Witness Without Words

How is Christ presented to the world? Perhaps the most powerful and effective way is through the life of a Christian, through his character, the way he lives, and how he treats other people.

The one who continually blabs about Christianity but doesn’t live it, that sort of testimony is at best, weak.

The Apostle Paul says, “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men, clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” (2 Corinthians 3:2-3 NKJV)

Paul is saying that our lives are a living letter, known and read by all men. This may be a silent, wordless witness to the world that speaks loud and clear of the love and character of Christ. This may be the best witness you can give the world.

When I arrived at boot camp in Fort Lewis, Washington, I was put in a large bay with about 100 other recruits for three days while they sorted us out, deciding where we would go next.

Most of the recruits spent the long days standing around in small groups, cussing, and telling off-color stories. I had no desire to be part of those conversations, so I stayed to myself near my bunk.

Word got out that I was a Christian, I suppose because I was seen reading my Bible. A young atheist thought it would be great sport to come over and debate me, which he did over and over. I had only been a Christian about three years and had no experience debating atheism. I felt totally ill-quipped to debate.

I didn’t feel like talking to anyone, for that matter. But I had always been taught to be polite and tolerant, so we talked over and over, at great length. I found myself always gravitating to my own testimony, how I was a deeply unhappy fellow with some bad habits . . . that when I surrendered to Christ, He gave me purpose and a deep sense of satisfaction. He changed my life completely.

In my opinion, I never won any part of the debate, but to my total consternation, I received a letter from this young man 30 days later. He said he had become a Christian because of my life.

To this day Dale has remained a solid friend. He and his wife, Marge, have raised three solid Christian children, one of whom was a missionary with Youth With A Mission.

Our life, our character, and to what extent we exude the attributes of Christ may be our greatest witness.

Pliny was the heathen governor of Bythynia in the last couple decades of the first century. He put Christians to death when they would not denounce Christ. He said this about their character: “They are accustomed to bind themselves by an oath to commit neither theft, nor robbery, nor adultery; never to break their word; never to deny a pledge that has been made when summoned to answer for it.”

Pliny was apparently dumbfounded by the lives of these Christians because they were so different from the debauchery of the culture. Still, he often put them to death for their faith. Doesn’t make any sense. But then, those under the influence of the devil are deceived and their behavior is often illogical.

When I was still in the corporate world of advertising and multimedia, I had a client I worked with often. One day he said to me, “I appreciate you because you don’t wear your religion on your sleeve.” One day I called him and his wife answered the phone. He was evidently in another part of the house and before he came to the phone, in a hushed voice she thanked me profusely for my influence on his life. “He asked for a Bible for Christmas,” she said.

I was so proud of my son when I visited him at his BMW training school in Phoenix, Arizona. While he was giving me a tour of his school, a young Asian student was having a smoke just outside where the school’s BMW cars were parked.

As we passed, he spoke to me directly, “I just have to tell you . . . Peter doesn’t smoke and he doesn’t drink and he’s the nicest guy I ever met.”

Later during the training cycle another student asked Peter if he could go to Church with him. On the second Sunday that he attended with Peter, he responded to the invitation to receive Jesus as his savior.

Peter wasn’t vocal abouit his faith; he just lived it.

As you have probably guessed, I am very proud of my son.

Proverbs 23:24 NKJV, part B, says, “He who begets a wise child will delight in him.” Proverbs 11:30 says, “He who wins souls is wise.” Daniel 12:3 NIV says, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”

The Bible says we will all stand before the judgement seat of Christ. I have a vision of that great occasion. We can’t take anything with us from this life to heaven except those we have led to Christ. I think that when we stand before Jesus on judgement day, the people we have led to Christ will be standing around us.

I had a strong desire for Peter, that on that day he would have people around him he has led to Christ. I prayed earnestly to that end. Shortly after that, I learned of these things my son had done.

After Peter graduated and was working at his new job at BMW of Minnetonka, it happened again. The technician in the next stall one day asked him where he went to church. Peter told him . . . Emmanuel Christian Center in Spring Lake Park. “The guy showed up the next Sunday in church and has been there ever since,” Peter told me.

There is something we will not be able to do in heaven . . . lead another person to Christ. That privilege is reserved only for this life.

Photograph taken by Lorraine