Subj : Fear of Witnessing
To   : All
From : Newborn
Date : Mon Oct 10 2005 23:31:00

Every Christian knows that he or she should witness for Christ, but most are
very reluctant to speak in His name very often.  The most obvious reason for
this hesitacy is fear.

Sometimes we may be actually forbidden, as were the apostles, to teach of Him,
but their courageous answer was "We ought to obey God rather than men"  (Acts
5:29), and so they prayed: "Lord, behold their threatenings; and grant unto thy
servants, that with all boldness they may speal thy word" (Acts 4:29)

More common then fear of physical persecution or personal harm, however, is
fear of riducle, or loss of prestige or postion.  Such fear is out of
character for the Christian "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power and love, and of a sound mind" (II Timothy 1:7)  If we love the
Lord and those for whom He died, we must learn to conquer our5 fear of men.

One of the saddest rebukes that could come to a Christian is the indictment 
lodged against those believers who because of their high position, refused to
take an open stand for Christ: "Among the chief rulers also many believed on
Him; but because of the 'Pharisees' they did not confess Him, lest they should
be put out  of the synagogue: For they loved the praises of menmore that the
praise of God" (John 12:42-43).  How often do modern professional and business 
men - even thelogians - comprimise their stand for Christ and His inerrant
Word because of fear of peer pressure is what should be their spheres of 
influence and testimony?

May God give us the courage of Paul, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ"
he wrote, "for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that
believeth" (Romans 1:16)

Newborn

Christianity is personal relationship, not a religion

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