Witnessing for Christ in 21st Century

The Gospel of Christ is designed to save all – this is the expressed desire of our Heavenly Father.

It has been given to believers of ‘no particular note, importance or education’ to perform! Have we comprehended this amazing difference? The world does NOT do this, instead demands the highest of credentials for men and women dealing with the lives of others! This Divine ‘policy’ is more clearly stated by Paul as, “God has chosen the weak things of the world…those rich in faith” 1 Corinthians 1:26-29. Reason: “That no flesh should glory in His sight,” that is that no human being should assume the right to glory (in his own particular ability) for it is truly, wholly, and directly given from above.

In the Western world Christianity has its heroes, champions, the ‘Goliaths’ set up in order to preach their gospel! The personality, the presentation is often stage-managed to advance their cause and to fill the churches. So often this is expressed in hard dollar terms! These TV and travelling evangelists are well known to many of us. Frequently they fall through pride!

How refreshing it is to read in Gospel News of the humble work of committed individuals throughout the wide world drawing men and women to the Truth. We see as it was in the first century church, “…the Lord working with them, the Lord adding to their number daily…” The blessed co-operation between ‘heaven and earth,’ working in tandem is the only obvious conclusion. Is this still our belief and our thinking today?

We read in Acts 5:42 that the believers were, ‘Daily in the temple and in every house they ceased not to teach and preach…Jesus Christ.’ They had sorted out the best venues, the best methods and the best subject! What we see in them is their whole hearted determination, consistency and continuity.

There are now some obvious conclusions we can draw from this.

We don’t need ‘champions’ - everyone is capable of witnessing to Christ in the eyes of the Lord.

We don’t need ‘special efforts’ - every day, in public and in private, is the Lord’s way.

We don’t need ‘large money’ - only the will, the mouth and the feet, to do great things for the Lord.

However, we note the “work of the Lord” did require specialisation, especially needful as the community grew, hence, the record of Acts 6 shows the two functions clearly working with “the Word of the God” and “serving tables.” Both functions required men of spirit, men of commitment. The Ecclesia is to meet both these needs and we might add, that they are equally important, equally relevant in today’s world.

Carelinks and Gospel News publicise the work of the Lord through faithful brothers and sisters in so many places that it is difficult to understand and comprehend the rapidly expanding scope of all this. This work can only be understood and explained in the terms of our first century examples: a unity of spirit, purpose, resources and gifts being employed in the building together of “God’s House” as an urgent and faith directed work in preparation for the coming of His Messiah.

Bro Neil Todd (Auckland, New Zealand)