Yes, I believe that all christians are called to witness to the unbelievers. However the way that we choose to do so, is just as important as the witnessing itself. I bring this up because today, I was put on the spot by a former christian who seems from the questions he has asked to be wavering in his beliefs that have taken him on a path away from the Lord. So I tried to word my answers in a way that would leave no doubt that I belive that God is in supreme control and that He is a very loving God while trying to give the young man respect for his reasons of disbelief.
I wonder if so many christians get a bad reputation because of their pushiness that they are right and non believers are wrong? If because we as christians tend to not realize that we are judging others by saying that they are going to hell, when that is better left to the Lord to decide? Another reason for this reputation? Do we not listen to non christians beliefs? and then make them angrier hence giving them even more reason to turn away from what they perceive as an unjust God?
As I struggled with my words today, I realized that more than likely we christians do act judgementally and perhaps a bit superior to non christians, afterall we know that we are going to heaven because we believe. Do we have that right? No, we don’t we are called to wittness, love and serve others but if we treat others disrepectfully and drive them further away from the Lord, we have not done our job at all.
As I left that young man to go home to my husband and children, I vented a bit to the Lord about how much I hated witnessing and how inept I am at it, not to mention how I have never wanted to have to do it so actively. Now hours later I realized that maybe because of the fact that I would rather model christianity instead of preach it, perhaps the Lord could use me to witness. That perhaps, I am more believable than others that young man has come in contact with because of my faith, and my desire to first be respectful of others feelings.
One of the things I stressed to this young man was that I truly believe the the Lord puts people into our path that will lead us back to him, and that we have until the day we die to reconcile ourselves to God’s deep abiding love for us. I also stressed that we are everyone of us in the place and time that we should be for where we are in our faith journey.
You know that one of the blessings of witnessing is that it reaffirms your own faith in the Lord. By having to explain how you know the God works in your life to others only strengthens the bond between you and Him. Perhaps it is a backhanded way of praising God for coming in and saving you from your life going down a path of destruction.
Ultimately, I would remind you that when witnessing, to always be respectful of where others are in their journey so that you don’t end up being a tool to divide them from God and remember that it is about giving God the glory not, claiming it for yourself for helping someone see that they need to be saved by grace.
