A backdoor witness is not a substitute witness. It is when we share about God, Christ, or the truth of the Bible. Most of us do this very often. The front door witness is when we share Christ and His gospel. One of my most satisfying “backdoor witness” experiences happened to me in Delphi, Indiana around 1975. I was pastoring at First Baptist Church, which was in a small town with very friendly people. A young man of my church asked me to sit beside him at his divorce trial. He had chosen not to contest and not to have a lawyer. When Judge Meyer opened the court, he gave a few instructions for the proceedings. Then the proceeding attorney representing the wife spoke. He simply stated the incapability of the couple. As he seemed to be wrapping up his case, I raised my hand. Judge Meyer granted that I could speak. I asked for permission to approach the witness stand. I had no credentials, but for some reason the kind judge opened the door to me acting as a defense attorney.

I don’t remember much of what I said, but this I do remember. I said, “Your honor, you know I respect you very much, but something should be made clear here. Before you pass judgement. Your honor, there is a Judge in heaven who is greater than you and He judges you. He says that what God has joined together let no man separate.” Then I turned to the lawyer (whom I also knew) and said, “There is a lawyer in heaven who outranks you.” This lawyer also said, “What God has joined together let not man separate. To both of you. This is too great a cost. Is there no other way?” I sat down by my church member and waited. Judge Meyer took a fifteen-minute recess and returned with his verdict, saying, “In light of irreconcilable differences I grant this divorce.” I remember going down the courthouse steps saying, “Let all hell rejoice.”

At the bottom of the steps, I was met by a court officer saying that Judge Meyer wished to see me in his chambers. He received me there wishing to explain that Indiana has a no-fault divorce law that he must
obey. I was ready and I pulled out of my shirt pocket an updated law stating a judge could require a few months of counseling. He replied that he could have done that but did not believe it would have helped. Years went by and God was leading me to Ceres, CA. In the last week in Delphi, I saw the lawyer, Jeff, coming up the steps of my office. As far as I remember, this was his first time in twelve years. We greeted as friends. Then he said, “You should know, I have never taken another divorce client after what you said in the courthouse that day.” This is what I call a “backdoor witness”. By not compromising, the truth of God’s Word was witnessed. By taking the opportunity given me to simply sit when I was able to do much more then be a comforter. It was God’s voice spoken to all in the courtroom that day. My “backdoor witness” was used by the Holy Spirit to cause a fine lawyer to refuse all divorce clients and obey God over man.