Witness
Beginning in a process of conversion, the core of being a Christian is living a life of discipleship -- of following Jesus in everything we do -- so that we can help change the world into the Kingdom Jesus told us about. This lifestyle of witness attracts others to our faith, and gives us opportunities to explicitly share our faith.
Key Insights
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Changing the World
The laity is called to change the world -- "on earth as it is in heaven" -- by the way we live our daily lives. In Church documents, the earth is called the "temporal order," as opposed to the "spiritual order" of heaven and the afterlife. Conversion
A life of witness necessarily begins in conversion and is sustained by ongoing conversion. This is the change from our old way of life to the new, and is why we see conversion as the death of our old self and birth of our new self and way of living. |
Way of Life
Christian witness is an entire way of life and way of seeing the world, not just how we might act in certain situations. We can understand this lifestyle in various ways, such as being motivated by Christian love (charity), morality, or stewardship. Witness Leads To Conversion
Simply living out our daily lives with Gospel values, without any explicit sharing of the Gospel, can lead other people to God and the Church. |
Discipleship
Living a life of Christian witness means being a disciple: following Jesus in all that we do. The heart of Jesus' call to us as Christians leads us to live our lives differently, not simply to believe particular doctrines. |
Quotations
Above all the Gospel must be proclaimed by witness. Take a Christian or a handful of Christians who, in the midst of their own community, show their capacity for understanding and acceptance, their sharing of life and destiny with other people, their solidarity with the efforts of all for whatever is noble and good. Let us suppose that, in addition, they radiate in an altogether simple and unaffected way their faith in values that go beyond current values, and their hope in something that is not seen and that one would not dare to imagine.... Christ's redemptive work, while essentially concerned with the salvation of men, includes also the renewal of the whole temporal order. Hence the mission of the Church is not only to bring the message and grace of Christ to men but also to penetrate and perfect the temporal order with the spirit of the Gospel. In fulfilling this mission of the Church, the Christian laity exercise their apostolate both in the Church and in the world, in both the spiritual and the temporal orders. These orders, although distinct, are so connected in the singular plan of God that He Himself intends to raise up the whole world again in Christ and to make it a new creation, initially on earth and completely on the last day. In both orders the layman, being simultaneously a believer and a citizen, should be continuously led by the same Christian conscience. Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, 5
(Apostolicam Actuositatem) Second Vatican Council Emphasis added The opening words of the psalm that we proclaimed are: “Sing to the Lord a new song” (Psalm 95:1). What is this new song? It does not consist of words, it is not a melody, it is the song of your life, it is allowing our life to be identified with that of Jesus, it is sharing his sentiments, his thoughts, his actions. And the life of Jesus is a life for others. It is a life of service. ...faith is not something that only happens to each of us individually or privately, within ourselves. The Gospel also speaks to society itself, with its values, goals, and systems. The Gospel must overflow from each heart until the presence of God transforms all human existence. Sometimes this means that, as believers, we must confront the world as did the prophets of old, pointing out the claims of God to societies that are blind to God. More often, however, this means that we must let our faith shine on the world around us, radiating the love of Jesus by the everyday way we speak, think, and act. Go And Make Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States, 17-18
USCCB Emphasis added |
The apostolate in the social milieu, that is, the effort to infuse a Christian spirit into the mentality, customs, laws, and structures of the community in which one lives, is so much the duty and responsibility of the laity that it can never be performed properly by others. In this area the laity can exercise the apostolate of like toward like. It is here that they complement the testimony of life with the testimony of the word. It is here where they work or practice their profession or study or reside or spend their leisure time or have their companionship that they are more capable of helping their brethren. Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, 13
(Apostolicam Actuositatem) Second Vatican Council Emphasis added The Gospel has truly been a leaven of liberty and progress in human history, even in the temporal sphere, and always proves itself a leaven of brotherhood, of unity and of peace. Not without cause is Christ hailed by the faithful as "the expected of the nations, and their Savior." For all Christians, wherever they live, are bound to show forth, by the example of their lives and by the witness of the word, that new man put on at baptism and that power of the Holy Spirit by which they have been strengthened at Conformation. Thus other men, observing their good works, can glorify the Father and can perceive more fully the real meaning of human life and the universal bond of the community of mankind. Adult Christian living is also noticeable, though not always as publicized, in the daily struggle to live out Christian values in family, neighborhood, school, government and work. This is a hopeful sign because the laity are uniquely present in and to the world and so bear a privileged position to build the Kingdom of God there. “You are the light of the world...Your light must shine before all so that they may see goodness in your acts and give praise to your heavenly Father” (Mt 5:14-16). But let us take a further step: the proclamation made by Peter and the Apostles does not merely consist of words: fidelity to Christ affects their whole lives, which are changed, given a new direction, and it is through their lives that they bear witness to the faith and to the proclamation of Christ. In todays Gospel, Jesus asks Peter three times to feed his flock, to feed it with his love, and he prophesies to him: When you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go (Jn 21:18). These words are addressed first and foremost to those of us who are pastors: we cannot feed Gods flock unless we let ourselves be carried by Gods will even where we would rather not go, unless we are prepared to bear witness to Christ with the gift of ourselves, unreservedly, not in a calculating way, sometimes even at the cost of our lives. But this also applies to everyone: we all have to proclaim and bear witness to the Gospel. We should all ask ourselves: How do I bear witness to Christ through my faith? Do I have the courage of Peter and the other Apostles, to think, to choose and to live as a Christian, obedient to God? To be sure, the testimony of faith comes in very many forms, just as in a great fresco, there is a variety of colours and shades; yet they are all important, even those which do not stand out. In Gods great plan, every detail is important, even yours, even my humble little witness, even the hidden witness of those who live their faith with simplicity in everyday family relationships, work relationships, friendships. There are the saints of every day, the hidden saints, a sort of middle class of holiness to which we can all belong. But in different parts of the world, there are also those who suffer, like Peter and the Apostles, on account of the Gospel; there are those who give their lives in order to remain faithful to Christ by means of a witness marked by the shedding of their blood. Let us all remember this: one cannot proclaim the Gospel of Jesus without the tangible witness of ones life. Those who listen to us and observe us must be able to see in our actions what they hear from our lips, and so give glory to God! Inconsistency on the part of pastors and the faithful between what they say and what they do, between word and manner of life, is undermining the Church's credibility. Pope Francis
Homily at St. Paul Outside the Walls |
How We Support Witness
Everything on this site ultimately feeds into how we live as disciples in the world. The following are particularly connected to witness:
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Gospel Values
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Tools
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Daily Life
A focus on specific aspects of daily life means starting with daily life and reaching back into Scripture and Tradition to inform them. This approach can be one of the most effective.
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Cover image from Pentecost, a painting by El Greco.
