Witnessing to Christians

In my last post I discussed a bit what might be called “accidental witnessing.” Some of my thoughts were particularly inspired by Jonathan Acuff’s post on the subject (stuffchristianslike.com). My questions today are: What about intentional witnessing to Christians? Does evangelism stop when we have prayed “the prayer” or do we continue need to hear the good news and experience salvation? Is there a difference between witnessing to Christians versus non Christians versus Satanists? What is it? Do we get more points for witnessing to Satanists?

So what is witness? Wikipedia describes a witness as a person with firsthand knowledge of an event through their senses. Witnesses are therefore able to testify to the even they experienced. I think this can help refocus some unhelpful perceptions regarding “witnessing”. I often feel like what we mean when we talk about evangelism or “witnessing” is a gospel presentation or “bait and switch” relationship building that is gearing up for the “gospel presentation”. In contrast, Wikipedia’s definition of witness helps me gain perspective and remember that it is actually about giving testimony to Jesus’ work in my life. I am so uncomfortable with “turn or burn” evangelistic “crusades” that I forget that evangelism is intimately connected with experiencing and recognizing God’s work in my own life and sharing those experiences with others. If I am not experiencing or recognizing God’s work in my own life, how can I share about it? How can I convince someone else regarding the reality of my faith and the reality of Jesus, if I am not experiencing it as real?

The beauty of this is that it is easy to talk about stuff that is going on in your life presently. We talk about stuff that’s going on in our lives, especially good stuff. I think this is why new Christians find it easier to talk about their faith, its news, it just happened, its affecting everything. Too often we have made salvation a onetime event that slowly becomes harder and harder to remember and talk about relevantly as it becomes farther away. I would like to suggest that salvation is also an ongoing event that we should be continually experiencing. I would also like to suggest that evangelism and witness is anything and everything you do that brings or draws anybody nearer to Jesus. With that being said go ahead and witness to your Christian and non Christian friends and any Satanists who will listen or spend any time with you at all. Talk about what God is doing in your life right now, and be there to love the people around you. If you aren’t sure what God is doing, sit down with a pastor, mentor or friend and think back on the past month and year specifically considering the question “How has God worked in my life?” Another option would be to consider checking out a spiritual direction session at the Mark Centre.

Personally, I have seen God’s provision in my job here at the church and driving an Ice Cream truck this summer. I had needed a flexible part time job to supplement my internship and nothing was coming up. In May I prayed with someone on the prayer team during a Sunday Service – by Tuesday I had the Ice Cream Truck job and started the following Monday. I also perceive God to be teaching me about loving people and being considerate of the ways each person is unique. What does it mean to “become all things to all men that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Cor. 9:22)? How do I adjust myself to people’s unique needs while remaining authentically myself? These are some questions I am sitting with and reflecting on as they are pertinent to some of my relationships right now.

How is God working in your life?

How have you experienced salvation recently?