From: Dawsonzhu@aol.com
Date: Sun Apr 13 2003 - 09:15:53 EDT
Don wrote in his final comments:
> If we can't come up with a convincing witness to the activity of God in the
> world, the best alternative would be a powerful witness to the work of God
> in our lives. But this would all be spiritual and of necessity personal.
> Who would believe?
>
I would think that no witness is 100% sure, even one's
own personal experience, which is probably the most persuasive
for oneself. The problem is that you can always ask if it was just
chance, if it was just a dream, that there may be a natural explanation
for event X, etc. That is even more true as you have more and
more scientific training. You might say that it is an occupational
hazard of being a scientist.
For example, I won't insist on a literal reading of the Exodus, but
regardless of your take on the historicity of the events purported
in the text, you look at the response of the Jews to all the miracles
they were purported to have witnessed. In a short time they quickly
doubted. Certainly such miracles (or even some small fraction of
that if factual) would have been incredible and it seems hard to imagine
how anyone could doubt ever again (at least those who personally
witnessed the events), but they did.
So I am somewhat doubtful that "evidence" will persuade anyone
per se. Of course if I touch a hot stove I learn that the result is
not so pleasant, but if we're talking this kind of "evidence," then
clearly there is no need for faith. But if I curse God right here,
I would offend some people, but I think I can predict that little
would change for me. In fact, if I didn't go to church I'd be free
on Sunday. There is little chance of any lightning bolts striking
me and any that did come by chance would have a physical explanation
anyway. How much less would I be moved by purported "evidence"
which doesn't have any claim on me if I doubt it? I'd just insist that
there must be a "natural explanation," and most probably there would
be.
I suspect that the only witness that counts for anything is how I
actually live my life. Every part of it. And it is only by God's
unfathomable Grace, that any of us live it right. Our lives are the
best (more likely the worst) testament that we will ever have. But
the first step is at least to admit that we are sinners and we need
God's Grace to live right.
by Grace alone we proceed,
Wayne
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