Are We Good Witnesses for God?

The vast majority of us will not die a martyr’s death. In fact, most of us will live to an old age. This is both a blessing and a heavy responsibility. The longer we live, the more our life is on display for others to judge. The blessing comes only if we are good witnesses for God.

The Lord said to the Jews who came to him: “I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of the Father who sent me. If I bear witness to myself, my testimony is not true; there is another who bears witness to me, and I know that the testimony which he bears to me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony which I receive is from man; but I say this that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has granted me to accomplish, these very works which I am doing, bear me witness that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen; and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe him whom he has sent. You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me; yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from men. But I know that you have not the love of God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; it is Moses who accuses you, on whom you set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased.

John 5:30-47; 6:1-2

Today’s Gospel lesson is about witnesses for Christ. Saint John the Baptist was a witness for Christ. Christ was a witness for Himself. Even the Father and the Holy Spirit were witnesses for God. Along with the early martyrs and disciples of Christ, all were good witnesses for God.

What makes a good witness? First and foremost a witness must be credible. It doesn’t matter if the witness speaks the truth if there is no credibility in the witness. The credibility of any witness rests mainly on whether the life of the witness has been respectable. We trust respectable.

A witness who lives a respectable life in one area is more likely to be respected in other areas. Likewise, a witness who lies in one area is more likely to be lying in another. That is how our Christian life comes into play. If our life doesn’t reflect Christ, we are not credible witnesses.

How we treat others and how we act in private or public, all affect our credibility as witnesses for God. We remember during Holy Week that ‘false witnesses’ were brought in to accuse Christ. If our life is a betrayal of Christ, then we are false witnesses no better than the Pharisees.

Since none of us can live perfect and sinless lives, the best credibility we have as witnesses is our repentance. When we allow others to see our repentance we gain credibility. When they see our devotion to ‘getting it right’ even after we mess things up, we gain credibility for God.

Repentance is our willingness to admit that our life must change. Something, sometimes many things, about our life may not be consistent with God’s will. Being a credible witness for God means admitting our faults and striving for Godly lives. The stiving is what makes us credible.

When others hear that we believe something to be true, and then see our lives striving to live according to that same truth, we are credible witnesses. The witnesses in today’s Gospel lesson, from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the early Church are all credible.

The only thing that remains is our credibility. Are we good witnesses for God? Will others believe what we say about God? Time will tell. For our part, we can only focus on our repentance, and let God handle the rest.