Erik's Blog

I read these words by Eugene Peterson, inspired by the reflection of the writer Annie Dillard, on what it means to be a Witness:

The premier biblical witness, John the Baptist, said, "He must increase, bit I must decrease." The witness does not call attention to itself; what it points to is more important. Being takes presedence over using, explaining, possessing…  Witness is a modest word saying what is there, honestly testifying to exactly what we see, what we hear.

But when we enlist in a cause, it is almost impossible to do it right: we embellish, we fill in the blanks, we varnish the dull passages, we gild the lilly just a little to hold the attention of our auditors… Important things are at stake - God, salvation - and we want so much to involve outsiders in these awesome realities that we leave the humble ground of Witness and use our words to influence and motivate, to advertise and publicise. Then we are no longer witnesses, but lawyers arguing a case, not always with scrupulous attention to detail. After all, life and death issues are before the jury.   

Are we willing to be Witnesses - simply and honestly testifying to exactly what we see and hear? Are we willing to let our lives be a Witness, pointing to the One who is more important than us? Are we willing to be honest with the details, even if those details look a little unattractive, or offensive, or politically incorrect? Without apology or compromise, I want to be a faithful Witness to the One who always courts controversy and intrigue.