A young man who recently became a Christian said to me, “I am going home to a non-Christian family—a family that is prepared to laugh me out of the house. How should I deal with that?”
Although he grew up next door to a parsonage and there were several different ministers who lived there over the years, no one ever spoke to him about being a Christian. He said, “My family was not just neutral to Christianity; they were hostile to it. They made fun of other members of our family who were Christians.”
How does a new Christian witness for Christ to a non-Christian family?
First, let it come naturally. In the course of conversation he is bound to share with his parents important things that have been happening in his life. It would be perfectly natural for him to share with them the fact that he had become a Christian. Then he could tell them why he made that decision, how it had come about, and what it had meant to him.
That’s witnessing in the finest sense of the word. It is sharing with other people what Christ has done for you in the normal course of conversation. It is sharing Christ like you’d share anything else important to you.
Second, don’t argue or condemn. Witnessing is the act of telling what a person knows or has experienced first hand. It is not our job to try to argue others into the kingdom of God. It is not our responsibility to convince them they are sinners and must repent.
Witnessing is not arguing, badgering, arm-twisting, or condemning. It is sharing simply, humbly, considerately, respectfully, and kindly an experience that is meaningful to you.
Third, live your Christian faith. Christ never leaves us where he found us. He always makes us better, and usually people who know us can see the difference. We have more peace, contentment, joy, love, acceptance, etc. than ever before.
If Christ has not changed your life or is in the process of changing it, then you do not have anything to witness about. If he has, you have much to say.
God expects every Christian to be a witness. So let’s be busy about it.