i have slowly been making my way through the nearly 500 page chuck colson book, being the body. yesterday, while battling a bit of a stomach bug and at the same time enjoy the amazing thunderstorm which was ripping through dallas, i sat down with mr. colson’s big green book (and a fat orange cat) and dove back in.
the topic on this particular day was evangelism. my entire life, i have felt guilty for not being an evangelist. no, not your typical big haired, super-gunked eyelashes, put-me-on-tv-and-send-me-money kind of evangelist, but the one we are always taught to be in sunday school. the one who witnesses to her friends and shares the miraculous story of how she came to christ.
for one reason, i don’t have some amazing conversion story. i was five years old. finally old enough to sit quietly in a church service with my mom and dad. they had an easter play on sunday, and i had questions. my dad led me to accept christ later that night (and tape recorded it secretly: something i’ll always treasure).
the second reason is that i’m fairly introverted. especially around people with whom i’m not familiar. when i worked in student ministry, we did a beach evangelism trip. the sole purpose was to go out on beaches and witness to those we encountered. some of the high schoolers were great at it. honestly, i was a big fat chicken and spent most of my time chasing them down or encouraging them (oh, okay, really i spent most of the time sitting on the beach reading, okay? there, i said it.)
but i still felt so guilty that i just couldn’t go out and witness.
colson brings out an interesting point in his book; one that had never crossed my mind. whereas some people are given the spiritual gift of evangelism to witness (ephesians 4:11), regardless of your spiritual gifting, we are all called to be witnesses (acts 1:8).
notice the verb changes? one is to witness. one is to be a witness.
i am no bible scholar, and at best, i will define this exposition as simple theology, so please forgive any errors. however, i think it is important to note these differences as the line between witnessing and being a witness has seemingly been very cloudy, at least to me.
the call for all belivers to be a witness is compelling. and how do we become witnesses? by loving. accepting. obeying. you may not be shouting from the rooftops or the street corners, but sometimes the adage silence speaks louder than words is true. as saint francis of assisi so directly stated, “preach the gospel at all times — if necessary, use words.”
Comments
14 responses to “can i get a witness?”
yes but
are not actions the expression
of one’s becoming?
do actions not change
when inclinations do?
is not “to witness”
a way to characterize
one who “is witness”?
i mostly agree, though
andres tres, your semantics are overwhelming me at the moment….now, go get me a coke zero and finish your worship guide.
(pardon the interoffice banter, to those of you who do not spend 40 hours on this third floor we call our home away from home).
In my opinion, I think the idea of going to the beach or the streets and trying to tell people about Christ seems some what inauthentic. I think it possible to convey love through those times, but I think at most times most people feel like you are trying to sell them something.
I think I hear what Andrew is trying to say. Our life is our witness. Good or bad.
I agree. I believe in building relationships to be a witness. If you show yourself to be a faithful friend the topic will come up if you are living differently. I think that is where the difference is. So many people say that they are being a witness when in fact there is nothing that sets them apart from the people they are witnessing to. If you live differently people will notice and the door will be opened.
But that is just my opinion.
Hello,
Everyone is scared to witness (that’s what qualifies you; you’ll be dependant on God and not yourself). I’m also very introverted, and everyone that knows me is amazed when they find out that I started witnessing. Also, please don’t listen to discouragement from Christians about witnessing. If we’re to be obedient, we must open our mouths and explain the gospel.
Since I’ve started witnessing, It’s given me a new-found passion for learning the Bible, and praying. I get to pray for the people I’ve witnessed to. I’ve learned so much. If you want to learn how to witness, and even have someone take you by the hand to go out witnessing (I probably wouldn’t have ever done it without someone to show me how), go to http://www.wayofthemaster.com/audiolessons.shtml, and listen to Hell’s Best Kept Secret. Then, go to http://www.thegreatnews.com and click on “locate a local leader.”
I’ll leave you with a couple of scriptures that you might like:
“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” (Philemon 6)
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14 Don’t worry, you can preach to one person at a time.)
Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
Bill
Bill,
While I do appreciate your comments, and can agree that we should share our faith, I don’t necessarily believe that words must always be used.
If we were to take these scriptures literally, people who are deaf would never hear, and people who are mute would never speak. I do think that I can have spiritual conversations with people and share about my relationship with Christ (and I have, my tattoo guy for example). But I also know I have been approached by people more for my actions, simply loving others. Serving them. People do see the difference (hopefully) that glows around believers.
