The University of South Carolina has been fined $25,000 for excessive celebration and storming the basketball court after upsetting #1 ranked Kentucky. Most fans have declared that it was certainly worth it, and others have suggested that the league send the money to Haiti. Two things come to mind: It sometimes costs to give a “shout-out,” and you shouldn’t keep your exuberance to yourself or you’ll miss sharing one of the most significant moments in your life.
The first Christians knew full well that the witnessing for Christ was costly.  Witnessing for Christ meant sure martyrdom. As a matter of fact, the word “martyr” comes almost directly from the Greek word for “witness.” Witnessing does mean sacrifice for what one believes in. It doesn’t seem to matter, however, because the cause for which one is martyred is worth it. Are Jesus and the Gospel worth it?
 The story is told of a judge who stared at a case-hardened criminal. “Because of the gravity of this case,” said the judge earnest mellow tones, “I am going to give you three lawyers.” “Never mind the three lawyers,” replied the experienced defendant. “Just give me one good witness.”
Jesus desires us to be witnesses. He told his followers that they would be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8). In an old Flip Wilson comedy routine, someone asked Flip about his religion and he answered, “I am a Jehovah’s Bystander.” “A Jehovah’s bystander?” remarked his friend. “I never heard of a Jehovah’s Bystander.” Flip looked coy and said, “Well, they asked me to be a witness but I didn’t want to get involved.”
It takes involvement to witness. It takes a conscious decision to make oneself available to God and humankind. Whether in great deeds or small, we can all do something to witness to the love of Christ and the forgiveness that He offers.
I recall one night very late in the evening when I was called to the hospital. As I was walking down the hall, with no people around, a man suddenly ran out of one of the patient’s rooms. He ran right up to me – I had never seen him before – and he said to me with joy in his face, “She’s going to make it. She’s better. She’s going to make it,” and then he made his way on down the hall. I have not seen the man since. I don’t know who he was talking about. I assume that it was someone very near and dear to him, and he had just received good news.
He could not wait to share it. He did not even have to know the person with whom he shared it; it just flowed from him. He had received good news, and good news is to be shared. What has God done in your life that is worth sharing? My mother’s favorite hymn was, “Count Your Many Blessings and See What God Has Done.” After counting them, it is just as important to share that good news with someone else. Pass on the Good News! It sure would be great if we had a throng of people crowd our streets and churches out of excitement for Jesus.
 
Dr. Tim

Tim
 

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Staff:

Dr. Tim  McClendon , District Superintendent Columbia District United Methodist Church (O) 803-786-9486
wtmcclendon@umcsc.org 

Veronica Williams, District Secretary, (O)803-786-9486 (e) veronica@umcsc.org
(F)803-735-8799

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