Why Witness?
One of the main purposes of this newsletter is to encourage Christians to witness for Jesus Christ. Perhaps 80% of all Christians never or almost never witness to anyone. Not only do they not witness through organized outreaches, they don’t witness at work or even to their unsaved friends. Also, many Christians who at one time were involved extensively in evangelism no longer do much witnessing.
Over the years, I have thought a lot about this problem, its cause and possible solutions. I am convinced that much of Satan’s attacks on Christians is focused on two areas: prayer and witnessing. In the area of evangelism, Satan will give us every excuse not to witness. He will tell us our witnessing is not effective, that we should do other things with our time. Whatever method we are using, it is the wrong method. We are turning people off to the gospel. We are neglecting our family or church activities. Satan has been every effective at preventing Christians from witnessing. We can see the result in the current condition of our nation and world.
One area in which Satan attacks us concerns our motivation for evangelism. We have seen preachers who condemn people, as though they were happy people are going to Hell. All of us who preach know that our motives are not always perfect. We may enjoy the attention we are getting when a crowd gathers. We may think we are earning favor with God or making up for past sins by witnessing.
What is the proper motivation for evangelism? First, we witness out of our love for God. When you fall in love with someone, it is natural to tell others about that person. Also, we know that God loved this world so much that He sent His Son to die for their sins. He does not want to see anyone perish but that all come to repentance. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Jesus has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel, and He has ordained that people are saved through preaching. “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Corin. 1:21). “How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14).
We do not want to be like Martha, so busy serving God that we neglect fellowship with Him. Or like the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2, which had an abundance of good works, but had left their first love of Jesus. Christians sometimes tell me that they find they are witnessing out of duty or obligation, and that they will stop witnessing until they can witness with the right motive or get their relationship with God right. Certainly, we need to give first priority to our relationship with God. But why is witnessing the first thing to go whenever we have a spiritual problem?
I may not feel like praying or reading the Bible or going to church, I may not feel like going to work, I may not feel like witnessing, but I discipline myself to do the things I know God wants me to do regardless of my feelings. Yet it is usually in the area of evangelism that Christians think that they should only do it when they “feel led” lest they be legalistic.
The apostle Paul didn’t worry much about people’s motives for evangelism. “Some indeed preach Christ of contention, not sincerely…What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice” (Phil. 1:15,18). Even when people’s motives for preaching were wrong, Paul was more concerned that Christ be preached. “Just do it.”
Some might even criticize Paul’s motivation for preaching. “When I preach the gospel,” he wrote “I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me” (1 Corin. 9:16-17). Paul is saying that even if he does not want to witness, he is compelled to do so and something bad would happen to him if he were disobedient. Then he compares the discipline involved in preaching the gospel to that of a runner and a boxer. Athletic competition involves great discipline even to the point of pain. “No pain. No gain.” It is painful to see people reject the gospel, and reject us because we proclaim the gospel. Without sufficient motivation, we won’t be willing to endure this pain. “They do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (v. 25).
Paul wrote to the Corinthians “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corin. 5:11). And he told the people of Ephesus, “I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men, For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:26-27). Paul was referring here to God’s warning in Ezekiel 33: “If you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at your hand.” Paul apparently thought that this Old Testament scripture does apply to us in this age of grace.
Christians often ask me what motivates me to continue preaching the gospel for so many years in a city that is known for its resistance to God’s Word. I grew up in the “Bible belt” and probably many of my friends were Christians, but none told me how to be saved. At the age of 24 after years of tormented searching for meaning in life, I finally met some people who cared for my soul and showed me the way of salvation. Once I realized the Bible is really true and there really is a Heaven and Hell, I was amazed that nobody had ever warned me before. In light of this truth, I knew that the only sensible thing for me to do was to dedicate my life to warning people of the reality of eternal Hell and showing them the way of salvation.
