[RR] Re: Street witnessing (long)

[Gary Rothwell]

Title: Re: Street witnessing (long)

All,

This string about street witnessing is interesting. I was on a street witnessing team when I was a baby Christian and the experiences from that ran the gamut from objections/rejections to salvations, from visitations of God to demonic assaults.
The argument of the "different culture" is a valid one in spite of my Texas brother's heated disclaimers.
The culture of NT times was one of open political/religious discussion at forums and an open marketplace that was the social hub of the city. This was the Greek and Roman culture.
We, however, live in a culture of isolation. We leave our air-conditioned homes, drive to our air-conditioned offices in our air-conditioned cars (of course we listen to our "praise and worship" music). I know this is a tad simplistic but I want to make a point. We do live in an isolated culture.
When I was growing up we had a front porch that was the family gathering place after supper.
We would sit there and watch as night fell on the neighborhood. I spent many a summer afternoon on that old screen porch dreaming or watching the world go by. I knew my neighbors and they knew me. Sometimes too well. They knew how to keep me in line.
Today we have privacy fences. And the family makes a bee-line for the tube because it's PRIME TIME!!!

I know that this may (probably?) not pertain to those on this list but we're not talking about witnessing to those on this list are we?
My understanding of the New Testament (specifically Acts) is that the street "witnessing" was done (mostly) by the apostles and other "public" believers. The LIFE witnessing was done by everyone.

Now, before you start raking me over the coals about not being a speaking witness let me go on.
In Acts 1:8 Jesus said that we would "BE" witnesses not that we would witness. In other words our lives are our testimonies. Paul reinforces this by stating that we are "living epistles" (2 Cor 3:2,3).

Now, I'm not saying that we ditch street witnessing for all but the ordained. I'm merely saying that, historically, more (true,lasting) converts are won RELATIONALLY than CONFRONTATIONALLY.

That said, let me add this: TRUE CHRISTIANITY WAS, IS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE.. CONFRONTATIONAL.
(caps are for emphasis, I'm not shouting at you <g>)

IF we are truly living holy lives (I'm not talking legalistically perfect here), truly separated, wholly other than (which is what "holy" really means) lives, we will confront the world with their lostness at every point. Whether we open our mouths or not.
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"A holy life is a voice; it speaks when the tongue is silent and is either a constant attraction or a perpetual reproof."
Archbishop Robert Leighton, Seventeenth Century
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Rome persecuted the Christians not for belief in the resurrection, or healing or any of the four Red Points.
The Christians were executed for being atheists!
They preached, lived, believed there was only one God, and His Name was Jesus, not Caesar.
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"The Christians form among themselves secret societies that exist outside the system of laws..... an obscure and mysterious community founded on revolt and on the advantage that accrues from it."
Accusation Brought Against the Christians by Celsus, Second Century

"[The Romans] charge us [Christians] on two points: that we do not sacrifice and that we do not believe in the same gods as the State."
Athenagoras, A Second Century Christian Leader

"We are publicly accused of being atheists and criminals who are guilty of high treason."
Justin Martyr, Beheaded in A.D. 165

As the Christians were being carried away to their deaths ( read: graduation ceremonies)
the people would scream "Away with the atheists, kill them!!"
They would NOT bow down to Caesar. They WOULD live a life of peace. They WOULD be law-abiding.
But.......bottom line, they would NOT sacrifice to or worship Caesar.

This has gotten long and perhaps I've digressed, but it's time for us to BE Christians and to understand that that, in and of itself, will be confrontational to the lost world that we inhabit.

I recommend, if your toes are not too sensitive, that you read Michael L. Brown's new book -
REVOLUTION, THE CALL TO HOLY WAR
Dr. Brown is the president of the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry.
No, he's not calling for a Christian Jihad. He's calling us to BE Christians.


Let me close with these quotes:

>From Rachel Scott, Columbine martyr:
"I have no more personal friends at school. But you know what? I am not going to apologize for speaking the name of Jesus. I am not going to justify my faith to them, and I am not going to hide the light that God has put into me. If I have to sacrifice everything, I will. I will take it. If my friends have to become my enemies for me to be with my best friend, Jesus, then that's fine with me."

>From Amy Carmichael, who served as a missionary in India for 55 years without ever taking a furlough:
"To any whom the Hand Divine is beckoning: count the cost, for He tells us to, but take your slate to the foot of the Cross and add up the figures there.

Some may take me to task for this not being Ranger related. Isn't it?


--
Gary "Burn'n Heart" Rothwell
Sr. Cdr. Outpost 59
Potomac District
USA

Lord, Help me BE a "dead man walking."