John 1:43-51

Sometimes it's difficult to explain how Stephen Ministry works. People are prone to think of Stephen Ministers as counselors - which they are not. Others imagine that Stephen Ministers are Christian teachers who show people the way. But they're not that, either. Still others feel that Stephen Ministers are caretakers, personal assistants, and - even worse - healers. Stephen Ministers are none of these things.

In reality, Stephen Ministers are ordinary people who make themselves available to God's work in the lives of others. They train themselves in the arts of listening, of caring, of loving, and most especially, of friendship. As Christian friends, they commit themselves to care for people in a wide variety of circumstances. Some care-receivers are seriously ill. Others just need a listening ear. Some are battling with bouts of depression, some with the loneliness of moving into our community, far away from family and roots. Some care-receivers are folks who've lost a spouse or other loved one, and they're trying to walk toward recovery. Stephen Ministers understand that all of us go through times when you just need a caring Christian friend who isn't your spouse, your next door neighbor, or the foursome you play golf with. And they operate on a powerful assumption that has been proven true over and over again. When we care for other people as Christian friends, God is able to act in powerful ways. We give care, but it is God who uses the caring ministry to bring about the ultimate cure. In a sense, Stephen Ministers are witnesses to God's healing grace in the midst of human struggle. In witnessing, they reveal Christ to others.

This being the season of Epiphany, we are drawn to the term "revelation." This is the time when we celebrate the revealing of the Son of God - to Jewish shepherds of Bethlehem as well as to pagan astrologers from Persia. To people of the first century, as well as people in the twenty-first century. The message of the season is that God has come - in all his glory - to save his children. And everyone has an opportunity to find him.

But the revelation of God is not always clear and obvious to everyone. So a companion word to the term revelation is the word I mentioned before. Witness. Epiphany shows us that the most important job we Christians have is to bear witness to the Lord. We are the ones who bring people into position to see and experience the revelation for themselves!

In today's Scripture reading from the first chapter of John, the new disciple Philip goes to find his friend Nathaniel. Excited about his own personal discovery of Jesus, he says to Nathaniel, "We have found the one about whom both Moses and the prophets wrote!"

Then, Philip speaks what I think are three of the most important words in all of Christianity. But first, note what the three words are not. He does not say, "Believe in Jesus, Nathaniel!" He does not say, "Accept the Lord!" He does not say, "Obey God's Word."

No, Philip does not say any of those things that Christians today so often say. Instead, Philip says something else! He says to Nathaniel, "Come, and see!"

Epiphany tells us that we Christians are the "come and see" people! Our task is not to force people into a reluctant belief in God. Not to be such eloquent debaters that we can intellectually convince people about the truth of God. And certainly not to manipulate people into shallow faith by scaring them to death about God. In fact, just the other day, Steve Nash handed me a copy of a newspaper ad that ran recently in a weekly up in the Lexington area. It's presented by an Episcopal church, and it asks a very provocative and pointed question. It reads:

And then, the question:

And then the nearly full-page ad goes on to note the negative impact of fear evangelism and apocalyptic frenzy upon the lives of small children who overhear such talk. Psychologists, you know, report that many small children became obsessed with fear over the possibility that the world would end on New Year's Eve. Immeasurable damage was done to the psyche of many children. And so often, young children are in the direct line of fire of such irresponsible evangelistic and apocalyptic tirades on television, in printed literature, and even in church. The ad points out that critically minded adults have the tools to sort out all this stuff for themselves, but that children are defenseless against it. And then the ad invites those who evangelize this way to come to church next Sunday. The rector says, "I am not in favor of child abuse, and I'd enjoy explaining that to you in a simple manner that even you might understand."

Well, that may be a little harsh. But in a day when so much evangelism is really nothing more than psychological manipulation, it's a point well-taken. To be a witness for Jesus Christ is not to manipulate people into heaven. It is not to get them over to our own way of thinking and believing. No, we Christians have the more important job of inviting and encouraging other people to come and see for themselves what we already know! Only God can reveal himself to a human person. But what we can do is point the way.

And we do it by bearing witness to God's salvation.

