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Loving and Gentle Witness to Christ in Evangelism

Christian evangelism, understood as the sharing of the Gospel, is characterized by a call to loving and gentle witness to Christ. This approach is rooted in the nature of Christ himself, who is described as "the faithful witness" [1, 6, 15]. Jesus's faithfulness as a witness encompasses his revelation of the Father's will, his truthful teaching, his confirmation of truth through miracles, and his unwavering testimony even unto death [15]. This foundational understanding of Christ as the faithful witness provides the model for believers.

The concept of "witness" in Christian thought is deeply connected to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit bears witness to Christ as the Messiah, as the one who came to redeem and sanctify, and as the exalted Prince and Savior who grants repentance [4]. This divine witness is not only to Christ's identity and mission but also to the perfecting of saints [4]. The early preaching of the Gospel was confirmed by the witness of the Holy Spirit, and the faithful proclamation of the apostles was accompanied by the Spirit's power [4]. For believers, the Holy Spirit gives witness upon believing [4]. Therefore, Christian witness is not merely human effort but is empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit.

A loving witness is paramount in evangelism, reflecting God's own loving-kindness and mercy. God's loving-kindness is described as great, excellent, good, marvelous, multitudinous, and everlasting, extended through Christ [3]. This divine love serves as a model for how believers should interact with others. Love for Christ is demonstrated through seeking Him, obeying His commands, ministering to Him (by ministering to others), and preferring Him above all else, even to the point of taking up one's cross [2]. This love should be sincere, from the soul, and proportional to the mercies received [2]. Sincerity is a crucial aspect of Christian conduct, including love for God and Christ, service to God, faith, and love for one another [7]. The preaching of the Gospel itself should be characterized by sincerity, in contrast to those who preach without it [7].

The gentleness of witness is also emphasized in biblical teaching and Christian tradition. The Apostle Paul, despite his apostolic authority, described his behavior among the Thessalonians as gentle, like a nursing mother caring for her children [16]. This gentleness is seen as a quality that commends religion and aligns with God's gracious dealings with sinners through the Gospel [16]. Paul's condescension to all people, while avoiding flattery, serves as an example of this gentle approach [16].

Mercy and liberality are practical expressions of this loving and gentle witness. Believers are enjoined to show mercy, following God's example, and to engrave it on their hearts [9]. Mercy should be shown cheerfully, to fellow believers, to those in distress, to the poor, to backsliders, and even to animals [9]. The blessedness of showing mercy is affirmed, and hypocrites are noted as being devoid of it [9]. Liberality, or generosity, is pleasing to God and is never forgotten by Him [8]. Christ himself set an example of liberality [8]. This generosity should be exercised in the service of God, toward saints, servants, the poor, strangers, enemies, and all people [8]. It involves giving alms and relieving the destitute [8]. John Gill, commenting on 2 Corinthians 9:13, notes that the liberality of Gentile churches ministered to the poor saints in Jerusalem led them to glorify God, acknowledging Him as the source of grace and goodness, and giving thanks for the Gentiles' subjection to the Gospel of Christ [10]. This demonstrates how acts of loving generosity can serve as a powerful witness to the Gospel.

The concept of not being ashamed of the testimony of Christ is also relevant to evangelism [12]. The Gospel, which proclaims Christ crucified and redemption through His blood, might appear to be a cause for shame in the eyes of the world [12]. However, when this Gospel becomes "the power of God to the salvation of every one that believed," it becomes a source of exultation [12]. Paul's declaration, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ," underscores this conviction [12].

The Apostle Paul's ministry to the Gentiles exemplifies a loving and gentle witness. He saw himself as a "servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving the gospel of God as a priest, in order that the offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit" [5]. This priestly service involved bringing the Gentiles into a sanctified relationship with God through the Gospel.

Christian kindness, even towards hostile individuals, can lead to repentance and restored fellowship [14]. This highlights the transformative power of a gentle and loving approach in evangelism. John Chrysostom, in his homilies on Philippians, notes Paul's deep affection for the Philippians, which he expresses by calling God as his witness [11]. This strong affection, rooted in the edification of the Church, underscores the personal and heartfelt nature of apostolic witness [11, 13].

