By Gregory Koukl
On a flight back from the Midwest I listened while a Christian brother in the row directly behind me vigorously shared his faith with passengers on either side. I was glad for the effort (my wife and I both were praying for him), and he made some fine points, but some of his tactics were questionable. Here are some tips that can make your witnessing efforts even more effective. They’re simple and practical principles every Ambassador should be alert to.
1. Be ready.
The Christian brother behind me was clearly on the alert for chances to represent Christ. With a seat in the middle, he had a captive audience on either side for almost four hours and was determined to make the most of his advantage. Though there’s no need to squeeze each opportunity dry (as he seemed to be doing), you should be willing at least to test the waters to see if there’s interest. Good ambassadors are vigilant, always watchful for what might turn out to be a divine appointment. Test the interest of the other person.
2. Keep it simple.
On the way to sharing about the cross, our Christian passenger ranged from young-earth creationism to Armageddon. That’s a lot to have to swallow to get to Jesus. Generally, the basic Gospel is challenging enough. Sometimes obstacles need to be cleared, but if not, why complicate the conversation with controversial issues unrelated to the cross? Remember, you want to put a stone in his shoe, not a boulder. If other issues don’t come up, don’t bring them up.
3. Avoid religious language and spiritual affectation.
Our dear brother was obviously a Christian. His dialog was littered with spiritual lingo and religious posturing. Everything about his manner screamed “fundamentalist.” Even when this is genuine, it sounds weird to outsiders. They may be attracted to Christ, but are not interested in joining an enterprise that might make them look odd. Avoid spiritual schmaltz like the plague. Don’t let your style get in the way of your message.
4. Focus on the truth of Christianity, not its personal benefits.
I appreciated our evangelist’s focus on truth rather than on experience. When one of his fellow passengers said he liked reincarnation, the Christian noted that “liking” reincarnation couldn’t make it true. The facts matter. By focusing on the truth claims of Jesus instead of making a more subjective appeal, he kept the message on target.
5. Give reasons.
This brother understood that focusing on facts without giving evidence would be an empty effort. He was ready to give the support needed to show that his claims were not trivial. He was following in a fine tradition. Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, and all the prophets did the same. Even in a postmodern age, people still care about reasons.
6. Stay Calm.
Don’t get mad. Don’t show frustration. Don’t look annoyed. Keep your cool. Our friend stayed composed. The more collected he was, the more confident he appeared. The more confident he seemed, the more persuasive he sounded.
7. If they want to go, let them leave.
When you sense the one you’re talking to is looking for an exit, back off a bit. Signs of waning interest—wandering eyes, a caged look, darting glances towards the doorway— are a clue she’s probably not listening anymore. Don’t force the conversation. Instead, let the exchange end naturally. Remember, you don’t need to close the sale in every encounter. Ultimately, they’re in God’s hands. God will bring the next Ambassador along to pick up where you left off. When it’s clear they’re finished, it’s time for you to let up, too.
8. But don’t let them leave empty-handed.
If possible, give them something to take with them, providing an opportunity for them to take another step. Our friend had an arsenal of tracts, booklets, and Christian paperbacks to leave behind to keep the thinking process going.
You might offer your business card, a Christian web site (e.g., str.org), or something to read. A copy of the Gospel of John is a good choice. It’s small, inexpensive, and focuses on Christ. Offer it as a gift suggesting, “It might be best for me to let Jesus speak for Himself.” Give them some tangible way to follow up on what you challenged them to consider.
These eight tactics will remove some of the obstacles that often get in our way, making it easier for our neighbors to focus on the message, not our methods. The irony is that when our method is skilled, it disappears from focus. But when it is lacking, it becomes the focus instead of the truth we are communicating.
I suppose the same can be said of Stand to Reason. The more we focus on key principles of ambassadorship, the easier it is to forget about the organization itself that makes the resources available. That’s understandable.
But before that happens, let me challenge you to take a moment and consider the role Stand to Reason is playing in your life. If you appreciate the advice and encouragement you receive from us on a regular basis, we would appreciate your financial support. Let me take my own advice here to “keep it simple”: We need your help to do what we do.
Just as the Christian brother who sat behind me on that flight from the midwest acted on his own convictions, all of us at Stand to Reason trust you, too, will share Christ with others using these practical principles of ambassadorship, and will give so that our efforts can continue.
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