Christians Witness Through Action In A Secular Society
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
— St. Matthew 5:16, AKJV
A Christian Living Among Their Neighbours
We live in a secular society, among people of different faiths, beliefs and backgrounds. As Christians, we should neither hide our faith nor impose it upon others.
There is, however, a third and more powerful way:
Let us live our Christianity.
Jesus did not merely speak about love, mercy, compassion and service. He demonstrated them.
He taught compassion—and fed the hungry.
He taught mercy—and reached out to those who were suffering.
He taught humility—and served others.
He taught forgiveness—and practised it.
His words were supported by His actions.
When John the Baptist’s disciples asked whether Jesus was truly the One who was to come, Jesus pointed not merely to His teaching but to what people could see:
“Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see.”
— St. Matthew 11:4, AKJV
Jesus was, in the fullest sense, a man of action.
Therefore, our Christian witness should follow His example.
CHRISTIANITY MADE VISIBLE
If we say that we love our neighbour, let our neighbour experience that love.
If we speak of compassion, let our compassion be seen.
If we speak of Christian charity, let us give without demanding anything in return.
If we speak of peace, let us be peacemakers.
If we speak of stewardship, let us care for the place in which God has put us.
If we speak of Christ, let our lives reflect Christ.
James gives us the same principle:
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only…”
— St. James 1:22, AKJV
WHAT CAN WE DO IN OUR OWN NEIGHBOURHOOD?
Christian witness does not necessarily require a pulpit. It can begin on our own street.
- Keep the neighbourhood clean
Pick up litter. Collect neglected garbage and put it into the appropriate collection bin. Keep common areas around us clean.
“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
— Philippians 2:4
- Help the elderly
Offer practical assistance to elderly neighbours—carrying something, helping with a task or simply being available.
“Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man…”
— Leviticus 19:32
- Look out for those who live alone
A greeting, a friendly conversation or appropriate assistance can remind someone that they are not forgotten.
“Comfort yourselves together, and edify one another…”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:11
- Be available in times of difficulty
When a neighbour faces a genuine emergency or difficulty, help where it is safe and appropriate.
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2
- Care for common spaces
Report broken streetlights, dangerous conditions, blocked drains, overflowing waste or other civic problems.
“Seek the peace of the city…”
— Jeremiah 29:7
- Share our skills
Use our knowledge and experience to help others when we can.
“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another…”
— 1 St. Peter 4:10
- Welcome new neighbours
Introduce ourselves. Help them become familiar with the locality and its essential services.
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers…”
— Hebrews 13:2
- Be peacemakers
Do not spread disputes. Do not inflame arguments. Do not take pleasure in the troubles of others.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
— St. Matthew 5:9
- Refuse gossip
Do not participate in rumours, character assassination or unnecessary discussion of another person’s private affairs.
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying…”
— Ephesians 4:29
- Be unfailingly courteous
Greet people. Say thank you. Treat every person—from the professional to the sanitation worker—with dignity.
“As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”
— St. Luke 6:31
- Do good without seeking recognition
Good works should not become a means of displaying our own goodness.
“Thy Father, which seeth in secret, himself shall reward thee openly.”
— St. Matthew 6:4
- Be responsible citizens
Respect the law, public property, community rules and the legitimate responsibilities of citizenship.
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.”
— Romans 13:1
- Care for God’s creation
Plant and care for trees, avoid unnecessary waste and keep our surroundings clean.
“The LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”
— Genesis 2:15
- Help those genuinely in need
Where appropriate, provide practical assistance without discrimination or expectation of reward.
“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
— St. Matthew 25:40
- Remember the sick and bereaved
Offer comfort, practical assistance and companionship where appropriate.
“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”
— Romans 12:15
- Protect the vulnerable
Be alert to genuine situations where vulnerable people need protection, and use proper channels when intervention is required.
“Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
— Proverbs 31:9
- Participate in community service
Take part in legitimate neighbourhood initiatives—cleanliness drives, tree planting, civic activities and other constructive efforts.
“Ready to every good work.”
— Titus 3:1
- Pray for the neighbourhood
Pray for every household—for families, children, elderly people, the sick, those in difficulty and the peace of the community.
“Supplications, prayers, intercessions… be made for all men.”
— 1 Timothy 2:1
CHRISTIAN SERVICE IS NOT CONVERSION
We must also be clear about something important.
The Great Commission is real:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them…”
— St. Matthew 28:19
Christians are therefore not called to conceal the Gospel. We should be ready to speak about our faith when genuinely invited and to proclaim Christ truthfully.
But the Great Commission is not a licence to deceive, pressure, manipulate or entice people into baptism.
Faith cannot be manufactured by material inducement.
Baptism should not be treated as a number to be collected.
A human being should never be regarded merely as a prospective convert.
Jesus said:
“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
— St. Matthew 16:24
The words “if any man will” matter.
Christian evangelism proclaims Jesus Christ and invites a response. It does not manufacture that response through pressure or inducement.
Therefore:
1. We proclaim Jesus Christ—but we do not manipulate people.
2. We witness—but we do not coerce.
3. We serve—but we do not attach conditions to our service.
4. We baptise those who genuinely embrace the Christian faith—but we do not pursue baptism merely for numbers.Our neighbourhood service should therefore be offered without discrimination and without religious conditions.
We do not help a neighbour because we hope to convert him.
We help because he is our neighbour.
That is what Jesus taught.
“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
— St. Matthew 22:39
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS
• People may forget our arguments.
• They may forget our explanations.
• They may forget a sermon.
• But they are likely to remember how we treated them.
• They will remember the Christian who picked up the rubbish.
• The Christian who helped an elderly neighbour.
• The Christian who came when someone was in trouble.
• The Christian who refused to gossip.
• The Christian who made peace.
• The Christian who helped without asking for anything in return.That is Christianity made visible.
Jesus said:
“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
— St. John 13:15
We should therefore ask ourselves not merely:
“What can I say about Christianity?”
but:
“WHAT CAN I DO TODAY THAT REFLECTS JESUS CHRIST?”
OUR CHRISTIAN NEIGHBOURHOOD RULE SHOULD BE:
1. TO SERVE.
2. TO HELP.
3. TO CLEAN.
4. TO PROTECT.
5. TO RECONCILE.
6. TO PRAY.
⁃ Do it without discrimination.
⁃ Do it without expecting anything in return.
⁃ Do it without seeking applause.
⁃ Do it because we follow Jesus Christ.And if, one day, a neighbour asks:
“Why do you do these things?”
then you can answer simply:
“Because I am a Christian, and this is what Jesus teaches me to do.”
• That is not coercion.
• That is not manipulation.
• That is not a campaign for numbers.
• That is Christian witness.And perhaps that is the most powerful way in which we can live as Christians in a secular society:
LET OUR NEIGHBOURS SEE CHRISTIANITY BEFORE THEY HEAR CHRISTIANITY.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
— St. Matthew 5:16, AKJV
Cecil K. Dewars