Witness

Disciples frequently use the term "witness" to describe their sharing of Christian faith in word and deed. One may wonder how it is possible to be a witness regarding a matter that is spiritual, unseen. Is this like witnessing a traffic accident? Or is it more like witnessing the effect of the wind blowing through the trees -- you don't see the wind, but you see the leaves moving? A professor of mine from years ago, the late Dr. Hubert W. Morrow, addressed this matter in his book The Covenant of Grace.

"Some may question how persons who did not see what happened, those who were not eyewitnesses to the Christ event, can in any sense be called witnesses. First, they can claim knowledge of the facts concerning this event on the basis of the written account of eyewitnesses, those whose testimony concerning the basic facts has stood through the centuries. Second, they can affirm from their own experience of the truth of what the eyewitnesses claimed God was saying and doing in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. They can also point to thousands of persons through the centuries who have risked their lives in order to give this testimony."

There is, then, the witness of that personal relationship with Christ which has a transforming effect on us. Not having yet seen physically, still we believe because of the experience of Christ in our own lives, an experience of divine grace, love, forgiveness, hope and joy. There is also the witness of sacred scripture which is authoritative for divine truth. And there is the faithful witness of Christians through the centuries, many of whom gave their lives for the truth of that witness. In this connection, Dr. Morrow observed, "Thus it was that the Greek word for witness, martus, acquired a new meaning and became the word we know as martyr."