Witnesses | Wayfarer

This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
2 Corinthians 13:1 (NIV)

“Did you know…?” the voice asked on the other end of the phone.

Then spewed a long litany of salacious and slanderous allegations regarding someone on my team. The accusations were dripping with self-righteous condemnation. The tid-bits of gossip likely had some hints of truth to them. But the news, however true, were events in the past. It had nothing to do with me, our team, or the current state of what we needed to accomplish. What did seem clear to me was that the accuser had an agenda to tear the accused down.

And, believe me, I know what it feels like to stand in the accused’s Michael Jordans. I have been the object of public and slanderous lies intended to diminish me for the sake of the accuser’s selfish advantage. It’s a tactic as old as humanity itself, and it perpetuates because A) human nature hasn’t changed and B) it works.

Wendy and I have recently read multiple news articles that have been tracking the stories of individuals accused of sexual harassment during the wave of the #metoo movement a few years ago. It’s messy because the truth is that we live in a world in which individuals truly do use their power to sexually victimize others. Believe me, I’ve been surrounded by women my entire life and I know their stories. At the same time, amidst the many true and well-documented cases of sexual harassment and abuse you’ll find many false accusations that were not true or well-documented. The accusations alone ruined careers and lives because we live in a world in which a well-placed and well-timed accusation is often all that it takes. The human herd follows the accusation and tramples the accused underfoot.

In today’s final chapter, Paul preps the believers in Corinth for his third personal visit to the city. He is the one who has been slandered and accused by others seeking to diminish him for the gain of others. Paul begins his closing statements by quoting a matter of Jewish law. Paul was a well-educated and trained attorney in Jewish law, and Jewish Law since the time of Moses established that accusations required two or three corroborating witnesses. Paul was not about to play the game of condemnation by accusation, and he states this directly.

Likewise, I have learned along my life journey to be hesitant and discerning when others spew slanderous accusations at others. This is especially true in very public and political circumstances, but even in very personal circumstances it’s easy to get carried away with the herd. I have found it wise to quietly ask myself some hard questions before reacting or responding, including the one to which Paul refers.

Is this the accusation or slander of one potentially angry or spiteful individual toward another individual, or are there two-to-three others who can testify?
Why am I being told this accusation at all? Does it truly affect me or things for which I am responsible, or is it just gossip?
Is this an issue of legality, morality, or propriety?
Is there a history or pattern of animosity between the accuser and the accused?
Does the accuser stand to benefit from the diminishment or public condemnation of the accused, even just malicious self-satisfaction?

As I take the time to ponder these questions and others to which they lead, I typically find myself guided to wisdom regarding how I should respond.

Paul is hoping that his friends in Corinth will be similarly led to wisdom regarding the accusations that have been made about him.

Tomorrow: Philemon 1

If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.

These chapter-a-day blog posts are also available via podcast on all major podcast platforms including Apple, Google, and Spotify! Simply go to your podcast platform and search for “Wayfarer Tom Vander Well.” If it’s not on your platform, please let me know!

The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over [the two dead prophets] and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
Revelation 11:10 (NIV)

I have been a follower of Jesus for just over 40 years, a period of time which is used in the Great Story as the number of years in a generation. So, I have spent time over the past couple of years pondering the changes I’ve observed in our society and our culture in one generation. In some ways, the changes seem startling to me.

A generation ago, I watched as Christian fundamentalists with groups like the Moral Majority and the Christian Coalition sought to force their religious doctrines on society through political power. What I observed in those days was that a judeo-christian world view was foundational in society around me. Virtually ever kid I knew grew up going to church of some kind. It was just what you did.

A generation later, I find it ironic to observe what I would consider woke fundamentalists who are seeking to force their doctrinal world-view on society through political power. Major institutions of media, business, and academia are offering full support. Meanwhile, my own local gathering of Jesus’ disciples has grown in the last couple of decades, not because new followers are joining the ranks but because so many other churches are dying and closing their doors. Churches are being burned and attacked, social media posts call for violence against Christians.

These are things that I would have never have believed would happen in one generation, just 40 years ago.

In today’s chapter, the interlude between the sixth and seventh “trumpet judgments” continues. Two prophets, or “witnesses” are raised up. They echo the ancient prophet Elijah whose prayers shut-off the rains and brought fire down from the heavens.

It’s important to remember that the picture John’s visions create is an Earth in which there are a mere 144,000 followers of God who are sealed and protected through this time of tribulation. Where are all the followers of Jesus? John’s Revelation does not seem to address this, though the letters of the apostles speak of a “rapture” of God’s people in which they are suddenly and unexpectedly snatched up to heaven in the twinkling of an eye. This leaves the rest of the Earth’s inhabitants who are described as unrepentantly anti-God. Therefore, when the two prophets are killed, the world celebrates their deaths and gloats over their bodies. People throw parties to feast the end of God’s messengers.

In the quiet this morning, I once again find myself pondering the changes I’ve observed in one generation. I could not fathom the anger, hatred, and calls for violence that I witness on both ends of the socio-political spectrum. Though, given the gross failings of institutional churches that I touched on in yesterday’s post, I can certainly empathize with those who were victimized and are crying out in anger.

There are mornings on this chapter-a-day journey when I feel as if I am left with more questions than answers; Mornings when I am more perplexed than inspired. I’ve come to believe that this is not a bad thing. The Twelve who followed Jesus in the flesh for three years were still confused and scratching their heads the night before He was crucified and the day He rose from the dead. Why should I be any different? Along my journey I’ve found that it is often the long stretches of pondering good questions that ultimately lead to new depths of spiritual understanding.

So, two thoughts I continue to ponder as I enter my day today:

First, it would be easy for me to over-dramatize the changes I’ve witnessed in a generation and conclude that the end-times are near. I don’t know that. The pendulum of socio-political thought swings back and forth sending individuals on either side of the spectrum into doomsday thoughts and predictions. What I have observed in the last forty years helps me to appreciate how the events and anti-God attitudes in John’s vision could, indeed, be possible, but that doesn’t equate to thinking they are probable in the near turn.

Second, the pendulum of social, cultural, political and religious thought does often swing back and forth. Some would argue that it is currently doing so. The social and political upheaval of the 60s ushered in a period of rebellion, violence, sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll. The 70s then experienced a “Jesus People” movement when many people found themselves aimless and empty, searching for spiritual answers. I consider it possible that a generation of young children who are being asked to question fundamental biological truths about themselves (when they don’t even have the vocabulary or cognitive ability to process it) may very well find themselves confused about their identity and longing for a strong spiritual foothold to help them make sense out of life. This might even lead to a spiritual revival.

I’m posting this much later than norma this morning because I’ve been pondering how best to conclude. I’m still not sure, so I’m just going to leave it here, continuing to ponder.

If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.