Why “CONFESSION” Is Not Enough

I have been amazed at how the “Testimony” of some people seems to be all that is needed to convince a group of people of some declared “Truth” with no or little evidence. I think we used to be more objective in our beliefs and persuasion but now we seem to be captivated by any strange idea or accusation. Maybe it’s because we are so used to “Instant” information with our technology that we no longer have the time or patience to “Verify” before we develop an opinion.

I remember growing up as a kid and my parents loved the TV series “Perry Mason” where a lawyer would uncover some hidden fact about a case going to trial. There was all this drama about sorting through multiple testimonies and witnesses to try to get down to the real facts about someone’s guilt or innocence. Today, people have a sound bite from some news outlet and all of a sudden they have formed opinions about a person or event and they refuse to budge from those feelings and beliefs regardless of what is discovered down the road in an investigation. Whereas we used to watch the nightly news for reporting on events and facts with some degree of accuracy we now are told what to believe based on the so-called reporters personal points of view. What the viewing audience is not told it the bias of the news outlet and the crafting of information to reflect a forgone conclusion whether it’s true or not.  It has become very hard to know truth from fiction anymore when it comes to the news.

When Moses was being commissioned to go back to Egypt to free the Jewish people he hesitated taking the job because he didn’t think the Jewish people would believe God sent him.  Look at what God say will convince them and how God says words are not enough. Facts are needed to justify any statement.

Exodus 4:1-8                                                                                                                                                                 

Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’” [2] The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.” [3] Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. [4] But the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grasp it by its tail”—so he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— [5] “that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

[6] The LORD furthermore said to him, “Now put your hand into your bosom.” So he put his hand into his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. [7] Then He said, “Put your hand into your bosom again.” So he put his hand into his bosom again, and when he took it out of his bosom, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. [8] “If they will not believe you or heed the witness of the first sign, they may believe the witness of the last sign. 

God takes ordinary things in Moses’ life and uses them “Supernaturally” as “Evidence” to back up the claim that God indeed sent him. Even with these facts, Moses had a hard time convincing the Jewish people because of the pain being caused by the pharaohs. Often times “Pain” can blind the hearers from the real facts which prevents them from discerning what is real or imaginary.

Exodus 25:16                                                                                                                                                                  

“You shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.

Next, God uses the Arc of the Covenant that held the ten commandments tablets as the Arc of “Testimony“. In other words, it was God providing a tangible thing to prove to future generations that God did what the scriptures say he did. Today, God still uses “Evidence” that verifies the claims in the scriptures. Countless testimonies have been given over the centuries to back up the claims of Christ. True, some people will not receive these testimonies but it is not due to a lack of evidence but rather a hard heart unwilling to consider the facts.

Exodus 23:2                                                                                                                                                                             

You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice; 

God was very specific about how important honest and accurate testimony is when verifying a claim of wrong doing. If the testimony is discovered to be biased and false then great harm would be done to the person giving false testimony. Consider if our justice system used this same rule of law today. Those who testify falsely would get the same punishment they intended on those they testified against. People have testified  about murder and rape falsely and sent people to jail who were innocent but were never put in jail themselves once the truth came out.

Deuteronomy 19:18-21                                                                                                                                                             

The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely, [19] then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you. [20] “The rest will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among you. [21] “Thus you shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

How often have people used the later portion of this verse “Eye for and eye and tooth for a tooth” falsely. In context, this was about showing true justice and fairness in legal cases. People twist this scripture all the time to justify their own wishes and thus make God out to look like an unjust judge of humanity.

Finally, Jesus uses the importance of facts to justify testimony in his own life.

John 5:36                                                                                                                                                                          

But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me. 

The same requirements God gave us in scripture about fair judgment He applies to himself. The next time you are ready to accept an accusation against another, whether it be against a friend or an enemy, try to step back and see what “evidence” comes out to either contradict the testimony heard or reinforce it. In the book of James we receive sound advice when it comes to responding to what people tell us.

James 1:19-21                                                                                                                                                                  

My dear brothers and sisters, always be willing to listen and slow to speak. Do not become angry easily, [20] because anger will not help you live the right kind of life God wants. [21] So put out of your life every evil thing and every kind of wrong. Then in gentleness accept God’s teaching that is planted in your hearts, which can save you.

Questions:

1) Have you been guilty of judging others without knowing the facts? Confess to God (1 John 1:9)

2) Have you judged someone wrongly and yet not apologized to them? Confess to them (James 6:16)

May the Holy Spirit help us to keep short accounts.

Pastor Dale