Before the end of the first chapter, I had already categorised Character Witness as a ‘Yes, but…’ book. That is, a book that says some good things, but that still generates a certain sense of unease. However, by the end I was far more positive.
My greatest reservation stemmed from the fact that in structure, method and content, Character Witness is not driven by the Bible. The relational characteristics that Wood identifies have been selected by observation and personal experience (that is, common wisdom) and then dressed up in Scriptural garb.
The connection between the common wisdom and the biblical content often seemed strained or superfluous. As I read on, I encountered uses of Scripture that rang alarm bells.
But as I continued to read, it occurred to me that I was criticising an apple for not being an orange. I should just enjoy it as an orange. There is nothing wrong with reflecting on common wisdom; there is much we can learn from perceptive observers.
The strength of this book does not lie in its exposition of Scripture, but in its insightful reflections into relationships and outreach.
Having relaxed a little bit, I actually found Christine Wood to be inspirational in many ways. Her passion for evangelism, her integrity in relationships and her application of her confidence in God’s sovereignty both rebuked my complacency and lifted my eyes to see the opportunities around me.
Wood’s central thesis is that effective evangelism is largely dependent upon the quality of the relationship between the Christian and the non-Christian. Christians are obliged to adorn the gospel by their behaviour, and the quality of our lives receives far more attention in the Scriptures than does the precision of our words.
This is familiar territory for many of us, but the distinctive contribution that Wood makes is to emphasise that our godliness is not limited to our morality, but must also be evident in our relationships.
For this reason Character Witness has a focus on the personal characteristics that contribute to meaningful relationships. She suggests that these characteristics include being “intentional, gracious, focused, pure in heart, buoyant, wise, patient, empathetic, reflective, insightful, hospitable, creative and consistent” (page 12).
Under these headings, Wood makes many helpful suggestions as to how we can cultivate genuine and meaningful relationships with people in general, and with non-believers in particular.
One point that I found particularly helpful was Wood’s emphasis on the sovereignty of God, who brings opportunities for us to reach out to others. If we realise that no-one comes into our lives by accident, we will be much more inclined to make the most of every opportunity.
An associated point is the sovereignty of God’s work in the lives of others; we don’t need to try to ‘close the deal’ in every interaction. Rather, as we relate with integrity and godliness, God will do his work.
Character Witness is an easy and enjoyable read. The study guide suits it well to being used as a basis for discussion in a reading group. It may be that, as a book coming from slightly outside our particular tradition, it has a helpful contribution to make as we think about reaching the lost around us.
Tim Bowden is a full-time evangelist with Evangelism Ministries
