How Christians Witness for a Change
A Transformation Model for Personal Witness and Public Engagement
“I like my way of sharing the Gospel better than your way of not sharing the Gospel.”
I don’t know who first said that, but I want to begin by commending Christians who share the Gospel with neighbors, associates, and friends. Many do so every day in personal and powerful ways that move people from death to new life in Christ and onto a pathway of discipleship through their local church.
Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it! Whether you’re handing out Gospel tracts, knocking on doors to talk to strangers, visiting prisoners, building friendships with co-workers that lead to Gospel conversations, or whatever you’re doing, stay the course. We should all follow your example of inviting other people to follow Jesus with us. This is the essence of what it means to follow Jesus.
Jesus said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19
Let’s do that!
My goal here, then, is to help us all consider how we work and witness in this cultural moment for the lasting transformation we long to see. Many Christians are frustrated with the social trends that are grossly anti-Christ. Whether the issues are related to marriage, gender, and sexuality or racism or religious liberty, we see a world system that rejects the Christian faith as it calls evil good.
The result of these trends are devastating. We can’t reject God’s design for marriage, for example, and not inherit the consequences that results from broken homes. There are no government programs or social safety nets that can support the emotional or financial pressures created when husbands and wives abandon their marriage vows.
While we have compassion for people who are without Christ, we also are increasingly outraged at some of those same people for their part in this cultural chaos.
Recently, I read a tweet from Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rouke declaring under his administration, Texas would legalize marijuana. Then I listened to the portion of his speech he shared justifying his position, which was based on racial discrimination imbedded in the criminal justice system.
Every form of racial discrimination should be squashed wherever it’s found, but claiming to serve minorities by legalizing marijuana is absolutely absurd.
I want Mr. O’Rouke to know Christ and follow him forever, but I’m also angry at his attempt to further his political aspirations on the backs of neighbors who have already been disproportionately affected by the availability of crippling recreational drugs.
But there’s another challenge. Fewer people than ever in the history of our nation are attending church. In the county where I live, 80% of the population are not connected to a church, and are not following Jesus. Churches are doing a lot of really important things, and some are reaching lost people, but most are not.
We are agitated, even grieved, at the state of lostness, but we are making a little dent in it.
How then do Christians bear witness of the redeeming work of Jesus in this particularly wayward and divisive moment? Is it possible for us to connect with people of diverse perspectives in such a way that God could use our witness to transform lives and the communities in which we live?
A Transformation Model for Personal Witness and Public Engagement
I’m asking you to consider and interact with what I’m calling a Transformation Model for Personal Witness and Public Engagement. Models like this one are not new, and this one is certainly not comprehensive. But it’s my hope to provide a visual template that helps sincere Christians seize this particular moment and join the mission of God.
Let’s begin with the three primary circles: Truth, Timing, and Trust.
Truth
Truth sits at the top of the model not because we always begin there in our personal witness, but because for Christians truth is our primary template for how we see life, purpose, and mission. We have been personally transformed by the biblical revelation of the person and redeeming work of Jesus.
It is through hearing and receiving the Gospel that people are saved from the penalty of sin and are reconciled to God through Christ Jesus. And it is through the sanctifying work of the Spirit of God as we live according to the Word of God that our hearts, habits, and relationships are substantively changed as new creatures in Christ.
Timing
Timing is that moment or opportunity illuminated by Holy Spirit (credit to Bob Roberts for this language) who invites us to bear witness of God’s love in Christ or to serve others in Jesus’ name. This may be a conversation with a co-worker about her future, a new friendship with a neighbor who worships another god, a social crisis, a natural disaster, or even a social media post.
Jesus met a woman at the well, a blind man named Bartimaus, a woman with an issue of blood, along with a host of other people as he fulfilled his ministry. In the same way, the Holy Spirit leads us into everyday opportunities to invite people to trust God and follow Jesus with us. He gives us unique vocations, responsibilities, and relationships that call for our attentiveness to him and faithfulness to make him known.
Trust
Trust is the currency of influence. It’s through sincere love, faithful service, or proven skill that we earn the trust necessary for people to listen to our words or follow us as we follow Christ. Building trust doesn’t always take a long time. For Jesus, his clear and confident teaching was so convincing that many people wanted to hear more. At other times, it was his mercy and healing touch that compelled people to believe.
Interestingly, Jesus’ trustworthiness did not convince everyone, but without trust no one would have followed him. He was always right, but Jesus never relied on his rightness alone. He came near, took on flesh, and became a servant. And John said that we “observed his glory” (John 1:14).
