The renowned evangelist and bestselling author Reverend Henry Blackaby, who died this past February at the age of 88, made a commitment to the Lord early in his marriage.

As he and wife, Marilynn, began welcoming children into the world, Henry said he determined then and there to live joyfully and vibrantly in order to maximize his Christian witness to their growing brood. He wanted to show them what it looked like to walk enthusiastically and happily with the Lord, recognizing that mothers and fathers serve as a vital example to impressionable young hearts and minds.

Research shows that children who have strong and healthy relationships with their earthly fathers, especially, are exponentially more likely to trust their Heavenly Father.

We’re all a work in progress, though, and while our willingness to be used is key, it’s only the beginning.

“When you offer yourself to God as His servant, He first expects to shape you into the instrument of His choosing,” wrote Henry in his signature study, Experiencing God. “He will always work in you before He works through you.”

Witnessing in a hostile culture isn’t easy, nor is it for the faint of heart. But Christians are nevertheless called to do it.

We read in Isaiah, “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Me” (43:10).

It was Jesus who declared, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

There seems to be confusion and disagreement over the best way to witness these days. A progressive approach is to compromise or ignore some of the less popular passages of Scripture. But we have no such latitude, not to mention it’s only an arrogant and foolish person who thinks they can improve upon the infallible and inerrant Word of God.

So what’s the best way to hold strong and yet still share God’s truth? There are many approaches and tactics, but here are three.

1. Listen

Francis Schaeffer, the popular evangelist and author, was neither shy nor soft when it came to sharing the Gospel.

“Society cannot stand chaos,” he observed. “Some group or some person will fill the vacuum. An elite will offer us arbitrary absolutes, and who will stand in its way?”

But when it came to witnessing, Schaeffer was pragmatic, stressing the importance of listening prior to sharing the Gospel.

“If I have only an hour with someone, I will spend the first fifty-five minutes asking and finding out what is troubling their heart and mind,” he said. “Then in the last five minutes, I will share something of the truth.”

If we want to evangelize a broken world, we need to be sensitive to the individual’s brokenness.

2. Be Aware

In a negative and media-saturated world, it’s tempting to tune out and live in your own self-imposed bubble. There is wisdom to not getting swept up in the hype and headlines, but how can you relate to what the lost are encountering if you’re not aware of what they’re consuming and absorbing?

The most effective evangelists are those who help make sense of the times, absorbing and processing world events through the lens of God’s Word. Find reputable news sites (in addition the Daily Citizen) such as Christian radio, and faith-based periodicals like World Magazine, as well as commentators and podcasters like Dr. Al Mohler, president of Southern Seminary.

3. Be Bold

Another lie that some have embraced is that audacity is somehow offensive and obnoxious. Any strength taken to an extreme can become a weakness, but when we hang out on the sidelines and squander opportunity, we’re being weak, ineffectual and cowardly. But it isn’t a sin to offend someone, especially if what offends them is the truth delivered in love.

The world is hungry for clear and straightforward teaching. If you have a microphone, use it. If you have a pen, write with it. If the Lord opens a door, walk through it.

We read in Proverbs: “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1).

A strong and uncompromising Christian witness is desperately needed in a world weakened by sin.