Change the World#4
Witness
RUMC 4/28
Put yourself in this man's place. In 1949 John Currier was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Later he was transferred to work on a farm near Nashville, Tennessee.
In 1968, (That's 19 years later) a new witness came forward and Currier's conviction was overturned. A letter bearing the good news was written, but was dropped behind a desk. No one in the department of corrections knew about the decision. John never saw the letter, nor was he told anything about it.
Ten years went by. Then a state parole officer learned about Currier's plight, and visited him, to tell him that a judge overturned his conviction. He was a free man.[1]
Did you put yourself in John's place? Now, let me ask you a question. How would you feel if someone sent you an important message -- the most important in your life -- and year after year, the urgent message was never delivered? How would you feel? Angry? Cheated? Deceived?
This sermon is not about the inefficiency of the government or mistakes at the postal service.
I am talking about the ineffectiveness of 98% of today's Christians. Most Christians tuck the most important message in the world away where no one can find it.[2]
I said 98% of Christians are ineffective in their witness for Christ because they almost never get around to delivering the message. That's what studies tell us. Maybe we are the exception, but I am not so sure.
Studies tell us that many people feel angry, cheated, and deceived by the church. Is it any wonder when we have the most important message anyone could ever receive, and act as though it is the world's biggest secret? Maybe the two are not connected. But what if they are?
Jesus was very clear with the disciples about their most important job. After the crucifixion and the resurrection, Jesus met the disciples in Galilee and announced, "All authority in earth and in heaven has been given to me."
Now, he could have said, "therefore I want you to go out and heal, build hospitals and invent robot surgery." He didn't.
Jesus could have said, "I have all the authority in the universe, so go out and feed hungry people, develop more efficient hybrids and eradicate hunger." He didn't.
Jesus could have said, "I have all authority in the universe, so go out and build great buildings to my name. Use them to worship, and invent pew cushions so I can be worshipped in comfort." He didn't.
Jesus could have said, "I have all the authority in the universe so go out and hold committee meetings. Establish boards and councils and hire consultants." He didn't.
What did Jesus say? "Go therefore and make disciples." Since you don't invent Christians, he said "Go therefore and tell somebody. Spread the word."
Here is an example of how the theology and liturgy of the church is alive. Today you will see Karlee will take her membership vow: Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service… and what is the new vow that was added 5 years ago now? WITNESS.
It didn't used to be there, until someone said, "You know what? We're missing something important here." They convinced General Conference that they were right. I believe they were. The problem is that changing one word in the hymnal does not change our behavior.
It is still true that the average United Methodist invites someone to church every 38 years.
Did you hear me right? Yes. Every 38 years And since that is an average we know there are a few on one end who regularly invite folks to church. There are, however an equal number of folks on the other end, who have never invited anyone to church. "Go ye therefore and fail to deliver the message."
I guess I should be clear that I do not equate an invitation to church and an invitation to accept Jesus as a personal lord and savior. Frankly, I'll take either one. For many people, it is easier to invite someone to church than it is to invite them to know Jesus. And that's OK. You get them here and I'll help you talk to them about Jesus. The point is, Jesus commanded us to invite. Our membership vows ask us to invite. For way too many people, however, witnessing, (which is just a fancy word for inviting) is just a message lost behind a desk.
Let's go back to that word "witness." What is a "witness?" Think about someone who is a witness at a trial. What are they doing? They are telling what they saw. Think about someone who witnesses a marriage or other legal act. What are they doing? They are saying, "If you need me I will tell what I saw." That is what I am asking you to do. Just tell your friends what you see God is doing in your life. Tell your friend what you see God doing in the church.
I am not asking you to do anything hard. I am not asking you to stand on a street corner, or go door to door, or start a new church, or even meet a stranger very often.
I am asking you; first, do you have any friends? I am not talking about facebook friends, but they could be facebook friends. I am not asking about close confidants, though they could be. When I ask if you have any friends I am asking if you have people to whom you talk. They might be family members, they might be neighbors, they might be coworkers, they might be old school buddies. Do you have people to whom you talk?
· Studies say the average American can say they know about 600 people.
· In reality, we can only name about 150.
· Let's give ourselves a break, for the sake of argument, and cut that number is half. We'll start with 75 people to whom we could talk: family, neighbors, friends, coworkers, members of clubs and teams and more…
· Statistically, 32 of the 75 say they go to church regularly. Leaving 43 who do not go to church to whom you could talk.[3]
· Of those 43 people, research tells us that 82% of the unchurched say they would be somewhat likely to attend church if someone invited them.[4]
· That's 34 people
o to whom you could talk
o who don't go to church,
o Who, if asked, would be likely to come to church.
Step 2… Do it. I don't mean make a list and systematically talk to each and every one of the 34 non-churched people, to whom you could talk, who would likely come to church if invited.
