I’ve heard the term “witnessing” from many different sources, usually with a Christian connection. Most recently in the description for the Great Debate forum.
Being an Agnostic that was raised as a very, very casual Methodist, I am not familiar with it.
So, what is witnessing?
IF YOU DO NOT PRAISE JESUS YOU, WILL GO TO HELL.!!!
[sub]that, more or less[/sub]
I believe that last post belongs in Great Debates…
Ohhh moderator…
Actually, I think this is a general question, since the OP asks for a definition of “witnessing” rather than a debate about whether one should “witness”. Granted, it is the type of general question that could evolve into a debate somewhere in the thread.
In evangelical Christian parlance, “witnessing” is proselytizing (i.e. attempting to get others to believe what you do about God), usually with some communication about one’s own experience in being “saved”.
I found myself asking the same question and came up with this…
http://www.ccci.org/10steps/step7/
Basically, it’s what Chickenhead says. To quote from that link: “The love of Jesus Christ for us, and our love for Him, compels us to share Him with others.”
… whether “others” like it or not.
Actually, I was providing an example rather than an opinion. In fact, my opinion would run pretty much counter to that. Apparently it is necessary to be blunter than Fred’s club or a box of White Owls.
From the church I was in, we called it sharing.
We alone thought we figured out what the Bible was trying to say. No one else did, therefore they were following Jesus incorrectly. It was our responsibility to show others the truth and save them from hell.
Yeah, it sounds cynical now, but I was totally sincere when I was a part of it.
IANAC, but it seems to be anything that Christians can do that shows people that Christianity is true. It is usually spoken and often Christians talk about how they became Christians, how God has changed their lives for the better, or all the wonderful things that happen because someone believes. If I were really cynical, I would liken it to a sales pitch for salvation. But, I am not quite that cynical.
Witnessing means letting others know of the significane of Christ’s love in our lives and that you may have it too, as a gift from God. However, unlike the post above suggests, we are not required to be rude and share it with folks who do not want to hear about it.
For those who don’t want to know, skip on, and I’ll do a little mis-threading:
I have been saved since I was nine years old. (Thirty years now.) I went to Bible camp, met some wonderful people. We sang songs, made keychains, rode horseback. (Thank you Dick Dosker.) In short, God loves me, and I accept this, and I have Jesus and the Holy Ghost as constant companions. I ask God daily in prayer to bring peace, to watch over my family and friends and to give me strength to be loving to all his children. I find this gives a great deal of meaning to my life.
Hellfire and the devil have nothing to do with my faith, and neither does my morally judging others. Jesus broke bread with sinners of all varieties.
May the Peace of Christ be with you.
Chickenhead: I’m confused. One of us dropped a bit of irony somewhere. Enough obliqueness…
My definition of witnessing (based on my research into the phrase since recently encountering it on this board): “The pain-in-the-ass habit of religious nuts of ramming their expl. del. beliefs down other people’s throats.”
Hence now I think about it, Jehova’s Witnesses, who - even in Hong Kong (eg 2 Sundays ago) - knock on my door.
And the answer to the next question is: “with roach spray”.
And lest we forget this SDMB classic:
Well, here’s a non-denominational definition, from Merriam-Webster.
It is the 5b definition. The Pentecostals frequently use the word “testify” instead, but it means the same thing. It’s basically just saying, “I believe!”, with or without an account of a personal salvation experience.
DP’s post is a perfect example. BTW, DP, all witnessing belongs in Great Debates. 
“Witnessing” IRL, Spanky, is usually found in two forms: buttonholing people and asking them, “Do you know Jesus?”, and leaving tracts (you’ve heard of Jack Chick?) in places like mall restrooms. Witnessing on a message board is sort of like leaving an electronic tract.
a.k.a. “speading the good news”, especially when the listener does not want to hear it.
a.k.a. “spreading the good news”, especially when the listener does not want to hear it.
Thanks to everyone for your help. I’m familiar with the activity of witnessing (but I’ve never been personally exposed to it, thank God.)
DDG:
The SDMB helped me remember stuff like Jack Chick’s tracts. Once at a garrage sale, this woman gave my older sister (who was watching the register with my mom) some creepy Evangelical tract comic about salvation and stuff. It was really weird.
I think “witnessing” as proselytizing is also related to a phrase “Can I get a witness?”. I am pretty sure that phrase is African-American/Gospel in origin and translates roughly to “can someone trustworthy please affirm the purity and truth of what I just said?”. Marvin Gaye used the phrase to write a hit pop song in the early 60’s…
Gee, thanks Ducky. But it wasn’t the original post, and it was the perfect time for an example because it was the exact topic of a general question.
I think the use of the word “witnessing” is an attempt to create the impression that what is being said is really, really TRUE and FACTUAL; that the speaker should be believed becuase he is providing an eyewitness account.
Since the OP refers to Christian witnessing, let’s see what the Good Book has to say.
Acts 1:8 has Jesus saying to his disciples moments before the Ascension, “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
As I understand the direct application to those who were there, Jesus knew there would be all sorts of stories told about him and his ministry, and he was telling those who had followed him the past three years that they were to keep the record straight. Peter actually does just this in his second epistle, chapter 1, verse 16: “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” Peter is referring specifically to the Transfiguration, but the broader concept of witnessing is applicable, I believe.
Now, present-day sharing of a person’s testimony concerning how they came to believe in Jesus and how he has influenced their life is an extension of that concept. It is a witness account, because the person is sharing something he or she has actually experienced. And the concept is taken from Jesus’s own words. How ham-fistedly it is done depends on the grace and social skills of the individual.
I don’t know who said it (a saint of the Church, IIRC), but I like it, so I’ll paraphrase it here. If anyone can give a cite, I’d appreciate it.
“Witness to all living creatures. If necessary, use words.”