Why We Should Witness
Dear Christian friends,
One of the main purposes of this newsletter is to encourage Christians to witness for Jesus Christ. Perhaps 80% of all Christians never or almost never witness to anyone. Not only do they not witness through organized outreaches, they don’t witness at work or even to their unsaved friends. Also, many Christians who at one time were involved extensively in evangelism no longer do much witnessing.
Over the years, I have thought a lot about this problem, its cause and possible solutions. I am convinced that much of Satan’s attacks on Christians is focused on two areas: prayer and witnessing. In the area of evangelism, Satan will give us every excuse not to witness. He will tell us our witnessing is not effective, that we should do other things with our time. Whatever method we are using, it is the wrong method. We are turning people off to the gospel. We are neglecting our family or church activities. Satan has been very effective at preventing Christians from witnessing. We can see the result in the current condition of our nation and world.
One area in which Satan attacks us concerns our motivation for evangelism. We have seen preachers who condemn people, as though they were happy people are going to Hell. All of us who preach know that our motives are not always perfect. We may enjoy the attention we are getting when a crowd gathers. We may think we are earning favor with God or making up for past sins by witnessing.
What is the proper motivation for evangelism? First, we witness out of our love for God. When you fall in love with someone, it is natural to tell others about that person. Also, we know that God loved this world so much that He sent His Son to die for their sins. He does not want to see anyone perish but that all come to repentance. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Jesus has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel, and He has ordained that people are saved through preaching. “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Corin. 1:21). “How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14).
We do not want to be like Martha, so busy serving God that we neglect fellowship with Him. Or like thechurchofEphesusin Revelation 2, which had an abundance of good works, but had left their first love for Jesus. Christians sometimes tell me that they find they are witnessing out of duty or obligation, and that they will stop witnessing until they can witness with the right motive or get their relationship with God right. Certainly, we need to give first priority to our relationship with God. But why is witnessing the first thing to go whenever we have a spiritual problem?
I may not feel like praying or reading the Bible or going to church, I may not feel like going to work, I may not feel like witnessing, but I discipline myself to do the things I know God wants me to do regardless of my feelings. Yet it is usually in the area of evangelism that Christians think that they should only do it when they “feel led” lest they be legalistic.
The apostle Paul didn’t worry much about people’s motives for evangelism. “Some indeed preach Christ of contention, not sincerely…What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice” (Phil. 1:15,18). Even when people’s motives for preaching were wrong, Paul was more concerned that Christ be preached. “Just do it.”
Some might even criticize Paul’s motivation for preaching. “When I preach the gospel,” he wrote “I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me” (1 Corin. 9:16-17). Paul is saying that even if he does not want to witness, he is compelled to do so and something bad would happen to him if he were disobedient. Then he compares the discipline involved in preaching the gospel to that of a runner and a boxer. Athletic competition involves great discipline even to the point of pain. “No pain. No gain.” It is painful to see people reject the gospel, and reject us because we proclaim the gospel. Without sufficient motivation, we won’t be willing to endure this pain. “They do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (v. 25).
Paul wrote to the Corinthians “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corin. 5:11). And he told the people of Ephesus, “I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men, For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:26-27). Paul was referring here to God’s warning in Ezekiel 33: “If you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at your hand.” Paul apparently thought that this Old Testament scripture does apply to us in this age of grace.
Christians often ask me what motivates me to continue preaching the gospel for so many years in a city that is known for its resistance to God’s Word. I grew up in the “Bible belt” and probably many of my friends were Christians, but none told me how to be saved. At the age of 24 after years of tormented searching for meaning in life, I finally met some people who cared for my soul and showed me the way of salvation. Once I realized the Bible is really true and there really is a Heaven and Hell, I was amazed that nobody had ever warned me before. In light of this truth, I knew that the only sensible thing for me to do was to dedicate my life to warning people of the reality of eternal Hell and showing them the way of salvation.
Some may say that this is not a lofty motivation. Some Christians teach that it is wrong to witness because of our desire to save people from Hell. Yet Paul wrote in Romans 9 that he had “great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren (the Jews).” Paul was so burdened to see his fellow Jews heading for Hell that he was willing to take their place. Of course, we can’t do that, but we can warn them of the danger and show them the way out. If you study church history, you will find that virtually every great evangelist was motivated by an overwhelming desire to keep people out of Hell.
I am continually amazed that Christians who believe that all the unbelievers around them are headed for eternal torment in Hell would care so little about warning them. The only explanation I have is that Satan is very clever at giving us excuses for not witnessing, and that our heart is so deceitful that we fall for his lies. I rarely feel like witnessing to anyone. Every week when it is time for us to witness I can think of some reason for not going. But then I remember that no sacrifice is too great to save even one soul from Hell.
There are many valid motives for preaching the gospel. While we should examine ourselves for impure motives, the most important thing is that we continue to preach the gospel in a consistent way. Setting aside a regular time to witness is as legitimate and necessary as any other spiritual discipline. Waiting until you are in perfect spiritual condition before you start witnessing is as foolish as waiting until you are in perfect physical condition before you start exercising.
On the Streets
On Friday August 17, we witnessed at the Sony Metreon. The entertainment complex is being totally remodeled with a movie theater complex, a high-class food court, and a Target department store. We witness across the street outside a parking garage. Mike and Dave witnessed to Patrick, a music producer who was married with two children. Some Christian relatives had witnessed to him and he was thinking about the direction of his life. They shared the gospel with him and prayed with him.
Dave witnessed to three devout Wahabi Muslims fromSaudi Arabia. They mainly argued with him, and one of them, Abdul Rahman, later sent us a link to a video about “Islamic Miracles.”
On August 18 we witnessed at UN Plaza. The band “Book” and Tim Moon played music. Allan witnessed to “Jazz” and Matt. They said they had been Christians, but backslid after their wives had left them. They were homeless and using drugs.
Coming Events
Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 282-5629 to confirm outreaches or for more information.
Friday October 5, 12, and 19 7:30 – 10 PM Witnessing inSan Francisco neighborhoods.
Sat. October 6, 13 and 20 11 AM – 4 PMSan Francisco Outreach, Fisherman’s Wharf (Jefferson St. near Mason)
Ministry Needs
Thank you again for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. We still need to print some more gospel tracts. I received several quotes from printers for 80,000 tracts, enough to last for a year. The company that printed our tracts last year raised their price by $500. They have a new digital printer that is much more expensive to operate. Unfortunately, as companies upgrade their equipment, it gets more expensive to print tracts. So far, the best quote we have received is for $1450.
We have one new member in our evangelism house. Allan Baker came here fromSouthern California. During this recession, not many people would have left a safe job at the post office, where he worked for over 7 years, to move toSan Franciscoand trust God to provide for him as he served Him in ministry. That’s what Allan did, and we are blessed to have him with us. Allan, Eddie and Larry D. all need work. Please contact me if you know of any jobs in this area.
For the past two weeks we hosted three young men, Andrew, Jon and Tim. They are traveling around the country preaching the gospel. They have been witnessing near our house inOaklandand joining us on weekends.
I hope many of you will join us for an outreach this next month or will share the gospel with others in your own community.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
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