Some may say that this is not a lofty motivation. Some Christians teach that it is wrong to witness because of our love for the lost, or desire to save people from Hell. Some teach that it is not even possible to love the lost. Yet Paul wrote in Romans 9 that he had “great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren (the Jews).” Paul was so burdened to see his fellow Jews heading for Hell that he was willing to take their place. Of course, we can’t do that, but we can warn them of their danger and show them the way out. If you study church history, you will find that virtually every great evangelist was motivated by an overwhelming desire to keep people out of Hell.
I am continually amazed that Christians who believe that all the unbelievers around them are headed for eternal torment in Hell would care so little about warning them. The only explanation I have is that Satan is very clever at giving us excuses for not witnessing, and that our heart is so deceitful that we fall for his lies. I rarely feel like witnessing to anyone. Every week when it is time for us to witness I can think of some reason for not going. But then I remember that no sacrifice is too great to save even one soul from Hell.
There are many valid motives for preaching the gospel. While we should examine ourselves for impure motives, the most important thing is that we continue to preach the gospel in a consistent way. Setting aside a regular time to witness is as legitimate and necessary as any other spiritual discipline. Waiting until you are in perfect spiritual condition before you start witnessing is as foolish as waiting until you are in perfect physical condition before you start exercising.
Berkeley Attempts to Tax Churches
Last month’s newsletter included a report on the new fee for loudspeaker permits in Berkeley, a fee that was instituted immediately after our lawsuit with the city was settled. Now, Berkeley is seeking to become the first city in the nation to tax all churches and nonprofit organizations. A law passed in 1977 required all such organizations to pay a $51 business tax to be licensed by the city and in addition they would be taxed at a rate of 60 cents per $1000 of receipts, including contributions. The Berkeley city attorney claims that the city has the authority to tax churches. This law has never been enforced, but on June 15 the city mailed out a letter to churches and nonprofit organizations telling them they must now pay this tax. On July 14, over 150 people attended a meeting to oppose this tax. In the face of this protest, the city council unanimously decided to create a subcommittee to reevaluate the tax and reconsider it at a September 29 meeting. A lawyer from the American Baptist Churches says his denomination is prepared to fight the matter all the way to the U S Supreme Court.
Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “The power to tax is the power to destroy.” The Berkeley tax may seem small, but once established, it can be increased. Also, this could be a precedent to be spread to other cities seeking new sources of revenue. On July 22, the 700 Club reported on this story, calling Berkeley a trendsetter which has had tremendous influence on the rest of the nation. In their report, attorney Jay Sekulow said that he is currently fighting a Kentucky case in which private Christian schools are required to obtain a city license. The city inspector is claiming that this license gives him the power to regulate what is and is not taught in this school. Sekulow won this case, but the state of Kentucky is appealing it. These are dangerous times, as anti-Christian sentiment is growing around the nation and the government is seeking increased regulation of Christian activities.
A Final Word
We are happy to have two new men in our evangelism house in Oakland. Robin Woodruff (Ron’s brother) has worked with us for two years. In addition to witnessing, he operates the PA system for us and is helping make needed repairs on our house. Steven Styles is only 19 but has a great desire to witness. He came to SOS-San Francisco this summer and felt God was leading him to live in our house. His home church and Christian mother are very supportive of God’s leading in his life.
As I have visited many churches, I have found only a few in which more than a handful of people are involved in evangelism. In each of these churches, the pastor and church leaders spoke often about the need to witness. Also, the church planned regular evangelism outreaches and expected their members to participate in these outreaches as much as they would any other church activity. Christians tend to follow their leaders. If their leaders don’t continually stress the importance of witnessing and provide opportunities to witness, they assume it must not be very important.
The 9th annual National Street Ministries Conference will be held in Dallas, September 24-26. This is an opportunity to receive practical training in evangelism and to meet hundreds of Christians involved in street ministry around the nation. David Wilkerson will be speaking Friday morning, Saturday morning and Saturday night. For more information, call (214) 283-3900. Our Tape of the Month is “Evangelical Paralysis” by Ray Comfort. In this tape, Ray shows how Satan has kept Christians from their calling to evangelize through rejection, condemnation and the fear of man.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum