Witnessing

[jamie26301]

I'm just going to make this really short (or try):

You've heard the Sinner's Prayer, leading someone in this to salvation. Without interjecting my thoughts (yet), how do you witness when opportunity comes?

Or do you SEEK opportunity, as in street evangelism?

How necessary is witnessing for people in this culture where the Western symbols are common, to somewhere in tribal Africa?

Why do you witness, beyond the command of the Lord? What purpose is there? (I'm not assuming here there is no purpose, I am asking for the ideas to be put in your own words. Thank you )

 

[Angela53510]

Good topic!

I think starting with our testimony is a good place. Because people can argue theology, but it is hard to refute what has actually happened to you.

Once someone is interested, I think it is time to bring out the Bible verses on sin and repentance. I think that many people buy into the lie that being a "good" person gets you to heaven. Pointing out "good" can never be reached, except by the one who made a way - Jesus Christ is another good way to go.

I've seen the Master's Way videos by Ray Comfort, using the 10 commandments to show people their sin, but my thought is that you can back people into a corner, but that doesn't make them believe in Jesus.

I don't really think the sinner's prayer seals the deal either, although it might in some cases. I've done street witnessing in Canada when I was first saved, and it was a total failure. A friend of mine from Seminary was posting on FB about feeling (self) righteous for going to Hollywood and standing on a street corner and preaching the gospel. I was there a few years ago, and I saw people like that. Just another part of the show, on Hollywood and Vine.

I guess I am saying, we need to sow seeds where God places us. I have a close friend with the gift of evangelism. she literally leads several people to the Lord each week. She has 3 people getting baptized this Sunday she led to the Lord, including a quadriplegic who was trying to kill himself, and has totally turned around, through the power of God. She never plans these witnessing sessions. She just prays and stays close to God, and then shows up where he tells her too. It amazes me!

 

[Jruiz]

Hmm...well...I think we are all called to witness to people as Christians. You can ask God to send unbelievers your way...pray before witnessing that God will use your mouth and give you wisdom...street preaching can be a little scary but God can make thou bold...I feel the best when I'm witnessing to people. I wish I wad in position where I can do that alot more....

 

[Utah]

I share with others the joy, peace and restoration with God that I have forever in Jesus Christ.

I want people to have that joy, that peace, that power, and that's why I witness.

 

[maxwel]

Jamie26301,

These are great questions.

So... what is going on in your life that brought up all these questions about witnessing?

 

[Joidevivre]

I have found that once you get "filled up with God's word", and your first priority is intimacy with and worshiping Him, then He moves people into your life. You hardly have to go find them.

Angela and Utah said it so well - everyone is interested in knowing what you have (assuming you have IT).

Conversations seem to flow easily when moved by the Holy Spirit. And I notice that I'm usually led to first be very interested in them - their needs, their struggles, what helps them or not - and it goes from there.

 

[MyLighthouse]

It's hard to say. God is very creative and when you let Him use you and open your eyes to the opportunities around you, awesome things happen! Every person is different therefore every situation is different. But it's always the Holy Spirit that convicts a person of sin, righteousness, and judgment (Jn 16:8). And the Word of God that will accomplish what God has set it out to do (Isa 55:11).

I do not believe in the sinner's prayer, a sinner has their own. Telling someone what to say to God isn't them, leading them or showing them how, is them personally starting their own prayer life with God. You wouldn't lead someone who committed adultery to repeat after you in asking the spouse for forgiveness. it's just not the same as the person telling the one the did wrong, their wrong and desire to reconcile themselves.

I witness because I have a fire shut up in my bones that can not be contained (Jere 20:9)! I can't help to tell people of the one my heart loves! The purpose is to seek and save the lost(Lk 19:10) as well as that God desires no man to perish, but to come to repentance(Ez 18:23). His desire is mine as well

 

[elf3]

I have found in my own experience, everyone's is different, that talk is many times "cheap". I have heard other Christians just start preaching God's Word and it works for them. I have seen others share their testimony and it works for them. God uses each of us different. With me God uses my actions. In the way I approach things or by my attitude God reaches out to others through me. When others see a "difference" in me they usually ask "what is different". I then share my testimony. If they are still interested to learn more then I start using questions to get them thinking. If it goes beyond my questions then I will go to God's Word. It's pretty neat how God uses each of us differently to spread His Word. Yinz can reach some I cant and I can reach some yinz cant.

