Family of God: [FamilyofGod] NEVER argue as you witness

NEVER argue as you witness

2 Timothy 2:23-26

NEVER argue as you witness. God says, "The servant of the Lord must not strive" (v. 24). You may win an argument but lose a soul. Almost all who witness have been caught in this trap some time or other. Years ago when witnessing to a man I got into a heated discussion with him. After apologizing and trying to rectify the situation, I went away disturbed, for I knew I would never reach him for Christ. I prayed for him and was thrilled later to hear someone else had led him to Christ. How wonderful that God can overrule our mistakes.

A good admonition is: "Foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing they do gender strifes" (v. 23). Many are ensnared by trying to tell where Cain got his wife or prove some particular denominational belief. Keep to the essentials of "the gospel of Christ" (Romans 1:16).

Christians are reminded to "be gentle unto all men" (2 Tim 2:24). A good hunter does not flush the birds and a good fisherman does not frighten away the fish. The soul winner must be gracious with men, knowing that he too was once without understanding and ensnared by Satan (v. 26).

He must be patient or literally "holding up under evil" (v. 24). If the gospel offends, that is the Spirit¹s conviction; but if I offend, that is sin. If one senses the conversation becoming heated, he should stop immediately and apologize for his part. Often this will break the tension. The lost one will recognize that the Christian has done something he is unable to do and will want this same enabling power in his life. A non-Christian can be expected to become hot and bothered under Satan¹s control and the Christian can be expected to apologize under the Spirit¹s control.

Witnessing must be done "in meekness" (v. 25), never with a holier-than-thou attitude. But for the grace of God, the shoe would be on the other foot. Realizing God must "give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth" (v. 25) will take the strain from us and put dependence on God. Christians need to put more stress on prayer and less on persuasion. You can never talk a person into salvation! Be sure to always leave the door open for further witnessing.