Is Being a "Silent Witness" Enough?

I was at a table with a few Christian guys the other day, and when the topic of engaging with non-Christians about Jesus came up, one of them said, “I never talk with anyone about Jesus: I’m a silent witness.” I’d heard that before, but this time it got me thinking.

This idea of being a silent witness has become common among Christians, with the support coming from a statement attributed to St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century: “Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” It’s become the mantra of the silent witness movement.

But did St. Francis really say this? While he often emphasized the importance of supporting our words with actions, there’s no indication he ever said actions should replace our words. And for good reason: it’s counter to the scriptures.

So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ. Romans 10:17

It takes words—written or spoken—to understand the truth of sin, separation from God, the death and resurrection of Jesus, repentance, forgiveness, and salvation. No one comes to Jesus without this, which is why His followers have been commissioned as communicators of the good news.   

…God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are ambassadors of

Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us…”  2 Corinthians 5:18-20

Does this mean we aren't to demonstrate the truth of Jesus through our lives? Of course not. If fact, it's the expected norm for every follower of Jesus:  

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.     Matthew 5:16

Evidence and testimony are critical parts of a legal trial. Evidence focuses on things that can be observed and touched, and testimony is about words that detail what they've seen, experienced, and heard. Living as ambassadors of Christ means showing the reality of God through our lives (evidence) and using words to communicate the good news of Jesus (testimony).

Then why have so many opted for the silent witness approach? Because most lack confidence. They're sure they don't know enough and will end up getting confused and looking foolish.

While there's a good chance most know a lot more than they think they do, here are a few thoughts for building confidence.

First, you have a story of how you came to Jesus, and it's powerful. So think through what brought you to Jesus and how it happened, then organize it so you can communicate the high points in just a few minutes.

Secondly, learn a simple way to communicate the gospel. There are many good ones available, but the one we like at Therefore Project is called "The Fix". You can learn how to use this by going to https://www.thereforeproject.com/bite-size-answers

Thirdly, don't worry about not knowing the answer to a question!! I sure don't, but I've had the joy of leading hundreds to Jesus. All you have to do when asked is tell them you're not sure, but you'll find out. Always remember that it's the gospel, not your answer, that has the power to change a life (Romans 1:16). Move the question to the side, and keep moving toward a presentation of the gospel.

So, is being a silent witness good? Yes! Is it enough? No!

Don’t sell yourself short. Sign up freshly every day to be used by God in seeing people's lives transformed by the power of the gospel. If you do, it will thrill your soul, and you'll have stories to tell of working with God in seeing lives changed...forever.