We Are Witnesses

Taken from 1 Thessalonians 2:10-13 in the Contemporary English Version; verses are below.

Lost people will be fooled by his evil deeds. They could be saved, but they will refuse to love the truth and accept it. So God will make sure they are fooled into believing a lie. All of them will be punished, because they would rather do evil than believe the truth.

My friends, the Lord loves you, and it is only natural for us to thank God for you. God chose you to be the first ones to be saved. His Spirit made you holy, and you put your faith in the truth. 

Most of you know that I a Miami Heat fan, from the days of Tim Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning, and more so since that epic 2006 playoff run when Dwyane Wade carried the team to its first NBA title. Although LeBron took his talents to South Beach four summers ago, sports fans remember the "We Are Witnesses" t-shirts Nike made during his Cleveland Cavaliers days and the famous pregame ritual which he rubs his hands in powder, claps to make a cloud, and the crowd would go wild. As those Cavs fans were for those seven seasons of triumph and heartbreaks - and thankfully, my Heat for the past four years - we are witnesses to greatness. Just as the media heaps pressure upon him, people in (and out) the church have an expectation of us concerning behaviors, obligations, and commandments. Are we caving to the outside world, or working under a unified message?

Five points come from this message: 1)Realize we are witnesses; 2)Move quickly to teach the ways; 3)Live like your words and actions carry the weight intended; 4)Perform due diligence; and 5) Understand some people are here to hate on you. Don't let them break you.

I. Realize we are witnesses. There are few tasks in Christianity greater than seeing it and being able to tell it, so spread the word. It doesn't sound terribly difficult, yet people tend to keep their mouths shut in fear of what others may think. If they talked about Jesus, why do you think you are untouchable? The responsibility is to stick to the message as closely as possible with deviation. Paul further specifies that our witness is fair, impartial, and such that we live the way we say we do. Simple enough, until we stray.

II. Move quickly to teach the ways. Again, I am using a sports analogy. The Patriot Way means everyone is held accountable and there is a unified front; a controlled message is easier to manage than one in which the organization has to distance itself from one bad apple. A few years ago, New England brought in a very controversial wide receiver because his on-field talents were considered vital toward another Super Bowl title. Sadly, he never understood the playbook and was unceremoniously released at the end of that season as a result of his inability to learn quickly. Like the coach, a team that buys into winning concepts as defined by leadership tends to be more productive. In real life, our parents/grandparents/legal guardians are highly recommended to teach right from wrong in addition to the steps ordered by God. By catching the young while their impressionable minds are still spongy, they are able to walk worthy of the Lord (Colossians 1:10).

III. Live like your words and actions carry the intended weight. It would be hard to believe a pastor who preaches against fornication if every time you see him, he's walking out the cat house smelling like a good time. Ditto for us. While we all are sinners, we need to continuously strive for perfection - and not put ourselves in a compromising positon that can cause confusion. You never know, that little bit of confusion may be enough to drive someone away for good! Therefore, we are witnesses to what is being taught; it is privy to get the message out there and keep it 100. There is enough fiction out there (reality shows, Fox News, most rappers' careers) to throw us off the ball. Keep a laser focus on the task at hand. 

IV. Perform due diligence. God has called us into fellowship with Jesus Christ; He didn't intend for us to go it alone. As 1 Corinthians 1:9 states, God is faithful to those who peep game to His instructions. Obviously, studying the Bible is critical toward due diligence; however, not everyone will open a book. Our lifestyle is a better indicator of our witness than standing on the corner of University and Asher street preaching all day only to run off for a nip of Seagrams. A fake life only deters from the actual job we have. 

V. Haters gon' hate. Because we are witnesses to God's everlasting word, we are not only expected to abide by the teachings, but also be prepared for the criticisms coming. This is why we study daily and pray for understanding. My booksmarts may not always get the job done since I may lack a sense of worldliness which could lead me to being hurt. Know that the haters gon' hate, and this is a shame. It's coming - there is a season for it - so get ready. Psalm 22:6-8 reminds us that we will be talked about, have our names falsely dragged through the mud, derisively called names like "goody-two shoes" and "straight-arrow". When we come around, all some folks will do is laugh at us, insult us, or even shake their judgmental heads. If Jesus was talked about, what makes us think we are immune? The taunts are part of our witnessing testimonies; if we never dealt with adversity, then how can I tell you to keep fighting through the mess?

As He was crucified to that cross, Jesus endured more pain that most of us can ever imagine although being black in America comes close. He was stripped, beaten to a pulp, his clothes were gambled for, mocked as the King of the Jews, taunted, hit with rocks and stuff, and so forth. Those Jews were witnesses to bad behavior, and surely some did not care until it was too late while others followed the crowds as dumb lemmings. What kind fo witnesses are we today? Do we float with the things in vogue, or are we sticking to our guns?