The Witness From Peace

“What matters is not the size or numbers claimed by churches, but rather the quality of witness demonstrated by Christians in their particular circumstances.”

“…then I became in his eyes as one who found peace.”


Greetings Friend.

My last letter to you was three months ago. Time continues on, and, as it does, we move closer to that day when we will both enter the grave and God’s presence. How we spend our time till then matters. I hope your heart has been well, and I hope God’s heavenly and temporal blessings have been abundant. If we have Christ, then we are rich beyond all the world’s treasure and our future is secure.


The two quotes above may appear an odd combination. The first comes from a church history book I recently read call The Lost History of Christianity by Philip Jenkins (2008). It covers certain historical elements of the Eastern Church, in Africa and Asia, and what lead to its decline and death. Islam was a key component, but not the only component. The author highlights a critical truth that you and I must, I think, always keep in mind: that we ourselves play a central role in the preservation and promotion of our faith during our time in history; our personal faith and that of the unified Christian voice in our society, country and world. If the quality of our faith witness is poor, then the quality of the unified voice is diminished. I’m concerned that we as individuals do not fully appreciate this responsibility or the consequences.


The other quote is from Song of Solomon 8:10. I used just part of the verse. If this verse reveals a truth, then can I, and do I, truly experience it? Can God see me as one who has truly found peace? Can I believe that? What would the nature of such peace have to be? What would my life have to exhibit? Given all I know about myself, how could I ever claim such a thing as this? It seems pure fantasy, yet scripture affirms it. And you my friend, could you now, or in some imagined future, acknowledge such a thing yourself? Perhaps we need different eyes for seeing, perhaps a different object to behold, or maybe a different understanding of God and peace. I have become fully convinced that this position regarding peace is truly obtainable and living it is God’s desire. God longs to see us as those—in His eyes—who have found and know peace. I want to develop this line of thought more fully in another letter.


Also, these two quotes struck me as actually addressing the same thing: the quality of my witness of God and Christ to the world (regardless of the Church’s size and influence) hinges on and stems from my relation to and with God. And, while this statement sounds common place, what lifts it above a common standing is the notion of the witness being grounded in a relation with God where I know He knows that “I truly am” one who has found peace. “I know that He knows that I have found peace.” Witness originating from this place, dear friend, will be what God wants others to hear and will be a preservative for the church throughout time.


I hope to write more on this soon. God’s best to you.