An ongoing conversation about America, the Middle East, and Jesus

I like the witnesses idea, if the word “witness” is taken seriously for what it really means–bearing witness to what you’ve seen, what you’ve experienced, exactly.

I remember reflecting, while listening to a non-Christian friend’s experience, that a lot of what gets called “witnessing” is actually experienced by non-Christians as nothing more than pressuring them to become Christians. And that that experience is pretty accurate.

A true witness, whether of Jesus or a witness to an accident or crime, is mostly concerned that people have all the relevant and true information to make a decision about what the truth is. The decision is theirs; the truth of our experience is ours to tell.

(On the other hand I have a bit of a negative reaction to the knee-jerk belief I often see in the secular world that evangelism or conversion of any kind is imperialistic and aggressive. People are free to change their beliefs; people are free to try to convince others to do so. Is trying to convince someone to vote Democrat aggressive?)

Carl, You are absolutely right, but you need to go farther.

The grammar in the Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20) shows that it is not about making converts (disciples). It is about transforming whole ethno-linguistic communities. The subject is 2nd person plural, so the command is given to the entire called-out community that is following Jesus (the ecclesia). The imperative transitive verb is not the word “go.” It is the word “disciple” (not a verb in English, hence the confusion). The targets to be discipled (converted) are not particular individuals. They are “all nations,” better translated from the Greek “panta ta ethne” as ethno-linguistic groups.

Individualistic Western Culture has distorted the Great Commission into this particularistic notion of individual Christians making individual converts. The idea of individual followers of Jesus bearing individual testimony through individual friendships is still western and incomplete. Jesus’ command is for the whole called-out community of his followers to be the testimony that has transformational Holy Spirit impact on entire ethno-linguistic communities. It’s not just the character of individuals that bear testimony, but also the character of the community.

I highly recommend works by Darrow Miller on “discipling nations,” and works by Rolland Muller on bearing communal testimony.

When I think of some famous conversions to Christ, some come quickly to mind:

The malefactor on the cross next to Jesus who – in the moment before his death met the soon to be risen Christ. What did Christ tell him? “This day, you shall be with me in paradise.”

The power of Christ’s conversion of the Roman soldier at the foot of the cross comes second to mind, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Now, that is truly a powerful and convicting statement. If I translate it correctly Jesus was not just talking about those Roman soldiers – he was speaking about all of mankind, all of us sinners, “Father,forgive THEM, for they know not what they do.”

God wishes that none of us would perish and lose an eternal life with him – afterall, his whole purpose is relational:

And God said, “Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness…” In other words, relationships are such a good thing, wouldn’t it be even greater if, for all eternity, there would be a Heaven whereby a gjillion fire-side chats could be had with, encompassing all the lessons learned and to look forward to learning, from all the friends that we will have, forever, in our new heavenly bodies that are free from sin and the burden of the curse.

Carl, maybe that’d be a nice thread – “What, from your understanding of who Jesus is, do you expect to be doing in eternity, with him?”

But back to the idea of conversion. I think more people are converted to a belief when someone witnesses to someone else through their actions, as with the Samaritan
example. Actions speak more heavenly than words and I think there is a whole lot to say about the simple little song I learned when I was young: “They’ll know you’re a Christian by your love.” A lot of people would argue that – “unless, in the name of Christ, you lead them down the Roman road and ask them if they have turned their life over to Jesus, shared a confession of faith, etc. etc.” to that I give a resounding “aikes!”

God is not a mathematical formuala and Jesus is not an empirical solution to be captured on a conversion card.
God is love and as such is not susceptible of explanation by fixed formula. Ok, I took liberty with Patton’s quote on “war is an art and….” But, profoundly, each person, in my humble opinion, was specifically in the time and place in which they were born into this world and – in the manner and time in which they leave it – destined to be a witness to someone else – and not with their prefabricated Roman-road, pocket carried conversion cards.

Maybe the best conversion comes after (as it was true at the time Christians were being used as candles in Roman festivals) witnessing the bravery these human candles demonstrated in their agonizing deaths.

Actually, I could write a book and go on-and-on about this subject forever because I truly think it is woven deep in our hearts to want to understand – just what it is that makes people, in these times of worldwide terrorism, in the name of God – tick and not go boom. What is it that allows, for instance, Greg Mortenson – who wrote Three Cups of Tea, continue in his mission of peace for 16 years in the Afghan/Pak region – to build schools, primarily for girls in those regions; and, on the other hand, makes others want to destroy those very same schools?

Ultimatley, I do not think we have the power to convert people. At best, we can appreciate and give thanks that in some small way God may use us as a useful vessel in order to complete his plan, mentioned before, of building an Eternity – predicated on relationships, and that he sees us as suitable for contributing to that task.

Would the people you encounter each day desire to drinking tea, on occassion, with you in Heaven? I mean, not everyday of course – there’ll be billions of people there, plenty to see and do and many experiences to build and share on – but, are you one of those that will enliven that experience?

I think Saul – the persecutor of Jews who became Paul – an emissary of Christ Jesus – looked upon the memory of Stephen’s parting and final words with comfort as he, himself, faced certain execution later in his ministry:
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”

What an interesting time in Heaven those two must have had when, again, they met.

To me, it was not – alone – the incredible history, testimony and understandings of Jesus that impressed about Stephen’s testimony before he was stoned but the manner in which he prayed for his “enemies.”

Paul would later say, “To live is Christ, to die is gain.”

Lastly, for me, there is nothing more beautifully convicting than what Jesus said to his desciples shortly before he would be captured, tried and executed:

“In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of GOOD CHEER, for I have overcome the world.” His exclamation point on the conquering of sin and death on the cross:
“it is finished.” Says it all for me.

God’s relational plan, from the beginning, had woven those words, at that moment, perfectly into his grand plan – whereby, even if it was just for me, got this little sheep to be more Bobby McFerrin-ish, i.e. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

Fear must be cast out in order for the hope of Christ, as the examples above hopefully illustrate, can be felt. That is simply impossible and an insane proposition for anyone simply trying to solve the world’s problems – without a cosmic sense; whereby, politics simply fall woefully short. Though, thankfully, through Christ, I do not despair of.