Christian witness from Luke 21: 5-19
This morning I would like to focus on our Gospel reading.
Story: Dr. Ian Paisley, the fiery Irish cleric and politician was reputed to have been preaching one Sunday on the End Times - and in particular on the Day of Judgement.
As he reached the climax of his address he said that on the Day of Judgement "there would be wailing and gnashing of teeth".
At which point an old woman put up her hand and said "Dr. Paisley, I have no teeth"
Paisley replied "Madam, teeth will be provided"
It does not unusual for people who preach on these “End Times” passages to engage in flights of fantasy.
Story: Having the advantage of time, I am amazed how Hal Lindsey’s "The Late Great Planet Earth" ever made the best seller list in the late 70’s. His predictions, based on Biblical prophecy, can now be seen to be so off-beam.
But predictions about the end times, like horoscopes are exceedingly popular.
It is interesting that Jesus refused to be drawn into speculation about the end times.
We read, for example in Acts 1:6 how the disciples questioned him about the restoration of the kingdom to Israel.
And instead of giving them a reply, he told them that "it is not for you to know the times or the dates that the Father has set by his own authority".... but instead told them to get ready to preach the Gospel to all nations.
If Jesus told his disciples not to waste time speculating about when the end of the world was due, then we have the duty to avoid this same spurious speculation.
I believe it is more profitable to see what lessons are hidden in this passage with regard to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and so I have purposely focussed my talk on that this morning.
I believe there are three key themes in this passage that which will help us to bear witness to Jesus.
Perhaps we should start by defining what a witness is. What is being a witness all about?
A witness is a person who can testify to what he or she has experienced or knows of first hand.
In a Court of Law, the witness is not the defence lawyer. He or she doesn’t have to explain why something happened. We have Christians who are well versed in the art of apologetics to do that for us. Like Professor Roy Peacock who is coming to speak to us on the first weekend of July next year.
The witness is not the prosecution lawyer either. We don’t have to try and convince people to make a decision. We can simply leave that to others – such as the Holy Spirit - to do.
In this morning’s Gospel reading, Jesus shares three keys to witnessing.
1. Deciding not to worry
2. Deciding to stand firm
3. Deciding to live a radically different lifestyle
1. Deciding not to worry
The first key to being a successful witness to Christ is that we can decide not to worry about what we are going to say – or what people will think about us..
The Early Church had a real danger of persecution. Jesus himself was crucified as a
result of persecution.
In this country, we don’t face persecution – though many of our brothers and sisters in Muslim countries do.
But do you ever worry what you will say if someone asks you: “Why you go to church?” Are you scared of being put on the spot in an important meeting?
Are you afraid of making a fool of yourself?
Story: My wife Maddy has a wonderful saying when I am tempted to worry. She says:
Why pray when you can worry?
What stifles prayer is worry, because worry is unbelief.
Worry is the opposite of faith.
Let’s face it we all worry – but we can also decide to stand firm against that worry.
We can decide not to be paralysed by worry. We can pray for Jesus to take away our fear
2. Deciding to stand firm
The second key to being a successful witness to Christ is that we can decide to trust Jesus to look after us.
Jesus went on to say:
“By standing firm, you will gain life” (Lk 21:19)
It is easy to be a Christian on Sunday at Church, but a real test of your faith comes when you have to stand up for your faith in a hostile culture.
3. Deciding to live a radically different lifestyle
The third key to being a successful witness to Christ is deciding to live a radically different lifestyle. Jesus said
You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me” (Lk 21:16 and 17)
And then how are you going to react?
We will be witnesses when our lives show the world something different to what they are used to seeing.
Story: One of my heroes of the faith is the late Richard Wurmbrand who died in February this year.
Wurmbrand was born in Rumania in 1920 as a Jew and became a Christian when he encountered Christ at an early age.
He shared his faith with the occupying troops in the 1940’s and the Germans threw him in prison for it.
When the Russians threw the Germans out at the end of the war, he shared his faith with the Russians.
Eventually the Communists threw him in prison for his faith too and he served 14 years in prison, 21/2 of which were in solitary confinement for his witness to Christ.
I recall one incident that he wrote about in his book “In God’s Underground” .
His wife, Sabrina’s family were killed by a man called Borila at a place called Golta in Rumania.
Wurmbrand met Borila one day and brought him to put his trust in Christ and then took him home.
Wurmbrand went into his wife’s bedroom and woke her up.
He said, “There is a man here who you must meet. We believe he murdered your family, but he has repented and now he is our brother.”
She came out in her dressing gown and put her arms around him and embraced him. They both
began to weep and kiss each other again and again.
And then Sabrina went into the kitchen and made him something to eat.
Sabrina Wurmbrand could have given into hate – but she didn’t – she decided to live a radically different lifestyle.
Her life showed that she knew Christ in a real and cogent way.
Do we love Christ deeply enough to forgive any sin that is carried out against us.
Now that is a radical lifestyle isn’t it?
I am sure that if my family had been killed like Sabrina Wurmbrand’s had been– I’d would have great difficulty forgiving the murderer.
But I know where I can find the resources to live that radically different lifestyle. Do you?