I agree obedience requires sharing the Gospel, but I don’t think that always necessitates verbally walking someone down that road. I think we can actively share our faith by doing other things than speaking about it. (Check out my post on “They will know us by our love” for a great example of Christ’s love made tangible and an example.)
Thanks for the comment!
Anne
i think “to be a witness” can be as simply put as “show Christ” in everything one does. it doesn’t matter if you’re introvert or the television evangelist.
show Christ through how you treat others, through your generosity, through service, sacrfice, love, the fruits of the spirit. some of the best examples of Christianity in my life had very little do to with “witnessing” to me. But being a witness.
the st. fransissi quote is another one of my favorites.
I’ve never really thought about this before, but it really is so true. And I, like you, am very introverted as well and find it hard to make conversation with complete strangers. Being a youth intern at Westside this summer and last summer, I have also found myself in the same position as you, finding myself lacking in the area of witnessing compared to even some of the high schoolers. :) Thanks for your thoughts, they were really encouraging. Im glad i dont stand alone in some of these things. :)
“preach the gospel at all times — if necessary, use words.”
That did it for me, right there. I so appreciate this post, because I too have struggled with understanding this same thing.
I am an extroverted introvert – which does exist but is a big clue in that I am also not a normal personality. I love talking with people I know or in areas I perceive as safe but get me in a new area, with people I don’t know and you will never know the fun, crazy side of me. Some say there are really two people in me: one is Aaron – the kind, gentle, quiet and docile guy and the other is The Mattchews, a loud, fun, zany nut who can also be selfish and a bit obtrusive. Both are “me” but they are very ying and yang. Sounds crazy but it works for me and I am not bipolar. (Yes, I have made sure)
All this to say I hear you loud and clear on this issue – I take the side of St. Francis in most situations and then I look at what Bill is saying. Sometimes we are given the very strong inclination, from God, to open our mouth and speak and when that happens you will open your mouth and speak – because you just can’t keep from that happening. It is not that God takes away your freewill in that moment, it is just that you know it is what you are suppose to do and it just happens. Those are good areas of truth telling but the true conversions, more often than not, at least is our new culture – seem to come from folks living besides folks.
Of course I have already discredited myself by saying I have duel personalities. So if you are still reading cool.
I have this question for you Anne. What are your thoughts on the church’s pressure for our government sanctioning aspects of private life. Yes I am talking about the hot issues like illegalizing whatever aspects we find unacceptable as a Christian faith. I’ll save my opinion for when/if I hear something back from you.
Blessings my friend!
~ The Mattchews in TN
I sadly once taught Way of The Master to College Students at my church. I cannot see how telling someone they are going to hell is in anyway the message of Christ. Is the point of Salvation escaping hell? It’s a great byproduct but it isn’t at all the point.
I love the fact that Christ drew me to himself. When I was running from him, he called me back. I am so glad that my salvation was no dependent on the people who were once close to me, saying the right words to get me to respond with my eyes closed and my eye bowed. I no longer feel the weight of the salvation of the world’s (maybe overly dramatic, how about the weight of the people I know) salvation on my shoulders. People sadly mistake witnessing with manipulating people to respond. It’s God Job to call people. As a friend, or a fellow in a community all we can do is create an environment that supports and directs people towards Christ. “Directing” can be categorized by talking with people about the things of Christ, sharing with people what Christ has done in your life, living a life that reflects the transformation that you may talk about, loving others, etc. As people who follow after Christ we are called to be the physical representation of Him in a lost world. By “being” we are witnessing, either negatively or positively.
I’m completely with you.
I had a whole dissertation planned but my 3 yr old is trying to type too. Meanwhile and completely unrelated, my 4 yr old had a pee accident while watching the movie Cars, and my 6 yr old is cheering for the same car to win the race(which it doesn’t) and truly believes, one day, he will win. gotta go.
Great topic! I’ve got another verse to add to this discussion, one that’s been kicking me in the backside a lot lately: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (I Peter 3:15). Translation: Be prepared to witness whenever somebody gives you a good reason for it, especially if they ask you why you’ve got all that joy. Lately, I find myself largely unprepared, and along with you, slightly hesitant to share when called upon to do so.
Blessings to you in your blogging.
-Amy Letinsky
http://amyletinsky.wordpress.com