James Stewart, the great Scottish preacher, asks this searching question: "Shall I, as a Christian, be content to pursue the religious quest as a private hobby, and to develop my own spiritual life; or shall I concern myself personally for those outside, and take upon my heart deliberately the whole world's needs for Christ?"
Dr. Stewart answers his own question as follows: "No man, with the New Testament in his mind, can have a moment's hesitation about the answer. 'What I live by,' St. Augustine declared, 'I impart.'"
The apostle Paul expressed the same sentiment graphically when he declared for himself "a debtor" to all men " Greeks, barbarians, wise, unwise. Witnessing for Christ was not an option but a responsibility. As he was bound to pay his financial obligations, so was he forced by duty to preach the gospel to all men whatever the risk. He fulfilled this obligation at the cost of comfort, acceptance, freedom and life itself!
To pay this debt in the modern world is not an easy assignment. To talk religion is often unpopular. It is acceptable to be enthusiastic about sports, hobbies, politics, art, careers, travel and scores of other interest and activities, but not religion. It is considered proper to try to persuade men to be Democrats, Cadillac owners and beer drinkers " but not Christians. The reticence to discuss the most important issue in life makes Christian witnessing difficult.
The Christian must learn to recognize, behind the seemingly impenetrable facade of many modern people, a longing for a relationship with God. We can never pay our debt to these people until we know them well enough and they know us well enough, that we can communicate to their hearts the saving Gospel of Christ. Only under the guidance of the Holy Spirit can this dialog be effective.
We owe a great unpaid debt to our Christless contemporaries. May God give us wisdom to know how to fulfill this obligation.
- Albert Tilstra is pastor of Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Silver Springs and Yerington, and is a member of the Carson City Christian Ministerial Fellowship.