To be a witness of Christ is not merely to demonstrate moral integrity. Don’t get me wrong, that is a crucial component of being a witness. Furthermore, witnessing does not mean merely manifesting an exterior show of the faith by words or deeds. There is a tendency to believe “deeds” are more important than “words”, but this debate distracts us from the interior life which, when corrupted, can do both as a show.
A witness is a person who has witnessed Christ in their own life, having had an encounter with Him, and as a result has followed Him in His discipline (discipleship). As a result of their changed life, they witness to Christ both in word and deed, both internally and externally. This is a witness not to an ethically argued philosophy, but a witness to an abiding relationship with God.
The Church teaches that teachers are only listened to when they are also witnesses. Yet, so many have wrongly degraded this true sentiment to mean that teachers are only listened to if they do things that run consistent with what they teach. That’s not what it means, and demonstrates perhaps a naïve and superficial understanding of things spiritual. When we live in the Holy Spirit, with an internal awakening to the very voice of God, our actions become married to such an interior disposition, as do our words.
People can sniff out a false person, and it can typically arise in the spiritual bad fruits which are diverse. Yet they remain unaware of those bad fruits, because these fruits belong to their interior life, not the exterior.
When we try to convert structures and maintain programs — there is a forgetfulness or even apathy towards a relationship with God. As important as those things may be, we must always remember that they are unimportant, and in fact vanity if they are not married to a relationship with our Savior.
So if you want to be a witness to Jesus, first think back to an encounter — and examine how it changed you. If it didn’t change you, why not? Now give testimony to this change, and most importantly to the One who changed you.
Can you share your own experience of Christ here?
___
Photo: Ben White, Unsplash / PD-US
2 thoughts on “Witness to Christ”
I get it – you will know them by their fruits. I was struck by the “Relationship with God” link to Jean Elizabeth Seah’s article. I couldn’t agree more with her statement:
“On the other hand, for those who are emotionally insecure and uncertain about their own identity and purpose, a relationship can become an idol. They derive their entire self-worth and happiness from being loved by another creature, and fall apart if they lose the other person… and creates a toxic relationship.”
Yet comments by TANMARA were determined to argue that “Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” I wonder if she is still determined to defend that.
There is a bold line between laying down one’s life for a friend OR losing respect for oneself – to the degree that one slowly begins to allow one’s dignity to be trampled. Laying down one’s life can be the result of hating oneself. This is fruit from a bad tree, and it should be burnt.
I think my wife and I both benefited greatly by having these “baby I can’t stop thinking of you” relationships prior to our marriage. I could tell from the very beginning that I was low-on-the-totem-pole in comparison with my wife’s subsequent, reestablished relationship with Jesus, and that feeling was mutual. We both know we are 2nd, and that is exactly why we have become one.
Pingback: 5 Inspiring Streaming Options Every Catholic Man Should Watch, and More! – christian-99.com