An Effective Witness

In Kent Hughes commentary on Acts, he speaks of the elements of an effective witness. He breaks this down into the ancient categories of rhetoric. Ethos, Logos and Pathos. Ethos - this is the being of the speaker. The person himself must be consistent in their character and content of their life. Without consistent Christian living and authentic Christianity being lived out, there will be no effective witness. Logos - as Christians we know the Logos to be the Word of God. This is the arguement based on reason. We have the facts of the gospel. They are unchanging, unbending and eternally powerful. Too often we want a new spin on preaching and a new twist to our message. The message of the cross is the power of salvation. No matter how many times we rehearse the facts of the gospel, the gospel and the gospel alone holds the power of salvation. Pathos - the passion that we come with. I think of the apostle Paul when he prays in Romans 9. He prays that if it were possible, he would go to Hell for the sake of his countrymen. He desired to take their hell. That's pathos! That's a heart for the lost! That is what it means to 'beg men on behalf of God' (2 Cor 5.19-20). May God make us effective witnesses who are authentic, accurate and passionate