Active witnessing
Is it OK if I am afraid to talk about Christ?
2 Timothy 1:7-8 – For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God …
Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Is it normal for a Christian to avoid addressing his faith?
Matthew 5:14-16 – Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Remark: No. At the very least, a Christian’s life should be a passive gospel. Others should be able to recognize that we are Christians by observing our behavior and the principles we live by, even before we speak specifically about our faith.
I am not working in evangelism and do not consider myself good at witnessing – is it even my responsibility to witness?
Read Matthew 25:14-30
Remark: Yes! Witnessing is not just the duty of missionaries, gospel workers, or pastors – it is the responsibility of every Christian. The only question is whether it is required in every situation and at every moment. Moreover, God has given each of us spiritual gifts to serve others and reach those around us, and we ought to use them faithfully.
Are we required to actively look for opportunities to witness?
Matthew 28:19-20 – Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Colossians 4:5-6 – Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Remark: Yes. Refer again to Matthew 5:16 and Ephesians 5:15-16. ‘Redeeming the time’ means making the most of the limited time we have, using it wisely to serve God and share the gospel.
Withholding the witness
Are there times when we should not witness?
Ecclesiastes 3:7 – A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak …
Matthew 7:6 – Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Acts 16:6 – Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia …
Remark: Both Jesus in John 4:1-42 and Paul in Acts 17:16-34 did not immediately reveal their full intentions or start by directly preaching their faith. Instead, they wisely approached their listeners from a different angle, gradually guiding the conversation toward spiritual truths before ultimately inviting them to believe. Sometimes, it is wiser to hold back certain truths or share them only at the right moment. In certain situations, it may be prudent to withhold our true beliefs if there is reason to believe the listeners might ‘trample them under their feet’ (Matthew 7:6). Jesus Himself was selective in when and how He spoke, revealing deeper truths only to those ready to receive them (e.g., John 2:24; Mark 4:33-34).
Should we witness to everyone equally?
Acts 1:8 – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Remark: It is reasonable to prioritize whom we witness to, beginning with those closest to us and then moving outward, as described in Acts 1:8.
Have I sinned if I know that I should have said something in a particular situation?
James 4:17 – Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
1 Corinthians 4:4 – For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
1 John 3:20-21 – For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
Remark: It is possible that God intended to reach someone through you, and by missing that opportunity, you may have failed to fulfill His purpose. However, our conscience is not always a reliable guide (see 1 Timothy 4:2). It can sometimes judge us too harshly, accusing us of sin where there is none, especially if clear Scripture contradicts it. Importantly, the Bible does not explicitly command us to share our faith with absolutely every single person we meet at the slightest opportunity. We should avoid becoming an irritation or nuisance by being too overbearing when sharing Jesus. Moreover, if our conscience does not convict us, we are not held guilty for what we did in ignorance (Acts 17:30). Ultimately, John’s message in 1 John 3:20-21 is that even if our heart condemns us, it is not a reason for despair, because God’s power to forgive, restore, and empower “is greater than our heart.”
Empowered to witness
What should I do if I feel afraid to speak up for Jesus?
Acts 4:24, 29-31 – And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said … / [29] And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
What should I do if my witness was rejected?
Matthew 10:14 – And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Remark: This text suggests that we should not be overly invested in trying to reach everyone individually. If someone rejects Jesus, we can confidently move on, focusing our efforts on those who are more open to the message, as our calling is to reach as many as possible with the time we have.
What is the best way to know with whom to share your faith?
Acts 8:26, 39-40 – And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. / [39] And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
Remark: Ideally, we should be so attuned to God’s guidance that we know exactly whom to approach, when, and where to share our faith. Acts 8 illustrates this, as Philip was directed by the Holy Spirit to approach the Ethiopian eunuch — a deliberate, not random, encounter.
