As Christians what are some ways we can effectively witness to people without them feeling offended?

Answer 1

Live your faith out loud!! Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and step away from the desires of the flesh.
The Gospel is not a weapon it is balm for healing. It is light for teaching and showing the right path. It is that fire shut up in your bones. Let the fire out and people will come to watch you"burn"!!

(now, if you will excuse me, I am going to go and follow my own advise :-)

Answer 2

Lets look at the meaning of witness, because it was around before the religious implications. What does a witness in a courtroom do? March up to the attorneys and start giving a statment uninvited? No, he waits untill he is asked a question, then answers it as quickly as possible. If you want to effectivly give a testament to the lord (which also has legal implications, testamony is also not univited) wait untill someone asks you about it. They are going to be more receptive to what you have to say if they have an interest in it in the first place. Most people only want to get through their day. If they're curious enogh to ask, then their interested enough to listen.

Answer 3

First and foremost, as others have said, you must live out your faith in obedience to Christ, taking the form of a servant and loving your neighbor as yourself. To adapt a Care Bear quote (never too old for Care Bears, I say!), to make a disciple, you have to be a disciple! Also, you should study and explore Christianity (and other religious belief systems) as well as you can, so you can be prepared to offer well-informed answers to those who ask--join fellowships and study groups that help you grow spiritually. And of course, pray for others who are non-believers, that the Holy Spirit would open their minds and hearts to the Gospel and provide you with the opportunity to bear a fruitful witness to them when the time is right.

For more of an outreach ministry, here are a few thoughts:

1. Answering Yahoo! questions are always fun :)
2. Take stock of your talents and gifts--try to discern what your role is in the Body of Christ, and then take steps to develop and use those gifts in service and/or evangelism.
3. If you work in an office job, you could try what I do--I have a bulletin board that is posted in my cube (near a candy bowl :D) on which I post the Apostle's Creed, the Gospel lesson for the week, a few truly insightful stories (i.e. Footprints), and then a weekly "Food for Thought" quote (could be secular or religious, just as long as it has a good message). This is an unobtrusive way of making it known to others that you are a Christian and that you are interested in a dialog with them, if they are so inclined. If you're a little bit scared about bringing your faith to your office, I will share with you that I have worked both at a consulting job and a government job, and so far no one has told me to take it down or otherwise has threatened me in anyway.

Hope this helps! God bless!

Answer 4

The best way to get someone to listen to you is by leading an exemplary life. The reason that most people scoff at Christianity is that, more often than not, the person that's doing the preaching isn't practicing what they're preaching. For instance, if you're telling me about the evils of lies and deceit, and meanwhile you're headed to jail for tax evasion or fraud, why should I listen to you? If you're telling me about the evils of homosexuality, but you've been knocked up three times, don't know who your children's father(s) are(is), then why should I believe anything you say? You can't be a hypocrite.

Answer 5

Well, it is a major turn off to call gay people fags and go on about how we're such an abomination and how we should all be sent to death camps, or shot in the woods or doused with gasoline and set on fire.

It's just a thought, really... kind of like offering the Bread Of Life with blood stained hands, you know? You could shake hands and say hi, you know. That's what Jesus would do, wouldn't He? That's why Jesus was so cool, and Christians are not. Christians are like the new pharisees, always treating everyone around them like s**t. Jesus wasn't like that. That's why He's way cool and I love Him.

He wouldn't try to kill me like you Christians would. That's why I love Jesus, but avoid you people like the plague.

to James... I understand, people will hate you for the Gospel's sake. Yes, but the point I am trying to make is that yes, it is possible to live as peaceably with others and be a witness. Didn't Jesus say that a city on a hilltop can't be hidden? Didn't He say to let your light shine?

All I'm saying is that if as it is written, God is Love, then share that love! Tell people Jesus really is cool! He's The One! Offer the Bread Of Life with love, enthusiasm, like you care, if you care. Not as something to rub people's noses in, not as something to fling with hatred and self righteousness into a person's face like a dirty rag! For God's sake, I'm not saying this to be mean or critical! I'm just trying to tell you, that's all. Take it, leave it, just pick up the concept and think on it a moment before you toss it aside, that's all...

I've said enough, thanks for your time and patience...

Answer 6

Don't witness to people. If you are going to witness, do it by living right.

If you ever actually encounter a person who has never heard of Jesus or the Christian Church, then you might want to mention it. Otherwise, it isn't your responsibility. But I guess that is why they call them "Evangelicals."

Even Jesus refrained from witnessing. He taught in mysteries to select groups, dropped occasional hints here and there, and then explained things to those who sought him out specifically. He even advised his disciples not to witness en masse.

Answer 7

in a court of law as witness for the defense. That would make them feel defended. Of course that might offend the prosecutor but not as much.

Answer 8

Telling someone they are going to hell if they don't believe is surely going to turn someone away. So will an attitude of superiority, piety, self-righteousness and hypocrasy. As Christians, if we love and accept others as Christ loves and accepts each of us, then people will see that what we have to offer (the love of Christ) is worth having and they will be more inclined to listen to us when we speak as the Lord leads us to. So many times we as Christians feel we must "witness" to people in order to be good servants of Christ. God doesn't equip us all to be the mouth on the body of Christ. To some, He wants us to be the hands and others the feet. Some are the ears, while others are the heart. Point is, God will use us all in different ways to reach others for Christ. We don't always need to "talk" and "witness" to people. Sometimes the way we live our lives and the examples we set can be what God uses to reach others to His Kingdom. Being a good listener, more than a speaker, can speak volumes to someone because perhaps that individual has never had anyone truly listen to them before and your Christian example of being a good listener is just what God will use to speak to that person. Perhaps helping out with a physical need (being the hands on the body of Christ) is what a person needs in order to see God and "hear" the message of Christ's love.

The best way to be a good witness to others is to not "witness" so to speak, for that implies some sort of superiority that many people resent. The best way is to love on others as fellow human beings, regardless of lifestyle, sexual orientation, political or religious beliefs, etc., and be a Christian example of Christ's love. Being firm in our own convictions to get our OWN affairs in order in terms of our OWN relationship with Christ, is very important because in doing so, we will be able to know when God is directing to say or do something that He wants us to say or do in order to reach someone for Christ. We ought not to lean upon our own wisdom here, but rely upon the Lord to guide us. If we do that, then we are not likely to offend, because God knows what is best and how best to act around the person whom He created, whom He wants you to reach.

Answer 9

I think the Apostle Paul gave a really great example at Mars Hill when he approached the pagan worshippers.

ACTS 17: 22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. (the greek translation for superstitious is "religious")

23For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. ](the greek translation for ignorantly here is UNKNOWINGLY)

24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Answer 10

Hi cave man. We live in a world where the majority of people are unsaved. All of the prophets that God sent were murdered or beaten. So you will be persecuted for spreading the Gospel. In Matthew 23:34 God tells us:

"Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city."

Always be faithfull to God's Holy Word the Bible. Make sure anything you tell people, you can back it up with scripture. Christ was Crucified, John the Baptist was beheaded, and Stephen was stoned to death for declaring the word of God. (Acts 7:59-60) It's the nature of unsaved people to reject the Gospel of Jesus Chirst.