Words of witness needed
“Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.”
This famous quote, commonly attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, has been used by countless preachers (myself included) to illustrate the importance of living out one’s faith in daily activities and encounters. Christians must “walk the walk,” and sometimes this quote is understood as discouraging words.
However, as the 2008 General Conference worked through proposed legislation, delegates realized and agreed that we do need words and changes were made to the membership vows.
Previously, when a person joined a local United Methodist church, they vowed “to faithfully participate in its ministries by their prayers, their presence, their gifts and their service.” These were the means by which Christians in the United Methodist tradition were to embody their faith. All four components are means of sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ with others. General Conference determined that we also needed to be intentional about verbally connecting the individual and congregational stories to God’s story.
Since Jan. 1, 2009, new members of United Methodist congregations promise to participate in that church’s ministry by their prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness.
We live in a society becoming increasing secular. The percentage of unchurched people is rising rapidly. We can no longer assume that people know the Gospel story, have ever been told that God loves them, or that they see our service and mission work as a response to the love we have experienced through Jesus Christ.
There is a tremendous amount of fear associated with the thought of “witnessing.” What if I come across as pushy? What if I am rejected? What if I cannot answer their questions? Because many United Methodists experience high levels of discomfort and anxiety around verbalizing their faith, pastors and other church leaders need to help them articulate their stories and provide safe opportunities for practice.
Does your congregation regularly practice sharing faith stories or naming where they have witnessed God’s activity in the world? How might you do so?
The Rev. Heather Heinzman Lear, director, evangelism ministries, General Board of Discipleship, Nashville, Tenn.