Witnesses

Read Luke 24:36-49.

"Counselor, you may call your next witness." In a court of law, those words indicate that a story is going to be told. Questions will be asked, and facts will be verified...or challenged. Witnesses are called to tell what they saw about the crime or the incident in question. They are to tell "the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God." When they don't tell the truth, they can find themselves in all sorts of other legal trouble; that's a crime called "perjury."

Witnesses tell what they know, what they have experienced. On that first Easter evening, Jesus calls these disciples, these men who just twenty-four hours before were frightened, hiding, discouraged and probably more than a little depressed, to go out now and tell what they have seen. He is risen. He died but now he is alive again. Jesus asks them to go tell an unbelievable story, but it's one they can tell because they have experienced it, they have seen him.

It's harder for us, because we weren't there at that first Easter, though he still calls us to be witnesses to what he is doing. We're called to tell the story of the difference Jesus has made in our lives, of the ways we have experienced him. It's much more difficult to speak of someone else's experience; that's not the job of a witness anyway. We're simply called to tell what we know.

For a time in Christian circles the practice of apologetics was popular. You learned a lot of facts to defend the faith (as if God really needs defending). There is a time and a place for apologetics, and it's still a valuable tool. But the primary way witnesses function is to tell their own story, and in a world like ours which is so story-centered, so experience-focused, apologetics is a much harder way to connect. People want to know your story. And your story, quite honestly, is the only thing they can't argue with...because it's yours. You were there. You know what happened.

Rather than worrying about memorizing facts or defending God (who can do quite well for himself, thank you), the time is now to tell our stories. Be witnesses, like Jesus called you to be. How has he worked in your life? What difference does it make that the risen Christ lives in you? How did you come to trust him and why do you still trust him? These are good starting points as you live out your calling to be a witness.

Just tell the truth—the whole truth—and nothing but the truth. And God will be your helper.