Witnessing For Christ

by R. Armstrong, London, Ontario | Category: General | Nov 1975

Its Origin

"Ye shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1 :8). "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations" (Matt. 28:19).

These authoritative commands of our risen Lord were the apostolic mandate to go and make disciples for the new age which began at Pentecost. They are explicit commands, valid for all disciples of our Lord. They were not only for the apostles, although they had the honour of opening the door of faith and obedience to both Jew and Gentile.

The Lord had just announced that He had been given all authority in "heaven and on earth". This declaration embodied divine Imperialism at its highest. The apostles well knew the political currents of their day, and that the message about a new sovereign power to change lives would cut across the Roman imperialism of those times. They knew they would encounter stubborn resistance from Judaism, and strong opposition later, as they crossed new frontiers into the hostile territory of Rome's far flung colonies, where the emperor was absolute lord.

Ancient writings have revealed that the Roman emperor was considered not only to be lord, son of god, saviour, but also high priest. Almost every office of the Lord Jesus Christ was imitated by what had become known in the Roman empire as the "Cult of Caesar". The empire was made up of many different peoples, each with its own language, customs and religion. Their rulers knew it needed more than the gleaming spears and shields of the Roman legions to keep their allegiance, so they introduced emperor worship, and everywhere people bowed to Caesar as lord.

Into such a world Christ sent His early witnesses with the transforming message of the gospel. For the first time both Jews and Gentiles in all lands of Roman domination heard of the crucified Nazarene who rose from the dead to become Saviour and Lord of all who believed and obeyed Him.

The apostles, endowed with the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, saw thousands yield to the claims of the Lord Jesus in salvation and baptism. In the power of a new exuberant faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord these converts broke with the lifeless Judaistic ritual and openly defied atheistic paganism to join the living community of people, whose declared allegiance was to their ascended Lord and His new Fellowship (Acts 2:40-42, see also 1 Cor. 1:9). The church founded in Jerusalem was the first of many churches of God which became the base of both the worship and witness of God's called-out people. In the eyes of the world they were a "sect", an activist group of revolutionaries who refused the claims of both Judaism and paganism.

This brought about the cruel persecutions against the early Christians. In a period of about 30 years there were three major persecutions by Roman emperors. "The first took place in 64 to 67 A.D. under Nero, when multitudes of Christians were crucified or thrown to wild animals, or wrapped in combustible material and burned to death, while Nero laughed at the pitiful shrieks of burning men and women. The second was instituted by Domitian in 95-96 A.D., while the third was that of Trajan in 98 A.D." (Halley's Bible Handbook).

We can now understand the meaning Of the word "witness" when used of the early Christians in the context of suffering. One Greek word for witness is martus from which comes the English word martyr (one who bears witness by his death). It means one who can tell what he has seen or heard or knows (Vine). This is the word used of the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 22:20), and of Antipas, one of the faithful brethren in the church of God in Pergamum, who was killed among them (Rev. 2:13). Church history right down to modern times records the martyrdom of thousands who have sacrificed their lives for Christ. Because of geographical location and Western religious tolerance we are not faced with the same issues today, but nowhere in the Bible are we promised freedom from persecution.

As the world's political climate changes so will the winds of adversity blow against those who witness to the whole truth. To proclaim "the whole counsel of God", and say it in the market places in the power of the Holy Spirit, as Paul did, may yet produce a wave of religious intolerance against the people of God in our time. If the churches of God are to remain faithful to the living orthodoxy of New Testament teachings complete separation from the political, religious, and entertainment "system" of the world will be necessary. To remain silent on any of these vital issues may popularize the Fellowship, but it will produce insipid and ineffective witness, terminating in a dead orthodoxy.

The Popular Gospel

It is now almost an offence to speak against a kind of watered down version of God's plan of salvation, where people are brought to a "decision for Christ" but are not taught to break with the world from which God has saved them. It is taught that the necessary elements of the new Christian life are, read the Bible, learn to pray, and find a group of your own choice for Christian fellowship.

