Here’s a fun commentary from Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason.
First, the setup:
A couple of days ago, someone asked me about how much initiative I took sharing my faith in public. Do I wait for the Holy Spirit to “lead” me–waiting until I feel like God wants me to talk to a particular person–or do I just jump in on my own without a special directive from the Lord?
I’ll tell you the truth. If I waited for the Holy Spirit to “lead” me in that sense, I’d never do anything. I rarely “feel impressed” to do anything God commands, including witnessing.
That’s one of the problems with this approach. It’s a mistake to think that being led by the Spirit is a subjective thing, as if you can feel the tugging of the Holy Spirit grabbing you by the ear or the heart and pulling you along. That isn’t what the leading of the Spirit means in the Scriptures.
And a snarky excerpt:
Here’s how it works out for me. When I get on an airplane, I do not usually want to talk to anybody about the Lord. I want to work on my computer, I want to read, I want to watch the movie, I want to sleep. I don’t want to be bothered with conversation about spiritual things. Maybe that doesn’t sound very admirable, but that’s the way I feel.
Even though I feel that way, though, I know something different. I know, first of all, that I’m a Christian. I hold the information that can transform people’s lives and can secure their eternity. I have something valuable that every person needs. Proverbs says I ought not withhold something good from somebody when it’s within my power to do it (Prov. 3:27).
So when I get on a plane, I don’t feel like sharing my faith, but my attitude is to be obedient to whatever opportunity the Lord gives to me. My goal is to be available. I say, “Lord, I don’t want to talk to anyone today; I want to have an easy, conflict-free flight. That’s my desire. I don’t ‘feel led.’ But Lord, if you give me an opportunity to make a difference for the Kingdom in some way–to plant a seed, to give a word of encouragement, whatever–I’m available.”
Then, I just keep my eyes open. Generally, in the context of a conversation, I try to drop a word or two or a statement, that might open the door to spiritual things. I toss ought some bait and see if I get a nibble. I don’t try to force the situation, but sometimes–to continue the fishing metaphor–I do throw some chum in the water to see if I can trigger a little appetite.
Sometimes I get that opportunity when people ask me what I do for a living. Since I’m a writer, an educator, a student, a seminar speaker, a talk show host, and a CEO, I can say a lot of different things. I try to choose that particular description of my work that I think would offer the best opportunity to introduce spiritual things with the particular person I’m talking to.
So my goal is to be available to the opportunities God sovereignly gives me to be obedient. I look for a chance to plant a seed somewhere. I don’t do it because I feel moved by the Spirit, led by the Spirit, prompted, nudged, pushed or anything like that. I do it because I want to be faithful, to be obedient. My goal as a Christian is not to follow whatever I think my feelings are telling me, but to do those things I ought to be doing, and I don’t need a personalized message for that.
He then goes on to give an example of how he puts this into practice.
One of the things I like about Greg is that he comes across as a tough, non-sense Christian. I think a lot of men would be a lot more interested in Christianity if they realized that they could get into disagreements and take bold stands and be the pilots of their own lives – instead of waiting for the right feelings.
Soldiers don’t wait to feel like fighting when they are on the battlefield. They just do their jobs. There is plenty of time to talk about feelings with other Christians after you you finish the battle. Then you can be as emotional as you want – once the fighting is done.
WINTERY KNIGHT 
My thoughts exactly. I use the same approach. Be available. Throw out “faith flags.” If people aren’t interested, don’t push it. If they are, you have all sorts of opportunities to share the truth. Koukl is a fantastic example.
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Do you need that special feeling to share?
No, but it helps.
The Bible tells us to be instant in season or out of season, whether we feel like it or not.
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I think the soldier metaphor is a very important one. Soldiers shouldn’t shirk their responsibilities–ie. to fight. Once that uniform is on and the rifle is in hand, you’re a combatant.
Once you accept Christ, you’re a Christian. Once you’re a Christian, you’re a soldier. Your God-given mind is your rifle. You’re a combatant.
Soldiers aren’t ashamed of being soldiers (even when people spit in their faces while screaming “baby killer”).
