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? ”

— John 3:11-12

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.

On Authority

We live in a world of competing ideas about reality. To advocate for a particular viewpoint is to submit to a particular authority. It should be obvious from this site, but I accept Jesus as my ultimate authority, and I do my best to understand reality from his life and teaching. We have been handed The Royal Law: love God and love others, or love God by loving others.

That being the case, I don’t expect everyone else to accept Christ’s authority over their lives (except for those who claim to be Jesus-followers). That’s their choice to make.

But if you are advocating for a viewpoint that’s different from mine, please share what authority stands behind your view. And if you are an authority unto yourself (“you do you”), don’t be surprised that I don’t accept your authority for myself. Why would you?

Discipleship Pathway

A pathway is a road from here to there. Steps from where you are to where to want to be. Discipleship pathways are often presented as a set of classes, groups, studies, activities, and practices that develop new believers (or even nonbelievers in some cases) into mature disciples of Jesus. All of these can be helpful but they should not be confused with discipleship.

Discipleship is being trained by Christ. Disciples are becoming better learners-followers-imitators of Jesus.

Jesus gave us a discipleship pathway. He said:

“If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross every day and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

Whatever helps you walk this path with Jesus — a path of self-denial and self-sacrifice — is helpful indeed. But the next step in your discipleship isn’t a class. It’s a step with Jesus toward Christlikeness.