It is only too true that many so-called Bible believing groups teach erroneous doctrines, while others now deny the infallibility of the Holy Scriptures. Then there is the case of the professional entertainer who after professing faith in Christ continues to be a star in the world of entertainment. Millions of devotees are now caught in the fascinating spell of the world's "god of entertainment". For the most part they are persons suffering from existential loneliness and emptiness, and who drink at the fountain of worldly pleasure.

The entertainer now reasons that Christ is with him, securing even greater success in his chosen profession. He supposes that this will lead to effective Christian witness, and many worldly-minded Christians watch his performances. Is this not just where Lot was, in the gate of Sodom? How futile to witness while remaining part of a corrupt society! The New Testament knows nothing of this kind of witnessing.

Commitment no substitute for obedience

We hear the words "commitment to Christ" being used in today's evangelism, and we only object to the term when it is taught to mean anything less than "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ". The articles of Christ's mandate to the early churches included both the Saviourhood of Jesus Christ and His sovereign Lordship. In the message of the kingdom of God these two matters were always joined. Disciples were made, baptized, and added to churches of God to walk a path of obedience and separation to the will of God. Our disciple-making outreach should emphasize the blessings and responsibilities of these two great ministries of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is both Saviour and Lord.

The total witness of God's people must testify against the sin and evil of our times, religious or moral. In God's plan the whole man is delivered through the obedience of faith. The Lord Jesus "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil world" (Gal. 1 :4). See also Titus 2:14, "Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a people for His own possession, zealous of good works", and "sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord" (1 Pet. 3:15). The cross both saves and separates. Christ in the believer's heart is like the King in residence. Witnessing which falls short of this divine ideal will only produce Christians who know little of the separation of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Glory of Christ's Commission

It is a great honour to witness for Christ in the world that cast out and crucified Him. Paul saw the glory of that great commission which set him free and sent him into a hostile world with the burning message of the cross. "To this end have I appeared unto thee, to appoint thee a minister and a witness...to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God" (Acts 26:16-18). The professing Christian church has lost much of its emphasis on the sinfulness of sin, and man's desperate need of Christ, and is being shorn of its power by pre-occupation with the world, and self. A similar spiritual paralysis may well affect the Lord's people who have been called to "royal priesthood" service. The call is clear to evangelize and teach, and we must again catch the glory of our Lord's commission, "Go ye".

Spiritual Condition

How can we speak to men about sin if there is known or unconfessed sin in our own lives, or in the churches with which we are associated? How can we preach the gospel of peace to a troubled world if there is dissension, jealousy, pride, bitterness or self-seeking in us as Christ's witnesses? Confession, forgiveness and forsaking of known sin is essential before the Holy Spirit can work through us. He cannot work through an unclean channel. We must keep short accounts with God about sin. "Let every one that is godly pray unto Thee in the time of finding out sin" (Psa. 32:6, R.V. margin). What applies to the individual also applies to the church. The church is only a reflection of those who compose it.

Secondly, we must learn to love one another as the Lord's disciples. The hallmark of the early church was love of the kind that made a Roman emperor once say, "There is one thing about these Christians, they love one another". Fervent love among the Lord's people will provide depth and reality to our witness before a watching world where 'love is being dragged into the cesspool of permissiveness and lust. In an age of shoddy values, Christian standards must be maintained. "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ" (Phil. 1:27).

Thirdly, there must be compassion for the unsaved. "When He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd" (Matt. 9:36). The word compassion here, means "to be moved as to one's inwards, to yearn with compassion towards those who suffer". We must pray that the compassion of Christ will fill us. Lack of it may well be at the root of barrenness in many gospel services or personal encounters.

Lord speak to me that I may speak

In living echoes of Thy tone,

As Thou hast sought so let me seek

The erring sinner, lost and lone.

When Christ saw human need He acted to meet it, so there must be on our part an active seeking, even at personal cost, of the eternal welfare of others. Then, after salvation there is a continuing need for a loving commitment to help in the days of spiritual growth that follow.

Finally, may the gracious Lord of the harvest lay upon our hearts the great urgency of proclaiming His message in the power of the Holy Spirit, for the time is short, and His coming near. "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him" (Psa. 126:6, A~V.).

R. Armstrong, London, Ontario | Nov 1975
General