Genesis1315
Ladies
Witnessing in a postmodern age
By John Fischer
Effective witnessing in a postmodern age takes some knowledge of the culture and a good deal of respect both for the freedom of the individual to choose and for the business of God in the process. Without this, our words can carry the duress of merely one opinion over another. We become experts with an agenda instead of facilitators of change.
The key is to develop an open discourse with an atmosphere of dignity, acceptance, and worth. We won’t be able to do this until we truly trust in the role God plays in this process. We need to remember that God, as always, is perfectly capable of taking care of the consequences of a person’s decision, whether it is in line with our beliefs or not. This is where our responsibility ends and God's responsibility continues.
Any decision-making is painful, but it can be made less painful in a context of openness and love. We are not responsible for someone else’s decision or reaction to truth. There is no place for false guilt over failing to persuade or false pride over some perception of success. Our business is not to make a sale or a convert but to speak openly of what we know and have experienced and to genuinely care about others regardless of their choices.
This leaves us free to offer information and discuss things from a fact-forming point of view according to a person's philosophy without fear of “giving up ground” or “watering down the truth.” We are not trying to get someone to agree with us. We are facilitators of change, at all times open to our own process and seeking what we can learn from others along the way. If we are not open to change, how can we expect someone else to be?
It’s all in knowing the difference between our business and God’s business. God reveals. God opens eyes. God blinds eyes. God turns on the light. Remember how he did it for you. You can give another person credit for accepting you, giving you worth, and introducing you to Jesus, but you can’t give another person credit for changing your mind. You made the decision and God turned on the light. We need to give others, and God, plenty of room to work.
“And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way.” (1 Peter 3:15-16)
The above content is provided in its entirety from purposedrivenlife.com and used with the full permission of the website. Additional archives of the Purpose Driven Life devotionals can be found in their archive.
By John Fischer
Effective witnessing in a postmodern age takes some knowledge of the culture and a good deal of respect both for the freedom of the individual to choose and for the business of God in the process. Without this, our words can carry the duress of merely one opinion over another. We become experts with an agenda instead of facilitators of change.
The key is to develop an open discourse with an atmosphere of dignity, acceptance, and worth. We won’t be able to do this until we truly trust in the role God plays in this process. We need to remember that God, as always, is perfectly capable of taking care of the consequences of a person’s decision, whether it is in line with our beliefs or not. This is where our responsibility ends and God's responsibility continues.
Any decision-making is painful, but it can be made less painful in a context of openness and love. We are not responsible for someone else’s decision or reaction to truth. There is no place for false guilt over failing to persuade or false pride over some perception of success. Our business is not to make a sale or a convert but to speak openly of what we know and have experienced and to genuinely care about others regardless of their choices.
This leaves us free to offer information and discuss things from a fact-forming point of view according to a person's philosophy without fear of “giving up ground” or “watering down the truth.” We are not trying to get someone to agree with us. We are facilitators of change, at all times open to our own process and seeking what we can learn from others along the way. If we are not open to change, how can we expect someone else to be?
It’s all in knowing the difference between our business and God’s business. God reveals. God opens eyes. God blinds eyes. God turns on the light. Remember how he did it for you. You can give another person credit for accepting you, giving you worth, and introducing you to Jesus, but you can’t give another person credit for changing your mind. You made the decision and God turned on the light. We need to give others, and God, plenty of room to work.
“And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way.” (1 Peter 3:15-16)
The above content is provided in its entirety from purposedrivenlife.com and used with the full permission of the website. Additional archives of the Purpose Driven Life devotionals can be found in their archive.