“...and the lectures you deliver
may be very wise and true
but I’d rather get my lesson
by observing what you do”
...Edgar Guest
I believe that witness is more important than preaching, exhorting and rebuking-—especially that preaching and rebuking stuff.
I also believe that witness by internet in the safety net of anonymity is not the best pulpit for preaching (or rebuking).
When a person can be seen for who he is and heard for who he is and observed for who he is, that witness will speak better than the keyboard.
Thank God that in the Mystical Body of Christ we are not all called to preach and exhort and rebuke, because if we appoint those tasks to ourselves we likely could do more harm than good.
I like to read and try to absorb the words of Jesus in his long opening discourse in Matthew 5,6 and 7, and his last discourse in John 14. If I can ever keep these words in heart and mind, and try to live them with His grace, I hope that He will help me to give a silent witness that will attract, rather than to be rebuking and preaching.
However, I did preach and rebuke my children. That was my appointed mission.
What is your witness?
When a person can be seen for who he is and heard for who he is and observed for who he is, that witness will speak better than the keyboard.
He is a sinner, no matter how nice he is and unless he can tell them he is saved by the grace of God.. his witness is empty
He will help me to give a silent witness that will attract, rather than to be rebuking and preaching.
It will be a silent witness to you, not to Christ...
How will they know anything about Jesus Christ if all they do is observe you? How will the know that He was God incarnate? That He died for the sin of men?Or that He is the only way to be saved?
There are wonderful Buddhists that will burn in hell ...
Rom 10:14 ¶ How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.