For covenanters, the Word of God is a divine masterpiece that we desire to absorb and apply to our lives continually.
But for the unbelieving world, the Bible is foolish and the verses that to us are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb, are to the world but nonsense. Therefore, it is not always appropriate to go in guns blazing with, “the bible says…” when there is no appetite for the Word at all. It’s not to say that God is unable of stones to raise up children unto Abraham, but perhaps we should be more deliberate about how we witness.
I’ll never forget the Christian neighbors we had when I was in high school, who offered to minister to me in a time when I was doing things my own way, but I rejected their offer because I preferred things my own way. They never shared with me Bible verses, but instead remained the kindest and most caring neighbors I could ask for, in spite of my lost soul. I suppose it was not my time to be pulled from the fire, but as I look back on my life, I can remember the bits of truth that God revealed to me through his chosen people.
There is much wisdom to be found in the Bible, but it might not be the right time to share it. Consider Job’s friends who assaulted him with the Word, and those were fellow believers! Perhaps the delicate soul before you is not ready to hear the truth. Perhaps the soul who resists is in need of an ear or gentleness, or perhaps it's time to part ways. Do we seek the lost sheep of Israel or do we aim to beat heathen into submission?
"…a word spoken in due season, how good is it!" Prov 15:23
Furthermore, did Abraham desperately try to convert Pharoah or Abimelech? Did Joseph desperately try to convert Pharoah? Did Daniel desperately try to convert Nebuchadnezzar? Did Esther desperately try to convert King Ahasuerus? Did Naomi desperately try to convert Ruth and Orpah? She told them to go back to where they came from!
All of these saints witnessed to strangers through their works and all of these saints prevailed in the face of oppression and trial.
Even Jonah who reluctantly went to the Ninevites, didn't hit them with "christianese,” but when the troubled waters came, he told them with boldness, "take me up, and cast me forth into the sea." And the result was Ninevites calling out to the one living and true God :
Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.
So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows. Jonah 1:14-16
For it is God who gives the increase (1 Cor 3:6) and we must be available and willing when he calls us to the front lines. We must aim to live in the Word ourselves and to use it masterfully out in the world.
I sincerely believe our purpose on earth is to enjoy God and to glorify Him forever, which could very well include martyrdom. There is a certainly a time for martyrdom, see Stephen in Acts 7, but I don't think we should purposely seek after it as if there were 72 virgins waiting on the other side for us. The examples above show how God preserves the life of his servants through the wisdom of the holy Spirit, even if we be swallowed and vomited out by a great fish along the way.
“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” Prov 14:27
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