Sources

  1. Revelation “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood; -- Revelation 1:5”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to Christ — Exhibited by God -- Mt 17:5; Joh 5:20. Exhibited by saints -- 1Pe 1:8. His personal excellence is deserving of -- Song 5:9-16. His love to us a motive to -- 2Co 5:14. Manifested in Seeking him. -- Song 3:2. Obeying him. -- Joh 14:15,21,23. Ministering to him. -- Mt 27:55; 25:40. Preferring him to all others. -- Mt 10:37. Taking up the cross for Him. -- Mt 10:38. A characteristic of saints -- Song 1:4. An evidence of adoption -- Joh 8:42. Should be Sincere. -- Eph 6:24. With the soul. -- Song 1:7. In proportion to our mercies. -- Lu 7:47. Supreme. -- ”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Witness of the Holy Spirit — Is truth -- 1Jo 5:6. To be implicitly received -- 1Jo 5:6,9. Borne to Christ As Messiah. -- Lu 3:22; Joh 1:32,33. As coming to redeem and sanctify. -- 1Jo 5:6. As exalted to be a Prince and Saviour to give repentance, &c. -- Ac 5:31,32. As perfecting saints. -- Heb 10:14,15. As foretold by himself. -- Joh 15:26. In heaven. -- 1Jo 5:7,11. On earth. -- 1Jo 5:8. The first preaching of the gospel confirmed by -- Ac 14:3; Heb 2:4. The faithful preaching of the Apostles accompanied by -- 1Co 2:4; 1Th 1:5. Given to saints On believing. -- Ac 15:”
  5. Romans “Romans 15:16 (LEB) — with the result that I am a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving the gospel of God as a priest, in order that the offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
  6. Revelation of John “Revelation of John 1:5 (Rotherham) — and from—Jesus Christ,—The Faithful Witness, The Firstborn of the Dead, and The Ruler of the Kings of the Earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us out of our sins with his blood,—”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sincerity — Christ was an example of -- 1Pe 2:22. Ministers should be examples of -- Tit 2:7. Opposed to fleshly wisdom -- 2Co 1:12. Should characterise Our love to God. -- 2Co 8:8,24. Our love to Christ. -- Eph 6:24. Our service to God. -- Jos 24:14; Joh 4:23,24. Our faith. -- 1Ti 1:5. Our love to one another. -- Ro 12:9; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:18. Our whole conduct. -- 2Co 1:12. The preaching of the gospel. -- 2Co 2:17; 1Th 2:3-5. A characteristic of the doctrines of the gospel -- 1Pe 2:2. The gospel sometimes preached without -- Php 1:16. The wicked devoid of -- Ps 5:9; ”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Liberality — Pleasing to God -- 2Co 9:7; Heb 13:16. God never forgets -- Heb 6:10. Christ set an example of -- 2Co 8:9. Characteristic of saints -- Ps 112:9; Isa 32:8. Unprofitable, without love -- 1Co 13:3. Should be exercised In the service of God. -- Ex 35:21-29. Toward saints. -- Ro 12:13; Ga 6:10. Toward servants. -- De 15:12-14. Toward the poor. -- De 15:11; Isa 58:7. Toward strangers. -- Le 25:35. Toward enemies. -- Pr 25:21. Toward all men. -- Ga 6:10. In leading to those in want. -- Mt 5:42. In giving alms. -- Lu 12:33. In relieving the destitute. -- Isa 58:”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Mercy — After the example of God -- Lu 6:36. Enjoined -- 2Ki 6:21-23; Ho 12:6; Ro 12:20,21; Col 3:12. To be engraved on the heart -- Pr 3:3. Characteristic of saints -- Ps 37:26; Isa 57:1. Should be shown With cheerfulness. -- Ro 12:8. To our brethren. -- Zec 7:9. to those that are in distress. -- Lu 10:37. To the poor. -- Pr 14:31; Da 4:27. To backsliders. -- Lu 15:18-20; 2Co 2:6-8. To animals. -- Pr 12:10. Upholds the throne of kings -- Pr 20:28. Beneficial to those who exercise -- Pr 11:17. Blessedness of showing -- Pr 14:21; Mt 5:7. Hypocrites devoid of -- Mt 23:”
  10. 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:13: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration,.... That is, the poor saints at Jerusalem having a specimen, a proof, an experience of the liberality of the Gentile churches ministered to them by the apostles, first, they glorify God; by giving thanks unto him, acknowledging him to be the author of all the grace and goodness which they, and others, were partakers of; particularly for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ, of which he is the author, as God, the subject m”
  11. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: Homily II. Philippians i. 8–11 “For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the tender mercies of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment; that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offense unto the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” He calls not God to witness as though he should be doubted, but does this from his great ”
  12. 2 Timothy (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Timothy 1:8: Be not - ashamed of the testimony - The testimony of Christ is the Gospel in general, which proclaims Christ crucified, and redemption through his blood. In the sight of the world, there appeared to be reason why a man should be ashamed of this; ashamed of him who was crucified as a malefactor; but, when this Gospel became the power of God to the salvation of every one that believed, it was a subject to exult in. Hence the apostle, Rom 1:16 (note), said, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. Nor of me his prisoner - When our friends are in power and credit, we”
  13. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 5.4: That it might be as a testimony rendered to its God, Will in the Church of God serve as seed From which children shall come forth, filled with understanding.’“ 8. For God is my witness. He now declares more explicitly his affection for them, and, with the view of giving proof of it, he makes use of an oath, and that on good grounds, because we know how dear in the sight of God is the edification of his Church. It was, too, more especially of advantage, that Paul’s affection should be thoroughly made known to the Phi”
  14. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 12:20: 12:20-21 A simple act of Christian kindness can often bring a hostile person to repentance before God and restore fellowship between people.”
  15. Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 1:5: the faithful witness--of the truth concerning Himself and His mission as Prophet, Priest, and King Saviour. "He was the faithful witness, because all things that He heard of the Father He faithfully made known to His disciples. Also, because He taught the way of God in truth, and cared not for man, nor regarded the persons of men. Also, because the truth which He taught in words He confirmed by miracles. Also, because the testimony to Himself on the part of the Father He denied not even in death. Lastly, because He will give true testimony of the wo”
  16. 1 Thessalonians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Thessalonians 2:7: In these words the apostle reminds the Thessalonians of the manner of his conversation among them. And, I. He mentions the gentleness of their behaviour: We were gentle among you, Th1 2:7. He showed great mildness and tenderness who might have acted with the authority of an apostle of Christ. Such behaviour greatly recommends religion, and is most agreeable to God's gracious dealing with sinners, in and by the gospel. This great apostle, though he abhorred and avoided flattery, was most condescending to all men. He accommodated himself to all men's capacit”
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