But I Wasn’t There
March 7, 2025
I wasn’t there. So, please keep that in mind while reading this critique… and I am presuming you weren’t there, either. So, keep that in mind, also.
Now that I think about it, I should probably also say where the there is that I’m talking about, shouldn’t I?
It’s at this event:
Leeland — Way Maker (Official Live Video)
Not coincidentally, then, this essay is about credible witnesses…
Where do police investigations start? Looking for camera evidence and eyewitnesses. Right? But what happens when none of those are available? They look for hard evidence and circumstantial evidence.
With anything relating to God, Jesus, and the Bible, do we have a similar situation? We need evidence don’t we? We need such evidence, because I wasn’t there and neither were you… So then, any discussion we might initiate could only be speculative. Correct?
*****
This is what one witness has said, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands — this is the Word of life. And this is the life that was revealed; we have seen it and testified to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.” — 1 John 1:1–2, BSB.
Therefore, we do have the witness of the man, John. But how can we crossexamine John who has been dead for about 2,000 years? We have his written testimony to submit to the Court. Does John need a character witness?
I suppose it depends on who we ask. What I mean is how skeptical a person are you? (No offense, but if you are totally incredulous about God, Jesus, and the Bible, this might be a good place for you to leave off reading to go back to whatever productive work it was that you were doing.)
Besides ancient testimony, there are today’s disciples of Jesus — like the ones in the video.
Still, it seems we have a Hung Jury.
I think that this is a good place to talk specifically about that video (above) which I referenced. Nevertheless, besides their witness, there are many more videos like that on YouTube. This is one of my favorites: Talking To Jesus | Elevation Worship & Maverick City
So, it’s important that you view at least some of either video before reading on. I think if you do, you might more easily get my point.
Now, please understand my motivation is to counter those attacks by the many unbelieving critics who raise objections in prosecuting their side of the case with such claims as “Born Again Believers are mere ignorant sheep or puppets on strings. They act blindly and foolishly, following instructions of their puppeteers — raising their hands, babbling nonsense, shouting and carrying on, psyching themselves up into a frenzied display,”
Of course, I see it quite differently.
Still and all, because of that severe prejudiced view, I must point out that they cannot possibly understand or see the worshipers for who and what they are about — that is, the Believers’ sincerity and the dynamics of their expressiveness in worshiping the risen Jesus… I think it is due to the fact that they have too narrow of a view, as if they have blinders on.
This excerpt from the Bible might help explain such dissonance and disconnect between the Believers and the casual critics:
“…but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” — John 10:26–28, New International Version (NIV).
Those hyper-critics seem to confuse the metaphorical “sheep” with the metaphorical “lemmings.”
*****
Notwithstanding all of that, there is one more point I need to make.
Admittedly, I don’t know what exactly did or did not happen with the people at the time of those gatherings. However, the video of this assemblage does show that the attendees were very into the ideas behind the words and dedicated to praising God, whom they apparently know in some personal way.
If you did take the time to view the videos, looking at the audience definitely shows something is happening with them, and a casual glimpse will also show they are plain, ordinary people.
Still, the often antagonist’s question remains, “What exactly did happen?”
As for me, I do like the video, and do listen to many others like them, and do wish I had been there. It’s called “my predilection,” that is, I admit my prejudice, since I am a Born Again Bible Believing Christian, grateful to God for all Jesus has done in my life, and we certainly have our own testimony of our own personal experiences from God, Jesus and the Bible.
The Bible has this promise, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” — Matthew 18:20, New Living Translation (NLT).
I have no doubt that Jesus was actually there, in the concert, working among them, because I have been in such gatherings… and it is not just people psyching themselves up to get off on some kind of emotional high.
One of the verses actually illustrates the basis of Biblical faith, the idea which says, “Even when I don’t see that You’re working,You’re working.”
Further, aren’t there real events where you have to be in the group to get the full experience? If a person is not attending, they really have no basis for casting aversions. Haven’t you attended a variety of events? Isn’t it a lot different from watching it in a video or on TV?
Here is a metaphor I hope will bring some clarity: A fan of The Super Bowl Philadelphia Eagles ‘will have had a more total experience being in the stadium at the event than watching some old video of some other teams during the PreSeason.
Am I right or am I right?
Nevertheless, I worry that nothing that some people consider as miraculous actually happened at that time. Still, it was obvious to me that the people had already experienced the miracle of Jesus coming into their lives, and they were continuing to seek just a closer and a growing, dynamic relationship with Him.
