Called to be a Witness, not an Attorney

I have been enlightened with the new understanding of what it means to be a missionary today. After reading Oswald Chambers' devotions, I realize that a missionary is simply one who has realized that he or she is not his or her own. He or she belongs to God, that is the simplest essence of being a missionary and since then I've always labelled myself as a missionary despite my real occupation and its fancy title and of course, continually reminded myself that I am not my own each brand new day. But then again what should I do? Ya I know I'm a missionary now and His daily assignments usually comes, but still, what should I do to really really do the works of God?

I found the answer to that in John 6:29, This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent. It turned out that doing the works of God is as easy as that... simple. Like what Dietrich Boenhoeffer said in his book of The Cost of Discipleship about single-minded obedience. Doing the works of God is really that easy... single-minded obedience. Or like the popular Nike slogan goes; Just Do It. Whenever I start questioning, which, I always do, I bet had God been in our midst he would have jolly well screamed to me; Just do it, darn it!!!

Thus so, I try to do everything for God. After all, my life is worth nothing, as it is... no career, no commitment, no denarii, nothing, at this point, there is really no fish to sell and so it wouldn't make sense to be selfish. I have been doing quite a bit, my fair share I termed till I realized that really, nothing about God has ever come out of my mouth recently.

I must confess I started out pursuing apologetics after my repentance. My definition of being a missionary at that time would be to sit unbelievers down one by one and drive them to their own untheological perils! Have hearty arguments to corner them, in the name of God, with banners full of Christian messages as the backdrop and should it be deemed essential I would go as far as wearing a priest's robe complete with a bible on my right hand and a cross in my pocket, arguing with those unbelievers, trying to convince them that the truth will set them free. The only thing that was freed however was my friendship with them as I hailed victory to my arguments but lost their hearts... what the Romans would call a phyrric victory...

Guess it didn't work... and after that I hide myself behind what St. Francis of Assisi said about what it means to be a missionary; Preach the gospel, only use words when necessary. Since then, silence is golden and a silent company in a time of need is worth a million more than a single praise in successful moments. I rarely said anything about Christ

Today, I read a part of Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren on being made for a mission and one profound thing that he mentioned was, as written in the bible, 'You will be my witness' not 'You will be my attorney' and so it got me really thinking. Have I been an attorney for Christ all these while and what does it mean to be a witness??? What does a witness do? Does he judge the case? or attempt to persuade the judge who is wrong and who is right? Hmm, doesn't look like it. A witness simply tells what happened. As simple as that.

And so today I was brought to the realization of what it really means to be a missionary and do the works of God. It simply means testifying to others what God is doing in our lives and that is about it. Simple and crystal clear.