Oh I love how God works through each of us differently. What an awesome God we have

If God is first in your life then God will be displayed first through your life.

 

[MarcR]

I have seen street evangelists be successful if they spoke to people rather than at them and were not judgemental.

those who are successful tend to speak to individuals or small groups rather than preach to a crowd.

I think the most successful evangelists start a conversation and find ways to turn the conversation to talk about spiritual things.

Regardless what method you use three things are essential:

1) pray before, while, and after you speak.

2) Show the people you share with respect

3) don't try to force yourself or your words on the unreceptive.

Why witness?

Knowing the alternative to Salvation; it is the only compassionate thing to do.

 

[elf3]

I have seen street evangelists be successful if they spoke to people rather than at them and were not judgemental.

those who are successful tend to speak to individuals or small groups rather than preach to a crowd.

I think the most successful evangelists start a conversation and find ways to turn the conversation to talk about spiritual things.

Regardless what method you use three things are essential:

1) pray before, while, and after you speak.

2) Show the people you share with respect

3) don't try to force yourself or your words on the unreceptive.

Why witness?

Knowing the alternative to Salvation; it is the only compassionate thing to do.

You said it brother...Love, Respect and Humility. The keys to every aspect of our lives in Christ.

Prayer...love
Respect...respect
Don't force...humility

 

[crossnote]

"How necessary is witnessing for people in this culture where the Western symbols are common, to somewhere in tribal Africa?"

I think it just as necessary in either country but more difficult in America where familiarity breeds contempt. I find when approaching people here with the Gospel a wall of resistance immediately goes up partially due to wrongly preconceived misconceptions as to what the Gospel is due to false media stereotypes and tv shysters.

 

[Angela53510]

I witnessed to a young woman on FB today, that I am in a group with. That wall of resistance went up like a bullet! I have to wonder why her rejection of the gospel was so filled with vehement hatred.

Sometimes I wish God would lead me to fertile fields, instead of hard dry ground! Never-the-less, not my will, but His!

 

[jamie26301]

These are great questions.

Thank you.

So... what is going on in your life that brought up all these questions about witnessing?

Well, I'm married to a wonderful, affectionate man. I have a job I genunially enjoy that I can do from home. I have since the wedding lost over 20 pounds, and lost 20 right before. I feel good, and look great in my clothes. I am learning better ways of navigating social media and learning to walk away from stopped ears. I have finally found a natural practice that relaxes me to the point that even my 90 mph brain can't stop sleep.

Life is very good for me, at this point... but I don't believe anything beyond curosity and desire to learn from others prompted these questions. It's something that doesn't pop up, that often.

I'm confused: Why is a thread about a specific topic (that Christians do debate, mind you) being turned into a discussion about me?

 

[jamie26301]

I think it just as necessary in either country but more difficult in America where familiarity breeds contempt. I find when approaching people here with the Gospel a wall of resistance immediately goes up partially due to wrongly preconceived misconceptions as to what the Gospel is due to false media stereotypes and tv shysters.

Yes, absolutely. What I was insinuating is not that Americans don't need it, but that most have access if they should desire, and thus, could places like Africa be more imperative, and take priority? Paul himself got fed up with the Jews, and proclaimed "I go to the Gentiles."

From my experience, those opposed are not always ignorant of the Gospel - they may have grown up in church, even. Where they stumble is the hypocrisy they think the Gospel ultimately leads to. Some people critize as such: "Yeah, they can drink and party from Monday to Saturday, but they just say a prayer Sunday morning and all is well." They get hung up on the idea that the Gospel is often used to enable immoral behavior and abused. And then there's the other end of resistance, also from seeing hypocrisy, where Christians judge for what they themselves do.

Please note, the above paragraph is not so much excusing them for stereotypes, as just explaining them. And you DO see those things in some circles.

 

[maxwel]

Thank you.



Well, I'm married to a wonderful, affectionate man. I have a job I genunially enjoy that I can do from home. I have since the wedding lost over 20 pounds, and lost 20 right before. I feel good, and look great in my clothes. I am learning better ways of navigating social media and learning to walk away from stopped ears. I have finally found a natural practice that relaxes me to the point that even my 90 mph brain can't stop sleep.

Life is very good for me, at this point... but I don't believe anything beyond curosity and desire to learn from others prompted these questions. It's something that doesn't pop up, that often.

I'm confused: Why is a thread about a specific topic (that Christians do debate, mind you) being turned into a discussion about me?

