As I mentioned in my other thread, I am a new believer. I am wondering how to tell people? The vast majority of my friends are non-believers. I told one of my best friends "I believe in Jesus," but I don't think I did a great job explaining-he seemed both bewildered and a little amused. And my parents will be so happy but I am reluctant to tell them. I think part of it is admitting they were right (I'm still rebellious enough to not want to admit that!) and the other part is the fact that my mom is incredibly intrusive (used to read my diaries, listen to my phone calls, etc.) and will ask me a million questions and I'm not up for that right now. I guess that's kind of selfish.
And there is my other best friend who is a scientist who will probably think I've lost my mind. I don't know how to tell her.
Any advice is appreciated. Again, I am new to all this.
Hi Emsmom1, we are called to be God's "witnesses" .. e.g.
Isaiah 43:10. Being a witness for God is somewhat like being a witness in a courtroom, IOW, you testify to others about your personal experiences (with God in this case), specifically what you know of Him and of the faith personally,
NOT what you don't know.
You might want to tell someone why you decided to become a Christian, for instance, and what being one has meant to you so far. And if they ask you how they can become one too, you will certainly want to help them with that (just tell them how you became one
).
You do NOT need to have a doctorate in theology, or even know very much about the Bible, and if they ask you a question that you cannot answer, always be upfront and honest with them about that (you might say something like, "
you know what, that's a great question, one that I'd like to know the answer to myself, because I'm still pretty new to the Christian faith so I don't know everything about it yet").
Then tell them that you'll find out what the answer is from your pastor and that you'll get back to them as quickly as you can with it (and if they agree to let you, and they probably will because you were being honest with them, you'll have another opportunity to talk to them about Jesus & the Christian faith, just like that
).
BTW, prayer is a big part of this. Pray for the opportunity to witness/share what you know (that God will lead you to the people that He wants you to talk to, pray 'while' you are witnessing (for the right words to say, and for God to grant them the "ears" they need to hear His truth), and afterwards for their salvation (unless they decide to come to faith on the spot, of course).
Remember this too, we are called to be His faithful witnesses, not to "win souls" (because only the Holy Spirit can actually do that). IOW, while we are to witness/testify to others about what we know, it's His job to help them "hear", and then to change their hearts and minds and lives, to save sinners and to make them into wholly
new creatures in Christ as
His workmanship (
masterpiece) .. e.g.
Ezekiel 36:26-27; Ephesians 2:4-5, 10, 2 Corinthians 5:17.
That said, yes, witnessing is not easy, especially at first. So keep praying, and remember that saving them is His job, not yours
So, if they do not become Christians on the spot (and most will not) you have not failed to do what you were called to do, which is to be a faithful ~witness~ for God. I hope that helps a little.
God bless you!
--David
p.s. - eventually knowing a verse or two of Scripture to use when witnessing can be helpful, like
John 3:16, 5:24 and/or Romans 10:9-10, or something else of your choosing (perhaps a Scripture that goes along with your personal testimony) because, as the Bible makes clear,
Romans 10
17 Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.