A gentleman stood up in front of the fellowship this morning and tried to encourage believers to witness more for Christ. As part of his effort he quoted a statistic that only 2% of Christians admitted to witnessing. He went on to imply that if we don't witness that the blood of those who we don't witness to is on our hands. I immediately chimed in that the lost will not be able to stand before God and use our lack of witnessing as an excuse for why they are facing an eternity in Hell separated from God. After service he approached me to continue the conversation and he asked me why I thought more Christians don't witness? First, I wanted to make it clear that I don't necessarily accept the statistic that only 2% of Christians witness. How are we even sure that those responding are even telling the truth? Furthermore, what is the definition of witnessing? To most, and I think this gentleman falls into this category, witnessing is actively telling people about Christ, even if they didn't ask. We see Christians all the time asking questions like "If you died today, are you sure you'd go to heaven?" While this may work, I don't think it is an effective way of evangelizing. However, the second thing I said, and the answer to his question is more important.
I told him that I think most Christians don't witness about the Lord because they aren't sure of their relationship with Him. This is the byproduct of legalistic teaching that puts believers under law and performance-based Christianity. As I said to Him, "Why would someone witness about the love, forgiveness and acceptance offered in Christ to another person when they are not certain they possess these things themselves?" I have said before that I believe the biggest problem within the Body of Christ is an ignorance of the Gospel and, subsequently, the believers identity in Christ. It is almost cliche' that most Christians believe that we have to live up to certain standards in order to obtain or maintain our right standing before God. This leads them into a futile life of trying to stop sinning through obedience to religious and personal laws in an effort to please God. However, when we live a life focused on our sins, sinning is all that we will produce. And if you think you're ability to perform is what God wants, your constant inability to perform properly will always have you questioning your salvation. Why, then, would you feel empowered to witness to others about a God you aren't even certain is pleased with you? Fact is, you won't!
I wonder how many Christians are familiar with the following passages:
"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Romans 15:7
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
These are just two verses, but are a clear indicator that we are okay with God because of our faith in Jesus Christ. Imagine how those witnessing percentages would increase if those Christians surveyed understood this fact about their identity in Christ. When we have experienced something wonderful we don't have to be encouraged to tell others about it. If you ever seen a good movie you know exactly what I mean. When you know that you are accepted by God and have peace with Him right were you are at this moment, what does that do to desire to witness about Christ? Also take note that the passages above come from the New Testament, Acts to Revelation, not from the Old Testament. Many Christians who are always focused on themselves and what they are doing seemingly get their marching orders from the Old Testament. Why? It is because the Old Testament provides plenty of rules and regulations to modify ones behavior. However, people also don't realize that one of the main purposes of the law was to bring a person to the end of themselves by making them realize that God's standard of sinless perfection is impossible to achieve apart from faith in Christ.
If you have not reached the end of yourself and concluded that you cannot live up to God's righteous standards, then the law you have put yourself under has not finished its work in you. If you are in Christ, you are perfectly righteous in God's eyes. God never expected you to be like Him and live a perfect life. He only desired that you would realize this truth and come to faith in His Son. When God looks at you He sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ. There are only two types of righteousness available to us. There is our self-righteousness, realized through our own self-effort, or their is Christ's righteous, which is only receive through faith. Which one do you want? I guarantee you whenever I tell someone else about the Lord it is because I am sharing with them that which I have already received. My motivation for doing so is that I know I am already righteous in God's eyes. If I didn't know this truth I probably would never open my mouth. Misery loves company, but nobody wants to share in another person's misery. If you're relationship with Christ is miserable or is non-existent because of your uncertainty about how He sees you, it is time to realize that all you hope to achieve through your best efforts has already been given to you through faith. Now go tell others about it!
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