written: ‘Jehovah’s spirit is upon me, because he anointed me to declare good news to the poor, he sent me forth to preach a release to the captives and a recovery of sight to the blind, to send the crushed ones away with a release, to preach Jehovah’s acceptable year.’” (Luke 4:17-19) Jesus set the example in preaching, in speaking to others; and, in turn, Jesus sent forth others to proclaim the kingdom of God.

Jesus’ followers did not keep silent about what they had heard from the Son of God, but they let everyone with whom they came in contact know about God’s wonderful provisions for life. They viewed Christianity as personal, yes, but also from the standpoint that they were under personal obligation to speak God’s good words to others. When Peter and John were brought before the very court that had schemed to have the Lord Jesus sent to his death, they were accused of publicly speaking about Christ; and they readily admitted that the charge was true. The court then issued a stern warning that they should never do this again: “With that they called them and charged them, nowhere to make any utterance or to teach upon the basis of the name of Jesus. But in reply Peter and John said to them: ‘Whether it is righteous in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves. But as for us, we cannot stop speaking about the things we have seen and heard.’”—Acts 4:18-20.

No, never in the Bible do we find the followers of Jesus saying: ‘My religion is personal; I refuse to discuss it.’ Just the opposite! They felt they were under personal obligation to speak to others, and rightly so; for Jesus taught his followers to be talkers, proclaimers, preachers, ministers, communicators of the good news. And were not the last recorded words of Jesus Christ, before he ascended to heaven, about the need to speak? Indeed they were. Those momentous words, recorded at Acts 1:8, 9, were: “You will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth.” Why, a Christian cannot stop speaking, cannot cease witnessing about God’s kingdom truths.

MILD TEMPER REQUIRED OF YOU

Some may feel that they should not discuss religion because it may lead to arguments, resulting in more heat than light. But does the Bible show that Christians should remain silent for such a reason? Never! Declared the apostle Paul: “A slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle toward all, qualified to teach, keeping himself restrained under evil, instructing with mildness those not favorably disposed; as perhaps God may give them repentance leading to an accurate knowledge of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:24, 25) The true Christian does not get heated up, angry and disturbed, when speaking Bible truths. There is no need to fight. He “needs to be gentle toward all,” and he needs to speak “with mildness” to those not favorably disposed. Then there will be no heated arguments.

If people ask us about our hope, what are we to do? If we worship the God of the Bible, we will do what the apostle Peter says: “Always [be] ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of you a reason for the hope in you, but doing so together with a mild temper and deep respect.” (1 Pet. 3:15) So speak about your hope, doing so “with a mild temper.”

There is another vital reason why no Christian can stop speaking: The need to warn others of the impending destruction of this system of things at God’s universal war of Armageddon. Lives are at stake! Just as Noah felt the urgency to speak up before the great flood, so true worshipers of God today feel the urgency of the situation. They know Jesus foretold for our days that “this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” Before the end comes at Armageddon, the good news of God’s established kingdom must be declared to all the nations. The warning witness must be given. If one knows about God’s purpose to destroy this world and yet does not warn others, then the principle established at Ezekiel 3:17, 18, shows that God will hold that person responsible—responsible because he kept silent when he should have used his powers of expression to warn others. Because the apostle Paul did not hold back from speaking God’s truths to others but even taught “from house to house,” he could say: “I am clean from the blood of all men, for I have not held back from telling you all the counsel of God.” May we be clean from “the blood of all men” by speaking of the Kingdom hope and what the kingdom will soon do to this wicked world.—Matt. 24:14; Acts 20:20, 26, 27.

WHAT TO DO

What if one finds himself having the tendency to decline speaking about the Bible? Take immediate steps to remedy the situation. For one thing, take steps to take in more knowledge of God’s Word, because many persons refuse to discuss their hope because they lack knowledge. If one’s religion is too intimate to be discussed, then that religion is not based on the Bible but on feeling, sentiment, emotion. The true religion of the Bible is reasonable, factual and communicable; but the Christian must take in knowledge so that he can speak to others of his hope.

How, then, should you react when someone of another faith approaches you to talk about religion? If you worship the God of the Bible, you will calmly listen, and then, at the appropriate time, take the opportunity to express your hope. Ask questions, when other people speak to you, as to why they believe a certain thing. Let them show you from the Bible what their hope is. “With a mild temper” show other persons your Kingdom hope.

If you should talk to someone about your hope and they say: “I don’t discuss religion because it is too personal,” you might say: “Well, religion certainly does involve personal conviction; but since I have no objection to discussing my belief—in fact, it is part of my belief to discuss it—I would like to tell you what has brought me hope and happiness.”

True Christians simply “cannot stop speaking about the things” concerning God and his kingdom. If a person refuses to discuss religion, he is not worshiping the God of the Bible, and he is going in a way directly opposite from what the Scriptures teach. The heart is involved, yes, “but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation.”—Rom. 10:10.

Misunderstood Laity

In a talk over the Danish radio a theologian, Prof. K. E. Skydsgaard, made the following remark about the laity of the church: “In my opinion it is a wrong and disastrous understanding which arises from an incorrect view of what the church is. If we do not make progress toward a completely different understanding of these words . . . we will never get out of the stagnant condition we are in. . . . It is the whole congregation which conducts divine services, not just the priest. On Sunday it is the assembly of the people. But from here they should be sent out . . . and in this we see the peoples’ unique apostolate.”—Menighedsrådenes blad, December, 1960.