Torch, Spring 1996

do not witness to cultists, occultists, and new agers? Could it be fear of losing? If the person witnessed to rejects the gospel presentation, he is history as far as the Christian is concerned– quickly forgotten. Why? Could it be that the real goal was to win the discussion and not the person? If so, the experience will leave the proverbial bad taste in the mouth of the Christian, making it more difficult to witness to that same unbeliever another time. How should we present and represent Christianity to a lost world? First of all , we are expected to be discerning individuals. The ancient Greeks believed that people who were truly prepared to engage their world would possess three aspects of wisdom marked by three words : sophia (wisdom marked by the knowledge of ultimate things), phronesis (wisdom marked by prudence or practicality), and sunesis (wisdom that applies the knowledge of ultimate things to everyday life to distinguish courses of action). The apostle Paul uses these three words or aspects of wisdom to describe the Christian who is prepared to face this world for Christ. A Christian must know the things of God and His Word which, when applied in the practical area of life, provides the basis for discernment: what is of God and what is not, what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is best. Paul prayed for the Colossians that they would have "spiritual wisdom" (sophia- knowledge of God's Word) and "under– standing" (sunesis- the ability to discern or distinguish courses of action) "so that" they might "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord" and "please him in all respects" (Colossians 1:9-10). We cannot live correctly nor can we detect error and present the truth unless we practice discernment. To be discerning is to continually apply the Word of God throughout life. Second, we are expected to do this in a godly manner. We must learn to love the people we engage in conversation and treat them with due respect. The basis for this lies in our Lord's teaching that we cannot love God in any · ~··· ~~ · - ....... "...we shomld be l imcl ...anid g~mml~ correct tlito&e ~ho oppose tthe truth .." • •••• ••• • •• • ••••• real sense without also loving our neighbor who is made in God's image like we are (see Matthew 22:35-40; Luke 10:27-37; cf. 1John4:20). And who is our neighbor? Everyone we have contact with. When giving a reasoned explanation of the hope that is distinctive to being a Christian, we must do so with gentleness, not arrogantly, and with reverence before God. Affirmation of this can be found in the teachings of the apostles Paul in 2 Timothy 2:24-25 and Peter in 1Peter3:15-16. Paul instructs us not to "do verbal battle" with people, and Peter, by inference, says we should not initiate or participate in aggressive attacks on people . Instead, we should be kind to everyone, exercise patience even when wronged, and gently correct those who oppose the truth. We may well talk about our faith and share it with others, but do we live in such a way that we show them Christ and bring glory to God? In addition, we must remember that it is God's job, not ours, to bring people to repentance and to the "knowledge of the truth" (See 2 Timothy 2:25-26; cf. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7). The inner change of the heart when turning from sin and guilt to cleansing and forgiveness is the work of God. Is it possible that we are so caught up with what we say and do and with how we are received that we forget about God working in people's lives? Finally, as we take on the armor of God and participate in the battle for souls, we are expected to pray "at all times" (Ephesians 6:18). Pray for wisdom and to be discerning (2 Chronicles 1:9-12; Proverbs 2:3; James 1:5), as well as for those with whom we share our faith . So the wise words of my high school coach and the teaching of my heavenly Father taught me an important truth about evangelism: he who is discerning and shares his faith effectively with others by word and a godly life, treats people with due respect, and loves them– wins ! James Bjornstad joined the Cedarville faculty in 1995 as professor of philosophy in the Department of Biblical Education. He holds a B.A. and Th.B. from Northeastern Bible College, an M.R.E. from New York Theological Seminary, and is a Ph .D. candidate at New York University. He has spoken in Brussels, London, Norway, and Russia in a variety of settings and has planted churches in Mormon communities and on Indian reservations. Torch 13