Saints & Sinners

Before you read my own little piece on witnessing, I would really appreciate it if you would visit the following ladies who have partipated in this little contest:

Thank you Ladies from the bottom of my heart for your participation :razz:…It is going to be hard to name a ‘winner’. In my eyes you are all winners, because you let you light shine through the power of the Holy Spirit…I will announce the ‘winner’ on Thursday, November 23rd.

If you have been reading my Blog for a while, you will know that evangelism is not one of my strong spiritual gifts. I have resigned to the fact that I will never be a Billy Graham or my personal favorite, Greg Laurie. Does it mean though that I should sit back and wait till an un-believer graces the seat next to me in the pew? Hardly! What is my personal style of witnessing? I am glad you asked…

I am the quiet type. I don’t hand out tracks; I don’t stand at the next street-corner to invite people to attend a crusade; and I don’t come right out telling people they need to be saved, because otherwise they end up in hell. No, I am quiet. I witness through my actions. I am ready to listen when people approach me with their health problem (this happens a lot) — I tell them I will pray for them. I cry with people when they have lost a father, mother, brother, sister or child. I go and get a cup of water if someone is thirsty (and sometimes I just grab a cup of coffee). I smile at people, when I see a frown on their face. I offer shelter to people who need to find a place to live. I give someone a ride who just had surgery. I work without complaining (much)…Yes, I hang out with un-believers at work and Bloggers that don’t share my faith…

But sometimes He gives me the strength to speak up. Let me share a couple of examples from work. One of my coworkers noticed the cross necklace I am wearing. He asked me if I am a Christian. I said: “Yes, I am. The necklace is not a fashion statement” — “So, you believe what is written in the Bible about God and Jesus?” — “Yes, I do!!!” (I didn’t get any farther – yet – I will wait for His green light)…On Halloween we had a pot-luck in my department. I was a little surprised that Halloween was considered by most of my coworkers a holiday –…I shared with several of them that in Germany, October 31st is celebrated as Reformation Day. I got some blank stares, but that gave me an opportunity to explain.

As Advent is approaching I plan to have a little “Jesse Tree” set-up in my cubicle. I pray that God may use it for me to share the Good News. I have paperback Bibles in the back of my car — just in case I encounter someone who wants to know more my God…

One of my favorite books about evangelism is Rebecca Manley Pippert’s book “Out of the Saltshaker & Into the World (yeah – thats why it is in the prize package). Let me quote from the beginning of the book:
“Christians and non-Christians have something in common: we’re both uptight about evangelism. Our fear as Christians seems to be How many people did I offend this week? We think that we must be a little obnoxious in order to be good evangelists. A tension builds inside: Should I be sensitive to people and forget about evangelism, or should I blast them with the Gospel and forget about their dignity as human beings? Many Christians choose to be aware of the person but then feel defensive and guilty for not evangelizing….”

You see, I agree. We need to see non-Christians first as a human being. Just like Jesus did. How come, once we are saved from eternal damnation, we forget that we are sinners too? Yes, we have been forgiven, but we are still sinners. We need His forgiveness every time we mess up. Okay, so maybe some don’t mess up as much as I do…But still. Really, think about it. How can we condemn someone who has not yet a saving relationship with Jesus Christ?!? We can not make someone believe what we believe. We can only sow the seeds, but ultimately it is up to God to ‘make them believe’ – by the power of His Spirit. We are only His hands and feet that share the message…

So, yes, I probably will never preach at a crusade, but by His power I will continue to let my little light shine…

“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” ~ 1 Timothy 1:15-17 (ESV)