What I do mean is talk to someone. Nothing risky, just talk about family, and work, and even politics. Find connections. Develop the relationship. Get to know them. Not for any purpose, but just because they are one of God's children and both of your lives will be richer if you are in relationship. Connect with them as
· one father or mother to another,
· One golfer to another.
· One volunteer to another.
When you are talking about family, and work, and politics; don't forget you can talk about faith too. Obviously, your faith is important to you, or you wouldn't be here. So don't be afraid to talk about faith, and church, and Jesus. If you are comfortable, your friends will be too. You'll know when it is right. Actually, it takes your conversation and your relationship to a new depth.
I am just asking you to take Jesus outside of the church. Jesus met unbelievers wherever they were. According to one count,
· Jesus talked to 132 people in the gospels.
· Six were in the Temple,
· four in the synagogues and
· 122 were out with the people in the mainstream of life. In other words, 92% of Jesus' relationships happened outside the doors of the church. [5]
Therefore, I am just asking you to talk to your friends. You don't have to preach, or teach, or convert them, or argue with them, or know everything. You just have to be a friend who is honest enough to … what's the word… witness. Tell what you have seen and experienced with Jesus in your life.
We used to talk about techniques and methods and processes for witnessing… phooey on that. Just be a friend. Be a witness to God's love, and let God steer things from there.
It's really that simple. Sure there are opportunities such as new neighbors, when someone has a baby, experiences a death, changes communities, or jobs or experiences other life changes … those are natural times to ask, "do you go to church?" By all means, do that. Those are great opportunities. Fundamentally, however, I am asking you to be a friend. A friend who is not so selfish that you keep the best news in the world to yourself.
And you know what? Sharing your faith with an unchurched friend does something else. Just might change the world for that friend. Jesus has a way of doing that. Just hearing about Jesus has a way of changing our world. Exploring the breadth and depth of God's love in our lives changes everything.
Think about it… If the world changes for just one of your friends, they just may witness to one of their 34 people. Just suppose, Jesus changes their world, and they witness to someone. And they witness to someone. Pretty soon, there is a wave of life changing, church changing, community changing, world changing sweeping across the globe. But not to get ahead of ourselves. We'll say across Reinbeck.
It is great to confirm you Karlee, in a way I wrote this message for you, because you missed the class in which we talked about our witness. In a bigger way, I wrote it for you and all the rest of your fellow members. Today, we will all renew our vow to support the church of Jesus with our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness.
· Speak up people. In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering.[6]
· In the midst of a world aching for healing, Christians are withholding care.
· In the midst of a world starving for hope, Christians are hoarding hope.
· In the midst of a world desperately in need of a savior, we are keeping Jesus to ourselves.
· In the midst of a world frantically searching for something better, we are keeping the one who makes all things new locked up inside our church. Open the doors and take your faith in Christ out to change the world.
Now, you have heard four sermons on changing the world.
· Change the world with LOVE
· Change the world with SERVICE
· Change the world with JUSTICE
· Change the world with WITNESS
In the next two weeks we will talk about change the world with generosity and change the world with prayer.
But I have some news for you… It is time to get up off or pews and start changing the world. The world will never change because I preach about it. I twill only change when we do it.
May 18-19th is called change the world weekend. But our world needs a lot more than a weekend of changing. So I am declaring May change the world month.
I am sending you out to find a way to change the world each week for the next month.
- You might change the world by loving someone radically,
- you might change the world by serving someone or an organization or community,
- You might change the world by standing up for a cause in which you believe by writing a letter to your congressman.
- You might change the world by inviting someone to church, telling a friend about Jesus, or beginning to intentionally develop a relationship with an unchurched person.
- You might change the world by praying your brains out.
- You might change the world by giving sacrificially. I don't care how you do it. I just want you to go change the world.
Then I want to know what you did each week. You can record it on the forms I will have here next week. You will also find the form on the website, and in upcoming emails. Just let me know somehow… I will share that complete list with you in order to give you ideas and celebrate the many ways you find to change the world.
Do you remember "Be the church Sunday"… this is like that… be the church … change the world month. So GO be the church. Lead by God, saved through Jesus Christ and empowered by the great spirit of holiness. AMEN
[1] George Sweeting, in his book The No-Guilt Guide for Witnessing
[2] Bill Bright, president of Campus Crusade for Christ, quoted in Why Christians Sin, J.K. Johnston, Discovery House, 1992, p. 140.
[3]- Dr Thom Rainer, The Unchurched Next Door
[4] – Dr. Thom Rainer, The Unchurched Next Door
[5] J.K. Johnston, Why Christians Sin, Discovery House, 1992, p. 142.
[6] Howard Hendricks.
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