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Good post! I didn’t even think Koukl was really snarky. It’s just how it is.
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I always liked this approach: “Preach the gospel and when necessary, use words.”
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https://winteryknight.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/can-we-preach-the-gospel-without-using-words/
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I don’t care about whether St. Francis said it, lived it or not. I like it because people need to be an example first and foremost, of the gospel that they espouse. If you can’t live it, don’t preach it.
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Touche’ – many times “witness” is being honest, trustworthy, integrity, truthful, kind, and generous, high character, morale etc…. In summary – a good person who is good for their word. This stands out head and shoulders above everything ( most of all to “enemies” when they are in time of need- one helps them).
Most everybody (99%) of people have trauma in their life in one form or another – being a genuine friend first goes a long way in the credibility department and is needed for trust.
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McS: Sure, we should be a good example and our lives are an important witness. However, if we *only* do this and don’t use words (which the quote implies are not always needed), then we do people a disservice. Words are *always* necessary. Remember that “faith comes by hearing”.
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Those are great excerpts. Right on.
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Re. “Preach the gospel and when necessary, use words.” — that is a nice sentiment, if people mean it as hyperbole and want to ensure that their actions demonstrate that they have real faith in Jesus. It is hard to convey that Jesus died for your sins and rose again without words, even if you are Marcel Marceau. Even hinting that our actions are so pure that they’ll point to Christ without further explanation of him would be extreme self-righteousness.
My experience has been that those who use that saying rarely, if ever, share the real Gospel with words. I’ll be glad to assume that those quoting it here are the exceptions.
Should our lives demonstrate fruit-bearing? Of course. Is that an excuse not to seek to share the Gospel with words? Of course not.
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A Christian should do their best to live an exemplary life in order to honor God. But believers in false religions and atheists can also be honest, trustworthy, and so on. Living a good life is only a complement to the truth about eternal life, heaven or hell. A good life without a saving faith in Christ will only get you to hell.
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Good point. As I point out during world religions / evangelism classes, on average Mormons will out-nice Christians 24×7. But they have a false belief system, and no amount of good deeds on our part will be able to point out the differences between the false and true religions. We need words.
P.S. I noticed that they need words to teach the importance of “Preach the gospel and when necessary, use words.”
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Well the phrase doesn’t preclude the use of words, only suggests that we start with actions, using words “when necessary.”
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I have to give Mormons the nod when it comes to discipline, family values / structure / low divorce rate, good deeds, clean living, knowing the scripture (aka KJV) despite the totally unscriptural theology of Mormonism. They have the Christian Church beat in those area’s hands down.
In review- Christian theology isn’t much better given the incorrect teaching of of unconditional grace, rapture, and heaven etc which has a profund effect how people behave and how they are perceived by the secular world.
Here is a example – how many “Christians” practice abstinence, tell the truth, and have stepped out of the world and not watch R rated or unclean movies/music ? When the world cant tell a Christian from a non-Christian in their words/actions – then there is a slight problem.
Words and actions have to coincide. With that being said, the Christian salvation walk is a bit harder than was originally presented to me.
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The problem with not being able to tell Christians from non-Christians is that many churches/Christians twist the understanding of the NT covenant of grace and the OT covenant of works. Jesus swept away all OT ceremonial law (salvation by works), but not the moral law of God, a summary of which is the ten commandments. I say summary as there are other instructions given to us in the bible, which we cant ignore, just because they dont sit well in our conscience.
When Christians do remove themselves from the world, they are mocked and ridiculed, not by the world but by other Christians. Accused of being legalistic, or not having faith in God’s grace.
As an example: I do not wear trousers or jeans, ever. I also have long hair. Do I think this makes me more righteous, a better Christian or help in my salvation? Absolutely not!
The bible is clear that a woman should have long hair, and should not wear clothes that are meant for a man.
Non Christians accept this is how I look and what I wear. Christians on the other hand….WOW! Perhaps they accuse me as it highlights their own disobedience to the law of God, who knows. Its not for me to judge.
Just dont confuse legalism with obedience.
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