Life On the Witness Stand
Part Three
Other than being interrupted, distracted, and limited by the objections raised by opposing counsel, direct examination of a testifying witness in court is generally easier than the cross examination that follows.
When speaking from a pulpit within a local assembly, pastors are not (usually) interrupted or have to compete with others for the attention of the congregation.
But this is not always the case when out in a public setting (1).
It is by no coincidence that just when an advancing disciple is making progress presenting the unadulterated Gospel Message or an edifying principle of Scripture, that a third party comes along and unwittingly or knowingly impedes the interaction.
In addition to the overt objections that can interrupt the flow and concentration of a witness during direct examination, opposing counsel will take note of every word spoken that might be used later on during cross-examination, to undermine the credibility of the witness, and or the credibility of the testimony he or she provides.
The devil will bring to mind any areas of weakness that His spokesperson may have had, in an attempt to distract the focus of attention away from the message and onto the messenger.
You will know that the devil has succeeded when the recipient’s response to the truth of the message is, “Who are you, he, or she, to be preaching to me…”.
The truth is the truth and a lie is a lie, no matter who speaks it.
When the Ephesians 6: 12 forces of evil perceive that the truth is getting through and that they have no sound argument with which to counterattack, they do the best they can, to shift the focus of attention away from the message, and on to the messenger.
During cross examination, both the integrity of the witness and the credibility of his or her testimony can come under attack. Many times, the same question will be asked in different ways, in an attempt to uncover what at least appears to be, some inconsistency in a witness’s testimony.
Opposing counsel will do all that the judge allows to rattle the cage of the witness, hoping to get a negative reaction that will not go unnoticed by the jury. By the time it’s over, the witness can be made to feel that it is he or she is the one who is on trial.
This takes place during the daily testimony of an advancing disciple, as well.
There are those out there, inside and outside of the Christian Community, who “live for the day” to see an advancing disciple (often erroneously perceived to have a holier than Thou attitude) fall flat on his or her face.
In truth, advancing disciples are the humblest of believers, having no illusions about their past or their present struggles with their own areas of weakness.
From time to time, being human, even the most devoted believer will fail. Peter, with all sincerity, stated that he would lay down his life for the Lord, but within hours would deny him three times, claiming that he didn’t even know Jesus (2).
Peter was in fear of losing his freedom, and perhaps even his life. Sad to say, but many “Christians” decline to be a witness for Christ for a whole lot less (3).
Past sins, that have been confessed and forsaken, do not disqualify or excuse one from participating in the plan of God. If it did, there would be no one left to stand behind a pulpit or to be seated in the congregation.
At the same time, present, unconfessed, unforsaken, and ongoing sin compromises one’s own walk with the Lord, and his or her effectiveness to minister (serve) others. This is especially true, if the sin has become a lifestyle, or when it involves a believer in a position of leadership. “For the good of the order,” backsliding believers who are in a position of leadership in the local assembly should step down UNTIL such matters are resolved (4).
Unfortunately, husbands and parents (who are in positions of spiritual authority and leadership) do not have this option of stepping down. Some will use their failures as an excuse not to address similar sins in the lives of their children.
Believers place themselves on a slippery slope when they choose to make issues or gossip over a past sin that God has forgiven and the sinner has forsaken. They shouldn’t be surprised when they find themselves in the need of forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration.
I do not recommend that a trip to the wild side of life be a prerequisite for parenting or ministerial ordination. But the truth is that some of the greatest sinners have later become some of the greatest saints (5).
Many believers return to their “stomping grounds” as chaplains, having an “in road” into an otherwise closed environment that others do not have.
Christians that “have been there and done that,” can speak from a position of having made negative choices, experienced the consequences, but repented and recovered (6). They can be used of God, as living examples, to reach out to the lost and weary people who have embraced the same type of sin, and have been deceived into thinking that they are beyond forgiveness and recovery.
Being prepared is what sets the stage for giving an effective unspoken and spoken testimony. Like a runner in a torch-relay race, a born-again believer can not pass along to others, the unadulterated Gospel Message or an edifying principle of Scripture that he or she has not first taken possession of for himself, or herself.
In order to walk the walk as well as one talks the talk, mere possession of the unadulterated Gospel Message and accurate Bible Doctrine is NOT enough. It must be applied to oneself first, and then shared with others (7). If one does not walk the walk as well as he or she talks the talk, the credibility of one’s unspoken and spoken testimony WILL not only be compromised, but will be used to promote the legitimate accusations of hypocrisy that the devil and his spokespersons make against the Christian Community at large (8). I
t is the consistency with the application of accurate Bible Doctrine, that is seen in the daily walk with God of an advancing disciple, that sets the stage for his or her opportunities to participate in the Great Commission.
It is the inconsistency with the application of accurate Bible Doctrine that impedes or eliminates such opportunities.
Nothing is worse than to see someone wearing crosses, T-shirts, caps, bumper stickers, or other “Christian” paraphernalia whose conduct, speech, and actions are clearly inconsistent with Scripture.
In closing, if the concept of participating in the Great Commission is new to you, consider this presentation to be a divine subpoena, and a call to get prepared to testify. You have been served.
_________
(1) Acts 16: 16 – 18 (2) Luke 2: 33, 57 – 60 (3) Luke 9: 26 (4) 1John 9: 1/ John 8: 11 (5) 1Tim. 1: 15 (6) 1Cor. 6: 9 - 11 (7) James 1: 22 (8) Rev. 12: 10
Part Three
Other than being interrupted, distracted, and limited by the objections raised by opposing counsel, direct examination of a testifying witness in court is generally easier than the cross examination that follows.
