Why is it that we (self included) tend to believe that a relationship with Christ is key for “our” salvation but think that witnessing is handing out pamphlets and slide show presentations?
The Relationship Factor
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I don’t think it is. I think handing out pamphlets is not only NOT witnessing, but a deterrent to helping someone form a relationship with Christ.
What do you suggest be done?
Where is this coming from?
Although I do not subscribe to the handing out pamphlets and doing power point religious series, I like many others struggle over witnessing. How to do it or for that matter, not wanting to because it is “scary”. Bottom line, if we need a relationship with Christ, then why would witnessing be any different? The most effective way of reaching others is through a relationship with them.
Personally, I think it’s made into a bigger deal than it needs to be. The thought of walking up to a stanger and saying something like “DO you know Jesus Christ?” pretty much paints you into the lunatic corner and also makes my heart skip some beats. I don’t think THAT is effective. I think that effective witnessing is done in the every day. The things you do, they way you present yourself, the things you say, how you conduct your affairs. If people see Christ THROUGH you then they’re more likely to be intrigued and want to know more, too. Or, yk, by taking people to activities at church – like these kids in the neighborhood – or inviting them to join choir. People want non-threatening. They don’t want things in their face – immediately people get defensive when you get in their face about things. Finding a quiet way of showing them God seems to work better.
I should just blog at my own site, huh? HA!
I’m just curious – what do you think SHOULD be done – I know you hate the whole ‘ingathering’ mentality. (me too!) but how do you think it could be done differently, or better?
I would say that the best way to witness is to live your life like Christ and let him shine through. I am a big believer that God brings people into your life and creates opportunities to talk about Him. The struggle is taking those opportunities. People are won over more with actions than with words…I feel like the biggest threat to Christianity is not atheists, but Christians who proclaim it, yet don’t live the principals. We all fall short. We all sin, but those who choose to go their own way and then claim to live for the Lord, those are the hypocrites and those are the ones who give Christians who walk with their daily struggle yet turn to Him, a bad name. I guess to sum it up, live like Christ and other’s will see the light through you. I still struggle with it, but I am trying.
There is an old saying I used to hear often growing up that says something along the lines of “you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.”
As a believer, you are more likely to witness to unbelievers by LIVING OUT your faith. A lot more action and a lot less talk. If you do this successfully, other are drawn to you … they know you’re “different” . . . and want to know what “it” is that you have.
Preaching AT folks is a major turn off. You have to develop a relationship with them first. Then, I find the individual will understand you truly care about them and just aren’t trying to judge them.
LORI
I have to agree with the wifey. I think that we are good examples (witnesses) if we live the life Christ and Heavenly Father would want us to live.
I am not comfortable talking to strangers about religion. I wouldn’t feel comfortable if some stranger handed me a some literature about their religion. I think God reaches us through several other ways besides handing out info. He speaks to me through uplifting music. Love it.
Witnessing to me is living out my Christianity in a way that makes the unbelieving stop & wonder why I am different. That gives me more opportunities to witness than anything else. My conduct, attitude, appearance, demeanor. how I handle myself when adversity comes my way. People are always watching.
I think the answer lies in Christ’s example as stated in the Scriptures.
Jesus hung out with sinners. Talked to them, made friends with them (though they weren’t his closest friends), and just made them feel valued and special. He did not change his habits or approach to get them to like him. He was just himself. And people were drawn to him. Some chose to follow him, others did not, and yet he fulfilled the prophecy by his witness.
If they asked, they recieved, and so I believe the same to be true in our day. The key is to develop relationships with non believers so that they are comfortable in asking (this includes conducting ourselves in alignment with our beliefs). Also key, our relationship with the Holy Spirit so that we are comfortable in answering those questions that arise.
Our charge is to witness. To share. To build relationships so that the groundwork is laid for them to see. It is up to them to follow.
Great question/discussion! Thanks for sending us over, Heidi!
I find it sad that so many Christians have lost sight of what Jesus himself did. He spent time with those who did not know him. He let them see him on a personal, intimate level. Jesus did not need to build some big following by fancy means. He simply lived out His calling. In my honest opinion, leading people to Christ should be done through relationship and example, not by pamphlets and Power Point. I have friends who do not consider themselves Christians who seem to have a better grasp on this than many of my “Christian” friends. I find that very sad.
Well I agree with BOTH actually, but I also believe that witnessing can be a tool as well. Not just THE tool, but one. And yes, like Heidi said, it CAN turn people off from God, but then again, so can a lot of stuff, and we cannot control that. I have been out on “fishing” trips with our Youth dept and we’re going out again on Saturday with MULTIPLE churches.
I believe it has everything to do with your approach. I am not the Bible thumper type. I’m just not. And the idea of talking to strangers really scares me, but I do NOT want to get into Heaven and realize that someone did NOT get there because *I* was too chicken to talk to them. Especially if all it took was asking them “What do you think happens to you after you die?”
I do NOT believe you should be confrontational about it. If they say “I don’t care” that’s fine with me, “Have a nice day!” Not even a “God bless you” because that could be perceived as being snotty.
But I am WHOLE-HEARTED for witnessing through a RELATIONSHIP! In fact, that’s the kind of mission trips I want to do, ones that I can build a relationship with someone, not just be the token American along for the side-show.
