How are we supposed to witness?

[Whatever]

thus giving them respect as fellow human beings.

So if I see a guy about to walk over a cliff, I should just respect him and do or say nothing?

Remember that guy isn't just going to die, he will be tormented forever. Most people wouldn't mind some disrespect if it kept them from harm.

People keep talking about all those people headed for hell on judgment day pointing their finger at me or you and saying "why didn't you warn me?" I guess we will just have to say "I didn't want to violate your free will or disrespect you."

I had a friend one time who asked his pastor if it was okay to pray to God to get a new fishing tackle box. I don't know what the pastor said right then, but that Sunday he said something like "People, everyday people are dying and going to hell, and here we are praying for fishing tackle box's!"

 

[Bruce.Leiter]

So if I see a guy about to walk over a cliff, I should just respect him and do or say nothing?

Remember that guy isn't just going to die, he will be tormented forever. Most people wouldn't mind some disrespect if it kept them from harm.

People keep talking about all those people headed for hell on judgment day pointing their finger at me or you and saying "why didn't you warn me?" I guess we will just have to say "I didn't want to violate your free will or disrespect you."

I had a friend one time who asked his pastor if it was okay to pray to God to get a new fishing tackle box. I don't know what the pastor said right then, but that Sunday he said something like "People, everyday people are dying and going to hell, and here we are praying for fishing tackle box's!"

How many people do you talk to who are going to "walk over a cliff" to hell right then? I'm talking about many people whom I have met at exercise places and to whom I witness. If I probably won't see them ever again, I put them on my prayer list and keep praying that God will send them Christians if he wants to save them.

It doesn't all depend on you. We are God's seed-scatterers. He will plant the seeds and make them grow with other Christians' witnessing and evangelizing. Maybe, God will use your friendly, respectful witnessing to make them open to someone else's gospel sharing.