Penn Jillette (of Penn and Teller) and Witnessing

Penn Jillette, one half of the magic team of Penn and Teller, is an accomplished magician, a very intelligent man, and an atheist.

In 2008, he was approached after a show by a Christian who had genuinely tried to share Christianity with Penn. This Christian man showed genuine concern for Penn’s soul and even gave him a pocket New Testament.

Sometime later, Penn made a video clip about this experience (which is posted at the bottom) and his views on proselytizing (witnessing). What he says should be convicting to any and all Christians!

“I’ve always said that I don’t respect people that don’t proselytize…I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever…and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward…how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? If I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was bearing down on you and you didn’t believe it, there comes a certain point when I tackle you…and this is more important than that.”

Please do not misunderstand him. He has not converted and he still does not believe in God.

Yet, he believes that if YOU believe in God, Heaven, Hell, eternal life, and that there is a way to have eternal life (through Jesus Christ), then you MUST witness. What a profound truth coming from someone who doesn’t believe in God!

So, how about it, fellow Christians?! Are we going to let “socially awkward” moments prevent us from witnessing? We shouldn’t! Let’s obey the command of Matthew 28:19-20. Let’s go and make disciples!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa9JE_ZVL88&feature=related