Then, years later, after settling into the work-a-day office or construction
environment, I soon concluded that the confrontational method of evangelism
when used in the workplace would either get me a punch in the mouth or fired
or both, (at least this is what I feared). So I opted for the "007 method "
of evangelism, that is, being God's little "secret agent", working
undercover and just "being there" with my little personal testimony, my life
filled with the presence of Christ.
At least that was the theory, people were some how supposed to see Christ in
my life and that would lead them to want to know more about Him. But in fact
my life wasn't always filled with Christ, and my lips weren't always ready
with an answer to those who derided God or the Gospel. The net result of all
this secret service was that in 30 years I cannot think of one person who I
personally led to Christ by this approach. I say this to my own
embarrassment and incompetence, I chose the coward's way out, and just kept
my little candle safely underneath my little bushel basket where nobody
would get burned, especially me. And the score at the end of the day of
using this approach was Satan 100%, God 0%.
Naturally, what should I have expected?? This method is UN-BIBLICAL !!!
"Silent Witnessing" favors everybody staying in their comfort zone, and
nothing else. For the sinner, who wants to basically be left alone so he/she
can go on enjoying the pleasures of sin for as many seasons as they can, the
Silent Method of evangelism is PERFECT. No bothersome "Bible-thumping
hypocrites ", (their words), raining on their parade of sin, no Holy Ghost
conviction of sin, no reminders of feelings of guilt that they long-ago
suppressed... just peace and tranquility, and watching the silly little
Christian hypocrite "denying himself the pleasures of this world which he
probably enjoys in secret anyway, (their words again).
And for the Secret Agent (non)-Witness Christian, more peace and
tranquility. No bothersome studying my Bible to be able to adequately answer
someone about why I believe in Jesus; no painful embarrassment from the
rejection which we all know will come when we try to "witness" to an
acquaintance at work; no possible recriminations from the boss who is bound
to object to our taking up precious work-time on the clock for "talking
religion"...just the inner knowledge that even though I don't exactly know
what is happening, somehow, in some mysterious spiritual way, people are
being won to Christ by me just walking around with an enigmatic smile on my
face and refusing to go out for a beer with the gang after work.
Well, I am sorry for bursting anyone's little spiritual bubble, especially
my own, but the silent approach never won anyone in Bible times, or since,
neither can it do the job today. Jesus said ..
"I have not come to send peace, but a sword !" (Matt 10:34)
Why is this? This would seem to be so out of character for "Gentle Jesus
Meek and Mild". The problem is, there is no Bible verse which says "Gentle
Jesus Meek and
Mat 10:34-39 (KJV) "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I
came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at
variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the
daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his
own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and
he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he
that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my
sake shall find it."
Apparently Jesus is less worried about whether we risk making a few enemies
of our families and friends by telling them the Gospel, than He is the risk
that these people that we hold dear will slip away into a Christ less
eternity from which there is no turning back.
And Why is this? Because Jesus is the ultimate realist. He has been to Hell.
He created Hell, not for men, but for Satan and the fallen angels. But He
will cast those people who reject His suffering and death on the Cross into
this horrible place. And Jesus has done everything in His power short of
violating our free choice to provide a way out of Hell. So for Jesus, the
risk of hurting somebody's feelings is irrelevant compared to the risk of
that person's eternal death. Consider this verse.... "And if thine eye
offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom
of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
(Mark 9:47-48 KJV)
Jesus is telling us that, as horrible as losing an eye would be, even by
your own hand, it is not as horrible as having to spend eternity in
Hell...Eternity...never to get out...ever...where that which consumes you
does not end...ever...
So what are we afraid of? Have we found our lives now, and decided, "Hey !
Life is pretty darn good. Let's not do anything that will upset
anybody...and spoil our fun. Life is all kind of warm and fuzzy here...good
wages...nice working environment, lots of respect from my co-workers and
underlings....shhhhh....don't say a word...Jesus lives in my heart, but let's
not weird anyone out by reading my Bible at lunch....shhhhhhh....people are
going to hell all around me but.....well that's their decision....if i quote
Bible passages to them they will think i am an idiot....they will say "how
can you believe in that archaic book with all its awful rules in this new
millennium....grow up pal"....shhhh...Jesus loves me this i know...shhhhh...".
