Bring Everyone Along: Public Witness
by Lisa Allgood, Executive Presbyter
“You are the light of the world.” – Matthew 5:14
At a recent Council meeting, we asked each Council member what word they wanted us to hear/apply this year as we seek, together, to do the will of the Lord on behalf of the Presbytery.
One word (well, two) was “public witness”. A great word.
The idea behind public witness is deeply rooted in Scripture. Jesus gave many illustrations of this, but my favorite is Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
One of the most direct calls to public witness is of course the Great Commission (most of you know I call it the Great Co-Mission, for we are still missionally obligated to this today, in Matthew 28:19-20): “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” We are not exempt from Christ’s expectation that we too are to share our faith and spread the Gospel.
The apostles in the early church, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly proclaimed the Gospel despite persecution. In Acts 4:20, Peter and John declare, “For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” It often feels we are not (to use earlier words from Council) particularly bold or courageous in this area in the Western World…
The Apostle Paul lived public witness; Acts 17:17 says “So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.” Paul’s ongoing public witness was at times almost combative with those who were not inclined to hear his challenges, but he was always bold as he confronted people in various settings as he shared the message of Christ. In fact, Paul was a great example of public witness as a core part of the daily life and walk of a Christ-follower. Public witness is not limited to formal preaching or missionary work; it encompasses everyday interactions and the way we are seen by those around us, daily. Colossians 4:5-6 advises, “Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Wisdom, grace, and readiness are critical when we speak to non-believers, or those who are young in their faith. I am reminded of the teaching of Francis of Assisi: “Preach at all times, and as necessary use words.”
And so accordingly our public witness extends to caring for the people around us – by feeding the hungry, standing up for the marginalized and oppressed, standing up to injustice. Some of us do that more naturally than proclaiming the saving grace of our Lord and Savior, and so our public standing up may be seen as a secular response rather than an answer to Christ’s call on us. So, relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength, as we engage in the world – in every engagement, no matter how public or private – we are called to openly profess and demonstrate our faith in our God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. More than anything, we are called to proclaim – in word and deed – the transformative power of the Gospel, that we might live out the the Great Commission.
My friends – be a witness. Lives depend on it.
