So let's start this off with a question that can have many layers to it…What are the characteristics of a mature witness for Christ? Now I'm sure you have a list of things that you believe makes a mature witness and I just may not give a rebuttal to it just for this simple reason, I may not know it completely myself. My reasoning in this is pretty much based in something that we seem to do and that is we spend time making the list with characteristics that aren't signs of a mature witness.
Now I realize that being an axe-wielding homicidal maniac may not a good characteristic and it's something NOT to be BUT it doesn't deserve to be on the list. As we scroll the list… "Oh here it is, #13. Thou art doth not to be an axe-wielding homicidal maniac if thou art doth to be a mature witness." It should go without saying and you may be rolling your eyes right now over it but it is something that we do, it's probably just less severe but you get my gist.
The term Gospel Pioneer comes from Gregory Brown's study on Paul's Epistle to The Philippians (Philippians: Pursuing Spiritual Maturity). The characteristics of a Gospel pioneer are cool things like being fearless, being courageous, having boldness and can encourage those around him to do likewise. After all we have been called to spread the Gospel to places where it hasn't been heard and yes that means in our own backyard.
Too often we let circumstances that have no eternal Kingdom value dictate the characteristics we take on as a witness. If we've been addicted to one thing or another, it there has been divorce, imprisonment, rejection, financial loss or abuse of some sort, it's these things that we allow to shape the character of our witness. If we've saved and redeemed all we need to do is start our list from that point and choose joy to guide where we glean our traits of character.
As I keep digging into the second half of the first chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Philippians I am hoping to discover that joy Paul found within himself to give such a great report on how his brand of Gospel pioneering allowed him to turn prison chains into a pulpit but until then let's think upon this; despite the circumstances that surrounded the Apostle Paul (being falsely accused, beaten, wrongfully arrested and imprisoned) he chose to continuing moving forward with spreading the Gospel Good News even if his audience was only the Praetorian Guard. Could we make such a choice under those kinda circumstances? It's a stretch I realize but if we take what Christ endured on His way to The Cross as the baseline for Gospel Pioneering there is much we need to check in at the door when we approach the Throne Room. Amen?
Joy is a choice to allow Him to know me fully and to simply live in His presence. All the strength and durability and happiness comes from this!