What does it mean to be a ‘Christian witness’ today? In the Old Testament, the word ‘witness’ typically referred to someone who testified in a legal or covenantal context. Acting as a witness
in ancient Israel was a serious responsibility: to fail to speak up and testify before a court about a crime which you had seen was considered sinful (Leviticus 5:1), and to bear false witness was a serious offence (Exodus 20:16). In the book of Isaiah, God placed this responsibility upon His people to serve as witnesses for him, not merely in a court of law, but as messengers of His salvation to the entire world (Isaiah 43:10, Isaiah 49:6). However, the fulfilment of this promise would come ultimately not through the witness of Israel, but through the sending of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and through His followers.

The New Testament writers clearly understood their role as ‘witnesses’ of Christ. John was keen to point out that he did not invent a new faith tradition based on his own private religious experiences. Instead, in his writings he described the historical events surrounding Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection which he had observed first-hand (1 John 1:1). Similarly, shortly after Paul experienced his Damascus road conversion, he was called to be a ‘witness’ to all people concerning the risen Lord Jesus (Acts 22:15).

Unlike the first disciples, we are not eyewitnesses to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. However, we are still witnesses to the truth of Scripture, to our own regeneration by the power of the Holy Spirit, and to the evidence of countless lives changed by Christ. Whilst our abilities and circumstances may vary, the command to be a witness for Christ is for every Christian (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). And if we are to be faithful witnesses of Christ, we cannot stay silent. It is tragic when someone refuses to stand up in court and provide testimony to witnessing a crime, because he or she fears intimidation from the accused. In the same way, when we refuse to speak up as witnesses of Christ, we are preventing those who do not yet know Jesus from hearing the gospel (Romans 10:14-15).

Our command as witnesses is not always easy, but as Christopher Wright states, it is a matter of faithful obedience to Christ: “Above all, we are to know the living God and be uncompromisingly loyal to the Lord Jesus Christ in our worship and witness” (C. Wright, The Mission of God’s People, 2010, p164). In a culture which is increasingly hostile to the evangelical Christian worldview, being faithful witnesses of Christ will often require a sacrifice of social approval and status. Yet it is an enormous privilege to serve as witnesses of God’s love and saving truth to a world in need of hope and salvation.