And so it goes.
But Jesus says "I know you well--you are neither hot nor cold; I wish you
were one or the other! But since you are merely lukewarm, I will spit
you out of my mouth! You say, 'I am rich, with everything I want; I
don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that spiritually you are wretched
and miserable and poor and blind and naked." Rev 3:15-17 (TLB) and He goes on
to say.... "I continually discipline and punish everyone I love; so I must
punish you unless you turn from your indifference and become enthusiastic
about the things of God." Rev 3:19 (TLB)
"And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the
high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straightly command you that ye
should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with
your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey
God rather than men." Acts 5:27-29 (KJV)
And if we ought to obey God, what are we supposed to do? You don't have to be
an obnoxious collar-grabber " Are you saved.....brother???". On the other
hand, if people see your Godly behavior, because you are filled with the
fragrance of Christ, let them know in no uncertain terms that it is Christ
in You, that makes you that way, and not that YOU are such a good person.
Don't be afraid to carry your Bible around, read it at lunch, in the
lunchroom or wherever you are.
Don't engage in dirty-joke-telling...don't even listen to them. Let them make
fun of you for being a "prude" but have an answer from the Bible
ready....like, "I used to tell jokes like that before I knew Jesus....but now
I would rather use my mouth to give Him Glory"...it might get you a few
cat-calls, but so what? Jesus suffered a lot worse than that for you.
I actually used to have a little fun with the non-Christians where I worked,
because they knew exactly where i stood for Christ. When I would come into
the lunch-room, if they were telling dirty jokes, they would stop, (I never
said anything or told them to do that....the Holy Spirit must have just hit
them with conviction or something).
I remember one instance when some men I had witnessed to, and who always
rejected the Word, were playing cards at the far end of the room, and didn't
see me come in. One man had just lost the game, and said in a very loud and
angry voice, "Jesus Christ!!!!" He looked up and saw me standing there, and
I was just looking at him in a neutral expression. So I said, " He heard
you. What did you want to say to Him??" The man looked at me confusedly and
said, "What?? Who??" I said, "Why, the Lord Jesus of course! You were
calling out His name. I supposed that you wanted to do some praying and talk
to Him about something. Do you want me to come over there and pray with you???" He said, "You know, You are NUTS !!!" and stormed out of the room. And
then I looked around, and everybody else was sitting there with their mouths
open staring. And after that, the filthy talk was almost non-existent in
that room whenever I came in. I don't know why???
Of course, I eventually paid the price for that encounter. A short time
later, somebody drew an obscene picture of me in one of the men's locker
room stalls with my name on it, and a few derogatory words about me. I just
left them there, to see what would happen. They stayed up for about 4 days,
and then somebody took some solvent and cleaned all the filthy writing off
all the bathroom stall walls.
Nobody said that coming out from undercover would be easy. It may even cost
you your job, as it did mine. But again I say, "So What!!" God may have
something even more blessed for you to do than what you think you are
enjoying now. This is how it turned out for me. I am blessed every day doing
the Lord's work, something which I never thought I would hear myself say.
"But all these things that I once thought very worthwhile-- now I've
thrown them all away so that I can put my trust and hope in Christ alone. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
I have put aside all else, counting it worth less than nothing, in order
that I can have Christ, and become one with him,
no longer counting on being saved by being good enough or by obeying God's
laws, but by trusting Christ to save me; for God's way of making us right
with himself depends on faith-- counting on Christ alone. Now I have given up everything else-- I have found it to be the only
way to really know Christ and to experience the mighty power that brought
him back to life again, and to find out what it means to suffer and to die
with him. So whatever it takes, I will be one who lives in the fresh newness of
life of those who are alive from the dead." Phil 3:7-11(TLB)
God Bless you, friends, as you live your lives for Him !!
B
Appearing Sunday, June 16, 2002