“You’re looking at a miracle”. – Braden’s dad
Our world is overloaded with skepticism and self-proclaimed “experts” who try to apply the scientific method to make sense of our human existence, God/ Jesus, faith, and the Bible. Recently, I watched a series of videos of a Christian apologist who visits college campuses. He welcomes questions from curious, skeptical, and some downright angry students. This guy always has a confident and credible response to even the most difficult questions. Though I wish I had this man’s intellect and communication skills, I do not. I wonder though, shouldn’t introducing God be easy for anyone who has met Him personally?
I believe Christians have a duty to tell people about something so important, but witnessing has never come naturally. “Witnessing”, in my mind was always a verb, like preaching, quoting scripture, selling, or worse: convincing. I perceived this skill to be something only good Christians could do since they just “Got it”. Much of my life, I believed I’d missed the training class on “Witnessing”.
Ironically though, when people TRIED to “witness” to me by quoting the Bible or using churchy catch phrases, it only pushed me away. I couldn’t relate to ancient scriptures or self-righteous preaching. Though a well crafted and polished presentation sometimes brought buy-in, it soon faded. With many who had offered “superior” Bible knowledge, any value was diminished after watching their behavior. That gnawing thing called hypocrisy doused what otherwise might have been a spark of real and lasting faith for me.
Much of my work involves civil disputes with outcomes determined in a courtroom by jurors who are asked to weigh evidence. In this setting, the term “witness” is never used as a verb. It would be ridiculous to hear an attorney say, “Your honor, today I’d like to introduce Mr. Smith who will be witnessing”. No, here the witness is just a person. Although expert witnesses are often paid to testify, most judges will agree an unbiased witness (just a regular person) is more effective than one who is paid or polished. Juries tend to listen intently to real people because they share common ground. This variety of witness is saying, “Believe it or not and for whatever it’s worth, this actually happened to me!”
A few years ago, I had a friend who was obviously lost and searching for answers. His identity and purpose were wrapped primarily in career and the prestige of his corporate leadership role. Sadly, he lost his job and with it went his purpose, motivation, family, and ultimately his life. In the darkest moments he’d call to talk with someone who would listen. I took his calls at all hours of the day and night, many times sensing that his life was slowly draining away. Thinking I had no skill or competency to talk about God, I never did. Being stoic as we always were, we kept with just surface conversation about injustices of the world and our guy code of never telling anyone else about our struggles. Ultimately, I travelled across Texas to see my buddy one final time. Regretfully, it was on the occasion of his funeral. My friend had died all alone without answers I might have helped provide if I had the courage to try.
Fast forward a few years. I was visiting another friend who could be the poster child for a hard heart. This person was in their last chapter of life, yet still faithless. One morning over coffee, our conversation turned to God and whether He is actually real or just imagined. Without hesitation, I began sharing my own story. Even the ugly hidden parts few if any had heard (some I’d even forgotten about until that moment). I shared about times and circumstances when I should not have survived. My friend was stunned at certain parts. Then, I asked him to close his eyes for a minute and to imagine the Bible story of Moses parting the Red Sea. “The Bible tells how God parted a real ocean in real time to save His children from certain destruction. If a miracle like that happened in front of your own eyes, would you believe in God?”
With eyes closed, my friend thought a few seconds. He finally sighed and conceded. “I guess so because it would be the only real miracle I’d ever seen”. I told my friend to open his eyes and to look at me and that he was looking at a real-life miracle. Through tears I’d never seen in my friend’s eyes, he responded. “I want to believe in your God. I just don’t know how”. Finally, understanding my job wasn’t to convince but to simply share my own eyewitness experience in all its ugliness, it was easy. My friend had begun listening and one month later he called to share with me his own story and these words which I’ll never forget. “Mark, I wanted to call to tell you today I finally surrendered and someday, we’re going to meet in heaven”.
When we allow our pride to deceive, distract, or dissuade us from our most important role as a witness, we can easily miss what may be the only chance someone has to hear such good news.
PRAYER: Father, please allow me to simply tell others about what you have done in my own life. The harder I try to convince others, the less likely they will be convinced. Please prevent me from trying to witness and instead allow me to just be one.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””
Acts of the Apostles 1:8
“Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.” Psalms 66:16
Braden’s Voice 