When Hamish is out with me, and decides to chase after every jogger, bicycle, or just be naughty, it reflects badly on me. It doesn’t reflect too badly on him, as people rightly assume that I should be able to control Him. Stop things before they happen. He is a witness to how I am as a dog owner. Looking at him will tell someone a lot about me. He can be a good or bad witness.
Now being a Christian is different, as when we sin, it’s not God’s fault! But people still look at us and make judgments about God, in part because of our witness.
‘He says he is a Christian, if that’s what a Christian is, I don’t want to be one.’ Do you realise you could be a stumbling block to someone coming to know Christ, by your attitude, what you say, what you do?
It’s not just sharing the gospel with people, which makes you a good witness but how you are doing it. I think we all have come across people that seem angry, or appear to have no love or grace sharing the gospel. The bible says that is like a clanging cymbal. Maybe that is where the phrase ‘bible thumper/basher’ comes from? As sometimes I feel I am going to be assaulted!
“…always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
1 Peter 3:15
It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it! I’ve heard people saying all the right things (and even wishing I could phrase it like that) but they don’t come across as having any love or concern for the people they are sharing it with!
There is a pendulum it seems about the viewpoint on witnessing. Some are basically ashamed of God at work, with friends (Mark 8:28 – Then God will be ashamed of you) or they never say anything, believing that by living a ‘good life’ on its own is enough.
Then the pendulum swings the other way, ‘the every time you see someone, knowing they are going to preach at you.’
I believe we need to first have and show Christ’s love in our speech, attitude, actions – in everything.
We need to be in constant prayer, asking God to give us an opportunity to speak to our neighbour or work colleague. Having the attitude of ‘God hasn’t told me yet to do it’ is wrong, if you haven’t specifically prayed about it!
If you don’t pray about it and ask God to give you an opportunity, then don’t be surprised when there isn’t one!
“always being prepared” Are we prepared?
As well as the right motives – love and prayer, have you memorised any bible verses that show people the gospel?
Have you tried to put into words your testimony, how God has specifically worked in your life/situation?
That’s the most powerful witness there is – your story of how God has worked, changed you.
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.“ Colossians 4:6
Have we taken the time to know where someone is in life? Are they hurting, do they have a need? Each person will respond to a different approach, how you will phrase it. We still have to do it in love and graciousness. Sometimes a more gentle approach is required others a more no nonsense way is needed
Do we even have a desire to witness?
"You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.”
“And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him?”
Pray that an opportunity will open up and that we will be ready for it.
Now being a Christian is different, as when we sin, it’s not God’s fault! But people still look at us and make judgments about God, in part because of our witness.
‘He says he is a Christian, if that’s what a Christian is, I don’t want to be one.’ Do you realise you could be a stumbling block to someone coming to know Christ, by your attitude, what you say, what you do?
It’s not just sharing the gospel with people, which makes you a good witness but how you are doing it. I think we all have come across people that seem angry, or appear to have no love or grace sharing the gospel. The bible says that is like a clanging cymbal. Maybe that is where the phrase ‘bible thumper/basher’ comes from? As sometimes I feel I am going to be assaulted!
“…always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
1 Peter 3:15
It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it! I’ve heard people saying all the right things (and even wishing I could phrase it like that) but they don’t come across as having any love or concern for the people they are sharing it with!
There is a pendulum it seems about the viewpoint on witnessing. Some are basically ashamed of God at work, with friends (Mark 8:28 – Then God will be ashamed of you) or they never say anything, believing that by living a ‘good life’ on its own is enough.
Then the pendulum swings the other way, ‘the every time you see someone, knowing they are going to preach at you.’
I believe we need to first have and show Christ’s love in our speech, attitude, actions – in everything.
We need to be in constant prayer, asking God to give us an opportunity to speak to our neighbour or work colleague. Having the attitude of ‘God hasn’t told me yet to do it’ is wrong, if you haven’t specifically prayed about it!
If you don’t pray about it and ask God to give you an opportunity, then don’t be surprised when there isn’t one!
“always being prepared” Are we prepared?
As well as the right motives – love and prayer, have you memorised any bible verses that show people the gospel?
Have you tried to put into words your testimony, how God has specifically worked in your life/situation?
That’s the most powerful witness there is – your story of how God has worked, changed you.
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.“ Colossians 4:6
Have we taken the time to know where someone is in life? Are they hurting, do they have a need? Each person will respond to a different approach, how you will phrase it. We still have to do it in love and graciousness. Sometimes a more gentle approach is required others a more no nonsense way is needed
Do we even have a desire to witness?
"You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.”
“And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him?”
Pray that an opportunity will open up and that we will be ready for it.
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