Is it okay to be a silent witness only?

Is it okay to be a silent witness only?

For my birthday this year my husband found a Bible I had been wanting on eBay for only $5!! Since September I have been doing my daily Bible readings from my "new" Bible.  This Bible has devotionals scattered throughout the pages. Although I am about to say something negative about it, don't misunderstand, as I am overall very pleased with this Bible as I have been inspired by many great devotionals that complement the Word of God.  

The Bible to which I am referring is "The Gaither Homecoming Bible."  Some of the contributing devotional writers are truly inspiring and I can tell they read their Bibles and do their best to live by it. I have only read from Matthew to 2 Corinthians so far, but there have been few I have not enjoyed as their writings were not Biblically based but written from a worldly perspective.  

I will not say which two writers I disagreed with in reference to this blog topic.   One of the women, I enjoy the majority of her writings.  Moreover, I believe they are both Godly women but were a bit off on these two teachings. Their two writings were not purposefully related, but together they prompted my blog today.  

I am not one of those people who just reads a Bible passage or devotional and closes the book.  I overanalyze all I read.  I take every Biblical and modern-day writer to say what they mean and mean what they say.  It is possible I am misinterpreting what these two female writers were getting at, but since I cannot ask them, I will just have to move on with my own writing. 

The first writer stated that her family never read the Bible together, but she concluded this was just fine because just watching her parents' examples was enough.  The second writer states, "We don't have to take Jesus to the world. He has come already." 

Is it okay to be a silent witness only?  Is a compassionate example enough?  Even people seeped in witchcraft exhibit good examples of kindheartedness.   Not everyone with morals believes Jesus is the only way to salvation. We need to let people know which side of heaven we are promoting, not make them guess.  Let's explore what the Bible says.   

(Mark 16:15) And [Jesus] said unto them, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

That passage alone should be enough to show us that Jesus wants us to preach His message.  No, it does not have to be verbally, but it needs to be more than by silent example, we need to tell people the good news and, in spite of what the 2nd writer I mentioned above said, we DO need to take Jesus to the world.

Not everyone owns a Bible, or if they do, they have not read it.  And those who have read or heard the Bible may not explore more than a few scriptures and never dig any deeper.  How will they know what the Bible truly says about salvation and sin if we don't point them to the Truth?  Yes, if you have access to a Bible, you are 100% accountable for knowing what it says, but since so few read on their own, we need to study God's Word and teach the (forgive me for saying so) purposefully ignorant and lazy person who refuses to do their own Bible studies.  We can plant a seed of faith and a hunger for God and holiness.

(Romans 10:13-15) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

We never know what seeds we plant, or are helping to water.  It is good and beautiful to share the gospel.

(1 Corinthians 3:6-11)I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

We need to do more than just let our lights shine by actions, but with words.  Notice in the below verses how Paul mentions speaking for God's glory.

(2 Corinthians 4:4-6 & 13-15) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

We do not have to get behind a pulpit or speak words out loud but at least write a blog or other social media page that somehow conveys the gospel of Jesus Christ.

These verses below say so much in addressing another reason why we should preach (labor) the message of both Heaven and Hell. We need to point people to what the Bible says about the sins that will keep them out of heaven.

(2 Corinthians 5:9-11) Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

(Revelation 20:12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Another important reason we need to speak the Truth is because there are so many out there speaking a false gospel.  Whether they will listen or not, we need to show people what the Bible really says about sin, True grace, repentance, and salvation.  The church, Hollywood, and their buddies are putting people to sleep to what it means to be truly saved from hell.  Don't let their false messages drown out the Truths of Jesus Christ.  Speak louder and be bolder.  Like the apostle Paul said of himself, I also am not a great speaker, but I am a bold writer.  I am so very shy, but I have a computer and I will write. Skill or no skill, audience or no audience, I will always share the message of the Holy Trinity! 

(2 Corinthians 11:3-15) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him... But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?...The truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting... 

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

I want to be clear that I am not asking you to place yourself in danger.  I say this because the world is growing more perilous for True believers and will only get worse.   God had not called us all to be martyrs for our faith and if the Holy Spirit warns you to be silent in a situation that could cause someone to harm you, it is better to heed His warnings and be silent.

 I will end with these two verses that show it is good to always be ready to preach the gospel to anyone anywhere.  Be it Walmart, a hiking trail, or in line somewhere.  Pray God gives you wisdom, discernment, knowledge, and boldness to proclaim His mighty name.  Though there are many who will not tolerate the Truths of Jesus Christ, we still must do our best to safely speak the Truth in love and share the goodness of Jesus.

(2 Timothy 4:1-5) I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

(1 Peter 3:15) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

If you are interested here is another blog I wrote on speaking out for Jesus: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/09/now-is-time-to-speak-out-for-jesus.html