What we know and have seen
“Amen, Amen, I tell you: We speak what we know, and we testify about what we have seen. But you people do not accept our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ”
Here Jesus is talking with Nicodemus who doesn’t seem to ‘get it’ about this you must be born again stuff. Imagine Jesus explaining (testifying as a witness) to someone about what he knows and has experienced. And they can’t quite get it.
Now imagine that same person’s only picture of God’s kingdom is the Church’s witness to them. I think they’re in big trouble.
Does today’s Church really know what Jesus knows? What have we actually seen of Christ’s kingdom that we can give first-hand testimony to? Most of what we talk about is second or third hand — hearsay testimony. And our sources aren’t always so good: a politician or fundraiser, a friend sharing some random spiritual thought, a motivational poster.
In fact, even many of the arguments we make about earthy things are suspect these days. We talk with certainty about things we can’t be certain about.
If we are so careless in our handling of spiritual things — even earthly things — how can we ever hope that people will find freedom in Christ?
Let’s refresh our knowledge of God’s kingdom from what Jesus actually says. Let’s speak from what God has actually done in our own lives. Even better, let our own choices and behaviors be better testimonies to the values and virtues of God’s kingdom.
It’s time for a better story.
