You Can Witness to Anyone!

… now he commands all people everywhere to repent. ³¹For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead. (Acts 17:30-31)

     When’s the last time you felt nervous talking about your faith? Maybe someone asked a difficult question. Maybe it was a coworker who loves debating religion. Maybe it was a family member who seems hostile to Christianity. Or maybe you simply felt unprepared and afraid of saying the wrong thing.

     Now imagine being called to speak before some of the most educated and influential people in the world. Picture yourself in a debate hall at . . . . Harvard with professors of philosophy and religion, famous public thinkers, powerful politicians, a couple Supreme Court justices gathered in the same room. That’s something like what Paul the Apostle experienced at the Areopagus in Athens, Greece, in Acts 17.

     And what did Paul do? He witnessed. Calmly, respectfully, and boldly. He didn’t insult people. He didn’t try to “take everyone down” with intellectual brilliance. He just proclaimed the truth. God made us. We belong to him. We must repent. Jesus died and rose again. A final judgment is coming, but eternal hope is found in Christ.

     The reactions were mixed. Some sneered. Some wanted to hear more. Some believed, even a member of the famous Areopagus Council itself. That’s how it usually works, doesn’t it? Changing hearts is not our job. God does that. Our calling is simply to witness.

     You don’t have to be a professional debater to speak about Jesus. You don’t need perfect answers. You simply point people to the risen Savior and trust the Holy Spirit to work through that message.