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K
I like the shirts idea, where do you get them? 
I like the behind the scenes witness, I think is the most sincere. Also, sometimes is good to speak about God and explain some verses of the Bible, but depends on the situation, you will notice what's proper in the moment.
I hate that unbelievers CAN point out at christians to be false, hypocrites and over-judgemental. Let's not give them the ground to say that.
I like the behind the scenes witness, I think is the most sincere. Also, sometimes is good to speak about God and explain some verses of the Bible, but depends on the situation, you will notice what's proper in the moment.
I hate that unbelievers CAN point out at christians to be false, hypocrites and over-judgemental. Let's not give them the ground to say that.
D
I believe the method of approach depends upon the situation. It is also important to remember that it is God who does the saving, we are just the instruments He uses to call His elect. It is the Gospel that convicts; not how pretty our tracts are, not how forceful we come across etc. The most important thing is to promote an accurate Gospel to the unregenerate with love for the sinner. I personally like Ray Comfort. He is one of the few individuals who will go just about anywhere and talk to just about anyone about the Gospel. We have to be careful criticizing those for whom Christ died; whom of which are laboring to fulfill the great commission.
J
My way of witnessing is just trying to live my life as the Lord leads me to 24/7, as compassionately as possible. I know it's really corny, but people really don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. For whatever reason, God made me a good listener and people seem to want to pick my brain or dump whatever is on their mind my way on any given day, and I see that as a GOOD thing, because it's a perfect opportunity to ask if I can pray with them about whatever it is and share my faith with them. People very rarely say no at that point. At best it will begin a conversation that will lead to their acceptance of Christ, at worst they listen politely and maybe mull it over.
Sometimes the Lord will lead us to do what may seem like very odd things, but I've learn to just go with it. I was once led out of the blue to write a simple anonymous note to a guy I'd known years before, but very rarely saw that said, "Jesus loves you. Just wanted you to know." A few years later that man walked into my church and gave his heart to the Lord. We had lunch and he told me about the note he'd gotten and said it had been chipping away at his heart all that time. He'd been a pretty rough character, having grown up in a very rough family...dad and stepmother, no godly influences whatsoever and very little love. I did fess up to writing the note eventually.
So many things like that have happened. Simple obedience to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit and the Bride say come, right?
Sometimes the Lord will lead us to do what may seem like very odd things, but I've learn to just go with it. I was once led out of the blue to write a simple anonymous note to a guy I'd known years before, but very rarely saw that said, "Jesus loves you. Just wanted you to know." A few years later that man walked into my church and gave his heart to the Lord. We had lunch and he told me about the note he'd gotten and said it had been chipping away at his heart all that time. He'd been a pretty rough character, having grown up in a very rough family...dad and stepmother, no godly influences whatsoever and very little love. I did fess up to writing the note eventually.
So many things like that have happened. Simple obedience to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit and the Bride say come, right?
R
I've witnessed on the street before. I like it. I can do it. I just don't feel the burden to do it as much as I used to. Then again, when I did feel the burden was when I was in ministry school and sent out on the streets to DO witnessing and nothing much else. In those cases, it was direct and blunt.
Now, when I'm on the streets or in stores, I feel lead to make people smile, brighten their day. If they engage, I may try witnessing. I let God open the doors for me.
But at school, I do relational witnessing. Actions speak louder than words. I act myself, make friends, and love on people to the best of my current human ability. I've seen so many doors open to direct witnessing on campus through this. God brings me the opportunity. I love it.
Now, when I'm on the streets or in stores, I feel lead to make people smile, brighten their day. If they engage, I may try witnessing. I let God open the doors for me.
But at school, I do relational witnessing. Actions speak louder than words. I act myself, make friends, and love on people to the best of my current human ability. I've seen so many doors open to direct witnessing on campus through this. God brings me the opportunity. I love it.
J
I agree, Rissa, relational witnessing is powerful and always has been:
Acts 2 - 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2 - 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
V
I incorporate different styles of witnessing,depending on the person. First, I try to live my life in such a way that others desire to know Christ. I have to confess, I think I tend to fail here a lot. I do try to see the needs of others and help where I can. Also, I know that there are a lot of people who have been hurt by Christians, and so, I try to show them what real Christian love is all about. At other times, I witness verbally, either using stuff from my own life, or other situations to show what God can do. Sometimes, its just explaining the Plan of Salvation. And then, I sometimes leave tracks for people in unusual places.
Seeing as my ex-mother-in-law was a Jehovah's Witness who bombarded me with tracts, books, and lectures that hell was not a real place, I obviously opted for the (Jehovah's) Witness Protection Program...
I was walking across a bridge with my Mom in Las Vegas a few years ago and a guy who was probably younger than me was standing on the bridge, calling out to people as they went by, "Doesn't it bother you that you're going to hell?" This style of "witnessing" REALLY bothers me. I mean, it tempts ME to be confrontational because I want to tell the person, "I'm not going to hell, but thank you for your concern." (I don't mean that in arrogance... as Christians, we are allowed to be confident in our salvation.)
I am much more into relational Christianity. I have sometimes worked with a person for years before I invite them to church. But, by that time, I know the names and ages of their children, family, and pets... I know a bit about their life history, dreams, and disappointments.
It always amazes me that some of the most "in-your-face" Christians who can quote the entire Bible in a flash... have never once lovingly invited anyone to church. I guess if they feel their calling is yelling at and judging people, so be it. But I would rather talk to a an open-minded non-Christian a hundred times over than someone with this type of "style."
I was walking across a bridge with my Mom in Las Vegas a few years ago and a guy who was probably younger than me was standing on the bridge, calling out to people as they went by, "Doesn't it bother you that you're going to hell?" This style of "witnessing" REALLY bothers me. I mean, it tempts ME to be confrontational because I want to tell the person, "I'm not going to hell, but thank you for your concern." (I don't mean that in arrogance... as Christians, we are allowed to be confident in our salvation.)
I am much more into relational Christianity. I have sometimes worked with a person for years before I invite them to church. But, by that time, I know the names and ages of their children, family, and pets... I know a bit about their life history, dreams, and disappointments.
It always amazes me that some of the most "in-your-face" Christians who can quote the entire Bible in a flash... have never once lovingly invited anyone to church. I guess if they feel their calling is yelling at and judging people, so be it. But I would rather talk to a an open-minded non-Christian a hundred times over than someone with this type of "style."
I couldn't agree more!!! I've been more comfortable talking to people who claim ties with pagan, heathen, atheistic, and Wiccan beliefs than (what I personally call) Militant Christians. A friend of mine has an even better term--"Christian Bullies."
How is bowling people over showing the love of Christ?
And when I said I chose the "Jehovah's Witness Protection Program", what I meant was, "Yes. PLEASE protect me from the Jehovah's Witnesses."
Actually, I had a friend in college who was also a JW and I went to a Kingdom Hall Meeting with her... NOT because she was pushy--she didn't even offer!!! She was easy-going and non-confrontational. I asked to go with her because I wanted to kind of check out their beliefs for myself.
J
Several of the people I've led to Christ over the years have said that the biggest reason they didn't listen to the "in your face" types described above is that they didn't walk the walk. One guy (who is a pastor now) told me that the same people who were in his face about Jesus were hanging in the taverns and doing the same things he was doing on the weekends back then, so he didn't pay any attention to them. Maybe that's why allowing our lives to be an example seems to work better for most of the folks who've responded here.