I believe there are different methods to witnessing, some I wouldn’t do, some I would, and some I think are just nuts. But to each his own. My MAIN problem is, if we do NOT witness, that is a sin. God called us to GO and we need to be obedient. I also believe that no matter where we go or what method we use, God goes before us and paves the way. We plant seeds….that’s all we can do. The growth is up to the individual.
OK….wow, that turned out long….I’m not opinionated am I? LOL
Handing out pamphlets is a pretty sure fire way to make me chuckle – and chuck the pamphlet in the recycling bin. People behaving like “good Christians” is nice, but many of us heathens (like me) think that we can be good people without the whole Jesus thing.
Personally, I think people need to feel like they’re missing something in their life already in order to even be intrigued by someone else’s religion. So the audience for witnessing isn’t the general public, it’s a specific portion of that group. I don’t know how you find those people.
My dd has managed to join church bell choirs and participate in other church activities with friends and still be even more cynical about religion than me. Well, maybe not more than me.
Oh, and uh, hi. You don’t know me but I wandered over here from heidi’s blog. She can explain about me and how I never met a religion discussion I didn’t want to join.
Haven’t read everyone’s comments but I’m gonna agree with Your Wife (mostly because she’s got a cool name)….well…that’s not why I am agreeing but…speaking from experience, before I had found out what I truly believe is a relationship with Christ, anyone who approached me with handouts or slide shows was considered to be shoving religion down my throat. I wasn’t looking for religion, I was looking for faith. I think the best way for others to find interest in Christ is through the examples we set as we live our daily lives (hmmm, didn’t wifey say that a few posts up?) That’s is how I came to the point that I felt I needed more God and less religion.
OK, that whole second half was not supposed to be in italics….just the word religion and God…sheesh!
I TOTALLY agree that if we don’t LIVE it everyday, in our EVERYDAY walk, then we make a mockery of Christ. And we look stupid. And it’s the everyday struggle that makes the MOST impact on other people. But, critical people are going to be CRITICAL no matter what. They wait and they WATCH for the slightest misdeed, no matter the size, JUST to prove their point about “Christians”. We can’t live our lives to please THEM. We must strive to please Christ alone.
But, I want to throw something out there for the discussions’ sake: What do you think Jesus did when He would walk around preaching? He would just WALK and proclaim Father God as the Only way to Heaven. He would SIT and preach. Everywhere He went, and not just with His friends and people He knew, but STRANGERS too. He wasn’t preaching to the DISCIPLES. It was STRANGERS He was talking to. Wouldn’t that be the same thing as witnessing to strangers?
And I have to say, there is definitely an etiquette for doing it. I think the IN-YOUR-FACE ones have given it ALL a bad name, and that shouldn’t be the case at all! There is an approach to it, and it’s a fine line. But I would never want to hear when I get to Heaven “Dana….you didn’t even TRY!” So if going door-to-door will reach SOMEONE, great, if they throw it in the trash, at least it was there. The seeds are THERE, but we can’t make anyone accept Christ, or the pamphlets. We can only pray that the ones with FERTILE, RECEPTIVE hearts will get the information.
But my CHOICE is always in how I live.
Being ready and willing to share our own testimony is usually a hard thing to do, we have to literally get rid of ourselves, our fears, struggles and just let it go for the Lord because he is MIGHTY TO SAVE! I think just sharing our story of God’s grace is more powerful than any track!
And I totally agree with the show Christ’s love through out actions and just daily life… but i have to tell you! I am still a sinner and I screw up a lot! I think being honest and open about it with people, just letting them know that I am involved at church and i am forgiven! (that doesnt mean I don’t need his grace and mercy daily) But I am trying. I am reading his word to find out his will for my life and its ok if I am not perfect!!!!
I find it really awkward to walk up to someone and hand them a coin/track because in my experience they don’t even give it a second thought, they either throw it away or just stick it in their pocket! We are called out to go out and make disciples of all the nations Matthew 28:19 I am thinking the main thing in my life right now is to be totallyl self-less and show Christ’s unconditional love! Those are my 2 factors that allow the devil a foothold on me telling others about this free gift of salvation! We need to give them HOPE!!!!
Actually what you see is a lot of healing. People who are hurting are not open to any preaching. What you see is not just preaching, but healing and preaching. Also, I think when you study the approach of the new church in Acts I think you will see an underlining theme of relationships, not just preaching. In Old Testament days the Rabbi was revered, so if a Rabbi was coming to your town to speak, many would flock. Most of us don’t have that kind of pull in our community.
I think we need to not be afraid of what we believe, but at the same time we will have a far greater impact on those around us if we have a relationship first and foremost.
Well, I for one have LOVED this discussion! Thanks for getting it started! We have continued this discussion at home, with our friends, and at church too! LOL It’s NICE to see the differing opinions!
And of course, my own husband had to jump on the bandwagon, but he chose to blog about it. LOL Feel free to comment with YOUR opinion on his blog, he’d seriously jump for joy over it! LOL He loves discussing things. We don’t ARGUE them because that’s pointless, but DISCUSSING as adults, that we LOVE!
http://stonewall91.wordpress.com/