Where is it OK to Witness?

[Mike McK]

Abiyah,

That story reminds me of an account in Billy Graham's autobiography, "Just As I Am" in which he and some crusade officials stumbled into a Belfast pub in the mid seventies looking for directions.

They told him that he needed to leave immediately for his own saftey, that he was in a heavily Catholic part of town and tensions were high.

They told him that people there who saw him might shoot first and ask questions later.

He stayed there and preached to them and then snuck out the back door. Several of them showed up at the crusade later on.

Mike

 

[Abiyah]

Billy Graham--what a man! I know that some
here don't like him, but I do.

 

[Abiyah]

One thing that concerns me, since we are on
the subject of the proper place to witness, is
this: I have known of people who have tried
to witness, but they were sneaky about it.
I don't know, but I think that if one feels the
need to be sneaky, if one believes they must
do the witnessing secretly, if one cannot show
their own face openly in the process, perhaps
they should rethink their process, their concept
of witnessing, their reasoning.

Example 1: If someone feels they must sneak
into the bar to witness, if they would be embar-
rassed if any certain individual sees them there,
then I think they should rethink their presence
in the bar and choose a different place.

Example 2: If one secretly leaves tracts, for
example, in a place, hoping that they will not
be traced back to them individually, rethink
and choose a different method.

An example of the latter was a particular
employee (A) who snuck a paper into an
office while another employee (B) was out
of her office. (This happened.) B was known
to be of a religion that was adamently against
our Lord and believers, but A wanted to tell
B of someone's testimony--someone who
had converted from B's religion to Christianity.
Result: A was brought up on some serious
charges.

In our correspondence, A felt very persecuted
and personally justified for her actions. I be-
lieved that her fear of being direct with her
fellow employee and her need to sneak into
B's office should have been a sign, a notice,
to her that her method was wrong.

Well, I certainly don't know everything, and I
do not have all wisdom, but I believe these
things should be considered.

[ September 26, 2002, 12:58 PM: Message edited by: Abiyah ]

 

[Johnv]

Originally posted by Abiyah:
Billy Graham--what a man! I know that some
here don't like him, but I do.

I second that!!

 

[Optional]

Example 1: If someone feels they must sneak
into the bar to witness, if they would be embar-
rassed if any certain individual sees them there,
then I think they should rethink their presence
in the bar and choose a different place.

I agree completely - go boldly and without hesitation or fear of who sees you.
As I stated before, if you want to know why you saw me there - come and directly ask me to my face. To gossip about it behind my back is sinning.
Also, as I stated before, I don't drink alcohol and never have. If I'm in the bar, you'll see me with a Perrier in my hand. This does not make me judgemental of others who want to have a drink. Also, I will not witness to someone who is obviously drunk. Talk about casting pearls before swine....

 

[Abiyah]

That gossip thang---that's a BIG problem.

 

[Optional]

Wow, Abiyah - you said that just like a Texan!

 

[Abiyah]

8oD Went through Texas one night when I was
8.5. Do you suppose some of that desert sand
rubbed in? 8oD