ridiculed him horribly although secretly I was impressed by the change that had come over him and I wished I could believe that strongly myself. That felt impossible though - I saw it as brainwashing that he'd received as a child. Anyway, his quiet determination to follow his belief and the way he responded so calmly when I verbally attacked him witnessed to me enormously and I began to search and seek. I puzzled over how he could believe certain things and he would just say "have a read of one of the gospels - you'll see there that's what Jesus said". I started reading Matthew and was convicted. After some time, my eyes were opened to my cynicism/superiority and I felt really bad about it and the walls I put up with people. I ended up praying to God that He would change me and my cycnicism (no conventional "sinner's prayer"!). I didn't expect anything to happen but immediately He gave me a gift of faith. Suddenly I believed. I am a psychologist and I can't explain that! ANyway, later there was plenty of time to get to grips with Christian doctrine and to understand it all more fully. The key part of my conversion was the challenge and offence of seeing my husband live his life in a new way and that he did not overtly try to get me to believe anything. He left it to the Holy Spirit and me.
So now I am uncomfortable with aggressive witnessing. I have many non-Christian friends and the main thing for me is that they know about my faith and they can be quietly challenged by what that means for our friendship and for them.
I have been reading a book titled "Irresistible Evangelism" and it focuses on developing a relationship with people and not looking at them as a "project." People hate that! And it talks about figuring out where people are spiritually to determine how to approach someone. Like on a golf course, you use different clubs depending upon where the golf ball lies. Same with people, we need to use different "clubs" depending upon where people are in relation to God.
ReplyDeleteHi Matt! Totally agree with the label thing. When I know someone's name, I don't refer to them by what they are or aren't. That would be like me saying, "hey, here's Anna, my brown haired, hispanic, non-christian friend." That would be ridiculous not to mention offensive. However, when referring to a non-descript group, I do use the term "non-christian". I feel like it's less harsh than the word heathens :) Plus, I don't think half the population knows what the word heathens means :)
ReplyDeleteCarrie,
ReplyDeleteI though 'heathen' meant; 'ruggedly handsome and intelligent guy who's also very modest'
Have I been wrong all these years!?
Oh, and tell your non-blonde, non-black, non-Christian friend, whatever her name isn't, that she should wear a name badge.
;)
JESUS SAVED
ReplyDeleteWho is this catholic/christian "jesus"?
ReplyDeletehttp://asimpleandspirituallife.blogspot.com/2008/07/who-is-this-christian-jesus-truth-is.html
That post was spot-on. And then I read the comments, and yikes. Sometimes the whole Christian Culture is ugh, ugh, ugh.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes it interesting to me is that since moving to the West Coast, I have found more "non-believers" (hate that term, too) who are friendlier, more caring, more involved in their community, care more for the environment, engage their brains, lend a hand, give to the poor, blah blah blah, than many of the "believers" I've known most my life. Have they said the Magic Prayer? Ha.
I have no answers. Only questions. Like this one.
God didn't come up with the "Romans Road." Man did. Hypothetically speaking, what if someone would have chosen Matthew 25:31-46 instead as the Secret Code To Get Into Heaven? The one that would be printed in all the tracts? Then who would be the sheep and who would be the goats and who would REALLY need to be "witnessed" to?
"Pure And Undefiled Religion"
ReplyDelete"Pure religion and undefiled before G-D The Father is this, to visit the fatherless (those children who know not The Only True G-D, Father(Creator) of ALL) and widows(those who have not "experienced The Messiah and The Power{Our Father} that raised Him from among the dead") in their affliction and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the world......." (James 1:27)
Simply, all other religion is impure and defiled.......
And notice that "pure and undefiled" religion is "oneself(individual)", a Brother or Sister doing The Will of Our Father, led of The Holy, Set Apart, Spirit.......
Pagan "religion" is corporate.......
And "Brothers and Sisters" is not "religion", for what are Brothers and Sisters if not Family? Would not The Family of The Only True G-D, Father(Creator) of ALL, "The Body of The Messiah", be much closer than a natural, fleshly family?
What is declared to be "religion" today is truly the devil's playground.......
Simply, Faith will not create a system of religion.......
Hope is there would be those who take heed unto The Call of The Only True G-D to "Come Out of her, MY people"!
For they will "Come Out" of this wicked world(babylon) and it's systems of religion, into "the glorious Liberty of The Children of The Only True G-D".
They will no longer be of those who are destroying the earth(land, air, water, vegetation, creatures)" and perverting that which is Spirit(Light, Truth, Life, Love, Peace, Hope, Faith, Mercy, Grace, Miracles, etc.).
Peace, in spite of the dis-ease(religion) that is of this world and it's systems of religion, for "the WHOLE(not just a portion) world is under the control of the evil one" (1John5:19) indeed and Truth.......
Truth is never ending.......
thedestructionoftheearth.wordpress.com
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ReplyDeleteAs one of the few atheists in a Christian town, it is not unusual for me to be approached or called with a "There's something I want to tell you" from one of my friends. It seems very much like they have something they need to get out of their systems. It's kind of cute.
ReplyDelete