Engagement Gaps
If transformation is going to happen in individual lives or in the social structures of a community, all three of these priorities are essential. But sincere evangelicals can falter. And when we do, we usually fall into one of three engagement gaps: Consent, Confusion, or Coercion.
Consent
When Truth and Trust exist without Timing, we get consent. You could call it compliance. Either way, truth is clear and trust is high, so minds are convinced.
This is where loyal “tribes” emerge. Political alliances are often formed in this space because the common ground is compelling. This is also where affinity groups form around particular statements of belief or standards of conduct.
This can be pragmatic and helpfully so particularly in public policy debates, but it’s not necessarily transformational because people can agree with specific tenants while their hearts remain carnal, absent of an encounter with Jesus.
The danger here is that in our public witness Christians will settle for consent, assuming common ground indicates a transformed heart. And then the carnal tribes we build soon bear our most significant public witness.
Confusion
Timing and Trust without Truth creates Confusion. This scenario grows from gracious believers who genuinely love their neighbors. They are relationally connected to people outside the faith. They serve vulnerable populations. They give themselves to issues of mercy and justice.
When timing and trust intersect, it often feels like a “God-moment.” Hearts are moved. Tears flow. Relationships are ignited. Service begins. And grace pours out. This is where we see unconditional love in action.
When Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus, his response was whoever is without sin cast the first stone. This is the kind of love without judgment we want to model and celebrate.
But when Truth is absent, love is too limited. It’s distorted and God’s best for sinners is confused with half measures. When all the Pharisees dropped their stones and walked away from the adulterer, Jesus said he would not condemn her either. And then he told her, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11). He called her to repent of her sin.
Following Jesus requires faithfulness to his Word, the Bible. Like Jesus, we love people whoever they are and whatever they believe. But as God gives us opportunity, we share the Truth calling people to faith and repentance, trusting the Holy Spirit to transform hearts and lives.
Coercion
The final engagement gap is Coercion. It forms when we embrace Truth and Timing and neglect Trust. Informed by the truth of God’s Word and given the opportunity to proclaim it, we should be faithful.
But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 1 Peter 3:15
We should be a ready witness to a world who waits to hear. There is an urgency to our Gospel mission. People who die apart from Christ are separated from God forever. The stakes are too high to delay.
Many evangelicals are alarmed by the legitimate dangers of the engagement gap of Confusion I described earlier. Serving others well without telling them the truth falls short of a loving witness. Additionally, the jettison of godliness in public policy creates yet another layer of urgency as we consider the welfare of our families, neighbors, community, and nation.
What we often neglect, however, is the Trust required for effective Gospel witness.
When an appliance needs repair, we look for a trusted repair company. When we need a doctor, we get recommendations from trusted friends. Yet, many believers assume because we have the truth of the Gospel we are entitled to a hearing.
With the growth of social media platforms, everyone can be heard. So we can engage with people whom we have never met and debate with them about matters of life and death. Occasionally, enough trust is built to make those engagements helpful. But not usually.
When Jesus wanted to share the Good News, he put on flesh and dwelt among us. It seems if the Good News is worth our lives, we too can dwell among those God created in his image and sent his Son to redeem. It seems we too should do whatever it takes to build the trust needed to deliver the Gospel to those near to us but far from God.
Otherwise, we’re simply attempting to exert power. Rather than bearing witness of Good News, we’re imposing a belief system upon people who have no idea why they should believe. It’s closer to coercion than compassion.
Transformation of Souls and Society
Earth is not heaven. But Jesus did pray that it would be on earth as it is in heaven. I don’t know all that he meant by that. Theologians have worked through this for centuries now. But what I am sure about is that there has not been a better time since Pentecost for the Church and for individual believers to bear witness of Jesus.
This is no time for pessimism. Jesus in making all things new. And he invites us to join his kingdom work now so that our neighbors and our communities are literally and forever transformed.
This model is a work in progress. I’d love for you to share and interact with these ideas as we grow in grace together.
Do you want to empower your church or business to make a Kingdom impact?
Whether it’s a weekend worship event, small group session, business executive team, or a company wide retreat, I’d be honored to serve your church, business, or organization as you build kingdom coalitions and develop proven practices for community transformation.
Just send me an email to darylcrouch@everyoneswilson.org or click the Contact Daryl button and complete the form. I’d love to hear from you.