In our modern world of social media, life is based on constant change. News and media anywhere in the world can travel the globe within minutes (and sometimes seconds) of happening. Yet Christ’s command for the gospel to be spread throughout the far corners of the world has had its struggle over the last 2000 years. Christians can best serve by exploring the realism in witnessing to outer most parts of the world as well as their own community. Realism is an essential part of our foundation and we must be realistic in our witnessing as well. Jesus Christ is the same now as he was before but improved communications, modern medicines, and new sciences have led people towards the trend of scientism. More people believe in science and technology as new world religion. People are looking for answers to fill the blank space in their lives and the only way to truly fill that blank space is with Jesus Christ. The problem for the modern Christian is how to approach a non-Christian. Non-Christians are looking for something real and are more likely to probe any answers that are outside of popular belief. Christianity is as realistic as any and must be real for the non-Christian to begin to accept.

Jesus spoke to the five thousand whom He had fed with five loaves and two fish. Impressed with his miracles they quickly wanted to draft him as their leader. Jesus, knowing that their actions were by wrong motives,  withdrew from them. The next day Jesus answered them saying, “Truly, truly I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for food which perishes, but for food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal.” (John 6:25-27). Jesus acknowledged that material things were real but that spiritual and eternal things had more value. By his example he demonstrated to man that he should not follow that which perishes but to go after the very thing that will bring him eternal life. Christ’s example of using material things for spiritual good, kick started a series of parables that the people could identify with and start to relate to their own lives. Jesus knew that the people would not reach Heaven unless it was brought down to earth for them and modeled for them in their present state. Christians must live in today’s world, not just the local church, and they must be responsible for being informed or up to date in current  national and world affairs. Being informed gives Christians the realistic awareness to life. Non-Christians are more apt to listen to you if you can relate to what they go through and how they live. It is each person’s responsibility to understand the world and individual viewpoints. In order for Christians to witness to someone on a person to person basis, one must know to turn “head knowledge” of Christ into “heart to heart” communication of Christ. Speaking to one’s heart is direct and reaches a need that is longing to be fulfilled. Witnessing to someone merely from head knowledge tends to be informal and will lose the non-Christian or cause him or her to question everything that is said.

In my next post I will list four factors or ways Christians can avoid being a hindrance to non believers.