We don't much understand the word salvation these days. It's pretty much a lost word to our culture. Its one of those terms that's been compromised and lifted out of its biblical context. For millions of people today, salvation has something to do with going to heaven, and not going to hell when you die. The biblical writers would be dumbfounded by this idea.

You see, salvation in the Bible is always about God's saving people from the grim realities of life in a sinful world. It is a salvation that extends all the way to eternity, to be sure, but it is a salvation that begins now! In Genesis, salvation means the reconciliation between God and his people after the Fall. What Adam and Eve lost through disobedience, God is at work to restore. God will bring his children back into relationship with himself! And God promises it with a covenant.

Later, in the same book, salvation means that the homeless, nomadic Hebrews will one day have a land of their own. And to do that, childless Abraham and Sarah will have descendents! And God promises it with a covenant.

In Exodus, salvation means escape from the slavery of Egypt with all its hardships and suffering. It means escape to freedom! And God promises it with a covenant.

In the Gospels, salvation means that the blind see, sinners are forgiven, lepers are cleansed, the lost are found, the lame leap, and life wins out over death! And God reveals this salvation in his Son.

You see salvation - in all its many biblical forms - is best summarized in Ephesians 1 where Paul says salvation is a plan that God is working out in the midst of history. Its a plan to make the world right again! People will be brought into a right relationship with God, and into right relationships with other people, and even into a right relationship with themselves. The world is in the process of being restored to the way God intended it. And its a beautiful, breathtaking, joyous, life-giving world to which everyone is invited!!

And bearing witness to salvation means to personally involve yourself in standing up for and speaking up for this new world!

Some time ago, someone told me about how far away from God they feel they are. There have been times of sporadic faith, but mostly, life has been lived on their own terms, in their own strength, serving their own agenda. And now, nearing the later years of life, this dear person senses nothing of eternal value in their life. There are memories of the past. And the assorted aches and pains of the present. And great uncertainty about the future. Especially about after death.

There are many such people in our world. And you and I need to proclaim hope to them! It's never too late to start a relationship with God! In God's way of doing things, you're never too old to accomplish important things for the kingdom and for the world! I found myself simply urging this friend to come and see! Pray to God. Ask him for a new start. See what happens!

We are called to be witnesses to the salvation of God.

On this Martin Luther King holiday weekend, we're reminded of the importance of bearing witness in society as well. God's plan is to put an end to racism and to lift people of color to the very top levels of society. Do you think Jesus was kidding when he said the last will be first? Why, Jesus is the world's greatest proponent for affirmative action! Another way of saying it is that those who once had to sit in the back of the bus will one day not only get to sit up front, but probably get to drive it, and maybe even own the bus company too! And our job is to stand in the midst of our black brothers and sisters and sing that song with them! Oh my, what a day it will be when black people get to make their beds with the sheets of the grand dragons of the KKK! Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty! They'll be free at last! That day is coming!

We are witnesses to the salvation of God for blacks and all others who have been denied the fullness of life as God intends.

Are there homeless people in our society? The wandering Hebrews had no home of their own either. Their nomadic lifestyle and their lack of political power made it impossible to carve out a niche of their own in the world. So God promised them a land. God promises homeless people a place to call "home." Those of you who work with Habitat For Humanity bear witness to this salvation! Those of you who advocate for homeless families and their children are witnesses to the salvation God seeks to bring to their lives. What you are saying to the world is, "Come and see what God is doing!"

And salvation is very personal, too. Are you hurting? God cares about your hurt, and can help you win out over it. Are you discouraged? God understands what you're going through, and will guide you to a more hopeful future. Are you struggling with a difficult relationship? God knows all about that. The Lord himself will help you face it.

We are the come and see people!

So go into the world this week, and do three things as witnesses for Jesus Christ.

First, when you encounter people in the very situations they face - personal problems, societal injustices, relational turmoil - discipline yourself to perceive what God's salvation will look like for that person and that circumstance.

Second, share the hope of that salvation with those people and others. Use your words, your actions, your ballot, your hands to visibly demonstrate in the midst of life the salvation of God.

And third, trust God to do his thing!

This is the season of Epiphany! We have a job to do!

Go into all the world and invite the people you meet to "come and see the salvation of God!"