Often people ask a very BROAD question because of very SPECIFIC reasons.

If we know those specific reasons, we can do a much job of answering the question in a specific way that relates to them.

That's all.


There are probably a million different reasons to ask questions about witnessing,
and probably a million different directions to go with the conversation.

Just trying to narrow things down to whatever is pertinent.

 

[jamie26301]

With me God uses my actions. In the way I approach things or by my attitude God reaches out to others through me. When others see a "difference" in me they usually ask "what is different". I then share my testimony. If they are still interested to learn more then I start using questions to get them thinking.

I have a hard question, and please don't think it contentious. What do you say to the idea that therapy, or New Age meditation, also can produce well adjusted, loving people? Being decent/compassionate/loving outwardly, which is what you're addressing here, is not something unique to Christians. What sets you apart then? What makes our faith something they can't get through self-help?

If it goes beyond my questions then I will go to God's Word. It's pretty neat how God uses each of us differently to spread His Word. Yinz can reach some I cant and I can reach some yinz cant.

I do like the variety of God.

 

[jamie26301]

Often people ask a very BROAD question because of very SPECIFIC reasons.

How are they not specific? The Bible itself is kinda vague in the "instructions" of witnessing. How would you narrow the topic?

In this case, the specific reason is not related to anything other than learning.

Just trying to narrow things down to whatever is pertinent.

Thanks for the explanation, but I am not asking because I need some answer in my life for whatever reason, but I want to glean more perspective from others.

 

[maxwel]

How are they not specific? The Bible itself is kinda vague in the "instructions" of witnessing. How would you narrow the topic?

In this case, the specific reason is not related to anything other than learning.


Thanks for the explanation, but I am not asking because I need some answer in my life for whatever reason, but I want to glean more perspective from others.

Jamie,

Sometimes people are studying or preparing for something very specific,
like a mission trip, or a move to another country, or taking over a church ministry.
In cases like that, a discussion of "witnessing" would take on different proportions,
and deal with all kinds of locally or culturally specific issues, and even culturally specific methodologies.

I was never suggesting there was anything wrong with your life.

If I offended you in some way, please accept my apology.

 

[jamie26301]

In cases like that, a discussion of "witnessing" would take on different proportions,
and deal with all kinds of locally or culturally specific issues, and even culturally specific methodologies.

That is very true. Certainly in the case of witnessing abroad, the prudent would take steps to ensure a fruitful trip. Culture shock is always something to be concerned with.

If I offended you in some way, please accept my apology.

You have no need to apologize. I was just confused, and sometimes I'm slightly defensive. I'm sorry you felt such, when just trying to help. Thanks.

 

[elf3]

I have a hard question, and please don't think it contentious. What do you say to the idea that therapy, or New Age meditation, also can produce well adjusted, loving people? Being decent/compassionate/loving outwardly, which is what you're addressing here, is not something unique to Christians. What sets you apart then? What makes our faith something they can't get through self-help?


I do like the variety of God.

Very good question. Yes, for sure there are good, loving compassionate non Christians. Now here would be the difference between a non Christian and a Christian who are both the same in view of these things. The difference is not the outward but the inward. We can be loving good and compassionate towards others because we care for others and put others before ourselves which we actually should do. But for a Christian it goes a bit deeper than that. Our outward expressions come from a love of God first. A Christians life should be a life based on God first others second then ourselves third. A non Christian has others first then themselves. The one key missing in a non Christian is God. We cannot know the true difference until we ask "why" they are different. When I am asked "what makes me different" my answer is "God". A non Christian when asked why they are different would not respond with that answer.

Non Christian "therapy" and "new age meditation" are self centered types of "healing". By saying this I mean they deal with getting the "self" right working only with being "right with ourselves" which can lead to being a good loving compassionate person.

Christian "therapy" and "meditation" is putting God first. Becoming closer to God which brings about the same type of person. Christian meditation is thinking upon God and His Word.

Through self help we are trying to help ourselves become better people which can work but we can truly never help ourselves or become "content". We will always question if we are good enough or being good enough. When God is where we go to for "help" we will change and we will become content. Through our faith in Christ we know that because of His blood we are good enough and we don't have to question whether we can be good enough. We become content in Christ.

So you can see that in the two "types" of people the difference is God. One is "self" or "others" centered the other is "God" centered. I pray this answered your question correctly and in a way easy to understand.