When speaking from a pulpit within a local assembly, pastors are not (usually) interrupted or have to compete with others for the attention of the congregation.
But this is not always the case when out in a public setting (1).
It is by no coincidence that just when an advancing disciple is making progress presenting the unadulterated Gospel Message or an edifying principle of Scripture, that a third party comes along and unwittingly or knowingly impedes the interaction.
In addition to the overt objections that can interrupt the flow and concentration of a witness during direct examination, opposing counsel will take note of every word spoken that might be used later on during cross-examination, to undermine the credibility of the witness, and or the credibility of the testimony he or she provides.
The devil will bring to mind any areas of weakness that His spokesperson may have had, in an attempt to distract the focus of attention away from the message and onto the messenger.
You will know that the devil has succeeded when the recipient’s response to the truth of the message is, “Who are you, he, or she, to be preaching to me…”.
The truth is the truth and a lie is a lie, no matter who speaks it.
When the Ephesians 6: 12 forces of evil perceive that the truth is getting through and that they have no sound argument with which to counterattack, they do the best they can, to shift the focus of attention away from the message, and on to the messenger.
During cross examination, both the integrity of the witness and the credibility of his or her testimony can come under attack. Many times, the same question will be asked in different ways, in an attempt to uncover what at least appears to be, some inconsistency in a witness’s testimony.
Opposing counsel will do all that the judge allows to rattle the cage of the witness, hoping to get a negative reaction that will not go unnoticed by the jury. By the time it’s over, the witness can be made to feel that it is he or she is the one who is on trial.
This takes place during the daily testimony of an advancing disciple, as well.
There are those out there, inside and outside of the Christian Community, who “live for the day” to see an advancing disciple (often erroneously perceived to have a holier than Thou attitude) fall flat on his or her face.
In truth, advancing disciples are the humblest of believers, having no illusions about their past or their present struggles with their own areas of weakness.
From time to time, being human, even the most devoted believer will fail. Peter, with all sincerity, stated that he would lay down his life for the Lord, but within hours would deny him three times, claiming that he didn’t even know Jesus (2).
Peter was in fear of losing his freedom, and perhaps even his life. Sad to say, but many “Christians” decline to be a witness for Christ for a whole lot less (3).
Past sins, that have been confessed and forsaken, do not disqualify or excuse one from participating in the plan of God. If it did, there would be no one left to stand behind a pulpit or to be seated in the congregation.
At the same time, present, unconfessed, unforsaken, and ongoing sin compromises one’s own walk with the Lord, and his or her effectiveness to minister (serve) others. This is especially true, if the sin has become a lifestyle, or when it involves a believer in a position of leadership. “For the good of the order,” backsliding believers who are in a position of leadership in the local assembly should step down UNTIL such matters are resolved (4).
Unfortunately, husbands and parents (who are in positions of spiritual authority and leadership) do not have this option of stepping down. Some will use their failures as an excuse not to address similar sins in the lives of their children.
Believers place themselves on a slippery slope when they choose to make issues or gossip over a past sin that God has forgiven and the sinner has forsaken. They shouldn’t be surprised when they find themselves in the need of forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration.
I do not recommend that a trip to the wild side of life be a prerequisite for parenting or ministerial ordination. But the truth is that some of the greatest sinners have later become some of the greatest saints (5).
Many believers return to their “stomping grounds” as chaplains, having an “in road” into an otherwise closed environment that others do not have.
Christians that “have been there and done that,” can speak from a position of having made negative choices, experienced the consequences, but repented and recovered (6). They can be used of God, as living examples, to reach out to the lost and weary people who have embraced the same type of sin, and have been deceived into thinking that they are beyond forgiveness and recovery.
Being prepared is what sets the stage for giving an effective unspoken and spoken testimony. Like a runner in a torch-relay race, a born-again believer can not pass along to others, the unadulterated Gospel Message or an edifying principle of Scripture that he or she has not first taken possession of for himself, or herself.
In order to walk the walk as well as one talks the talk, mere possession of the unadulterated Gospel Message and accurate Bible Doctrine is NOT enough. It must be applied to oneself first, and then shared with others (7). If one does not walk the walk as well as he or she talks the talk, the credibility of one’s unspoken and spoken testimony WILL not only be compromised, but will be used to promote the legitimate accusations of hypocrisy that the devil and his spokespersons make against the Christian Community at large (8). I
t is the consistency with the application of accurate Bible Doctrine, that is seen in the daily walk with God of an advancing disciple, that sets the stage for his or her opportunities to participate in the Great Commission.
It is the inconsistency with the application of accurate Bible Doctrine that impedes or eliminates such opportunities.
Nothing is worse than to see someone wearing crosses, T-shirts, caps, bumper stickers, or other “Christian” paraphernalia whose conduct, speech, and actions are clearly inconsistent with Scripture.
In closing, if the concept of participating in the Great Commission is new to you, consider this presentation to be a divine subpoena, and a call to get prepared to testify. You have been served.
_________
(1) Acts 16: 16 – 18 (2) Luke 2: 33, 57 – 60 (3) Luke 9: 26 (4) 1John 9: 1/ John 8: 11 (5) 1Tim. 1: 15 (6) 1Cor. 6: 9 - 11 (7) James 1: 22 (8) Rev. 12: 10