Change of Heart

As Christians, our job is to share God’s love in order to further His kingdom, but how do we avoid the “prohibition” type of reaction from those who we witness to? What do I mean by that? Well I’m sure you know of the National prohibition of alcohol that occurred from 1920-1933. I’m sure you also know that it was not only a failure, but it caused more problems than before. The truth is that a common result of limitations on something that was previously unlimited causes more trouble in the future than the way it was before.

The “prohibition” type of reaction is the type of reaction you get from someone that you are witnessing to and they feel like they have to obey the laws that you say God wants them to follow. You put them on the spot and say things like, “You must do this…” and “Stop doing that!” This type of witnessing, the in-your-face-you-big-disgrace type of witnessing, can not only create hostility, but it can also make things worse… hence the “prohibition” type of reaction.

When a law is in place, people either obey the law, or suffer the consequences of their actions; they either change their heart and the way they think and react, or they continue to do what is wrong. By making someone feel forced into following God's law, we aren't changing anything about them or the way they think. Chances are, this type of witnessing will not create any change in the lives of those you witness to. We must help prepare their heart for their acceptance of Christ!

So, the next time you are witnessing to someone, remember that we cannot force someone into accepting Christ; we must help them have a change of heart. Do not try to use law as a way of changing their heart; help change their heart so that they may find comfort in obeying it. If you don’t change the heart, the “source”, then the laws that are put in front of them (whether they are government laws or God’s laws) will not be fully followed.

2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’
made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God in the face of Christ."