Sara Evans — Just A Closer Walk With Thee
Perhaps people get hung up on the idea that miracles must be super exciting — the paralyzed walking, a person blind seeing, withered limbs restored, a child raised from the dead, returning to her mother’s arms…’ With Jesus ,we don’t need the spectacular or some out-of-body experience, because we have the inward, true to life experiences of interventions from God…
Someone pointed out to me that the greatest miracle of all is that new creation of the inner person whereby the old sinful nature is supplanted by the seed of the godly nature of Jesus Christ Himself!
This is a little off topic, but there is a concept in some accusations that does bother me. It’s regarding the error of endless repetition when petitioning God in prayer.
That is not what is happening in my illustration videos .
Nevertheless, there is an errant practice in some Christian sects, claiming if someone repeats often enough, especially some promise assumed to be in the Bible, God is obligated to fulfill our requests.
It is noteworthy that the repetitions are usually about getting wealthy.
This is the ridiculous “Name-It-and-Claim-It” mantra — which is a false and harmful teaching and replete with many pitfalls and disappointments which are then either projected on God — as if He is uncaring or otherwise to blame — or it becomes somehow the fault of the petitioner’s lack of “faith.”
That is why it is so harmful and discouraging.
Persistently asking, and seeking answers, and impatiently knocking on Jesus’ door to get His attention but maintaining the knowledge that God will always provide for our basic needs… That actually is the “formula” Jesus gives in the Bible It must be emphasized that those requests are far, far away above materialistic gains.
What makes the error an error is based on severely twisting this excerpt “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” — Matthew 7:7, NLT.
However, the key to prayer is what we are praying for, who we are praying for, and why we are praying in the first place.
So, there’s that.
You see, the songs that the two groups were singing had a lot of repeating and so was jumped on like a cougar on a horse’s back.
However, the accusation is baseless, because the singing is not an empty repetitive supplication. It is an acknowledgement, praising God for His attributes and His actions.
To conclude, critics ought to hear this, “For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.” — Matthew 7:2, NLT.
All the same, I know God still performs miracles in Jesus Name, because I have experienced some of them myself.
All in all, aren’t the words in the song they were singing all about reinforcing and encouraging faith and about building upon their relationship with God and Jesus?
So, there’s that.
Now, I wouldn’t ask publically if I did not have a plausible answer. So here is the first part of my final assessment on the subject of miracles…
“And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” — Mark 6:5, NLT.
From https://biblehub.com/greek/570.htm -
“Unbelief” has a deeper and broader definition in the original Greek texts than what we usually think from reading the English versions: “The term “apistia” refers to a state of unbelief or lack of faith. It is used in the New Testament to describe a condition where trust or confidence in God, His promises, or His power is absent. This can manifest as doubt, skepticism, or outright rejection of divine truth. In a broader sense, it can also imply disobedience or a refusal to be persuaded by God’s revelation.” — Also, “In the Greco-Roman world, faith (pistis) was often associated with trustworthiness and reliability, both in personal relationships and in one’s relationship with the divine. The concept of “apistia” would have been understood as a serious deficiency, especially in a religious context where faith was seen as essential for pleasing the gods…” — ibid.
Fully understanding the meaning of words used in the Bible I think is absolutely necessary so we don’t get confused and misunderstand the meanings and purposes of the texts.
Moving further down the line…
These following dynamics have to do with a very much neglected but essential provisioning of the Good News of Jesus Christ.The Baptism into the Holy Spirit…
Jesus promised, as I quoted at the beginning, that where two or three Believers are gathered together in His Name, that is, with the intention of being available for accomplishing God’s will, Jesus will be there, too.
Correspondingly, there are, in 1 Corinthians 12, a list of gifts given to Believers, beginning with this: …”A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other…” — 12:7, NLT.
This is followed by a list naming those gifts which includes faith, healing, and miracles.
Here is another piece of the puzzle I am trying to help put together: “So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all…
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing… — 1 Corinthians 12:31 & 13:1–3 — NLT.
Wrapping things up,I hope this essay has given you some food for thought. It has been the longest essay I have ever published, and I thank you for your indulgence.
Finally, the greatest miracle of all is that God forgave me, a total screw up. He came into my life with healing of mind and spirit, providing the proper and productive way to choose to live my life — through thick and thin, He has always been faithful.
Once lonely and suicidal, but now with a family with grandkids, never gone hungry, and receiving insights, direction, and purpose…
Remember this promise from Jesus:
“… My purpose is to give them {everybody} a rich and satisfying life. — John 10:10. NLT.
