"How do you know?"- Thoughts on Subjective Aspects of Assurance in Evangelism

"How do you know?" It's an oft asked question in response to any truth claim these days, especially gospel truth. Claims to have a definite revelation of God, especially a definate revelation of God that is exclusive to other claims.

How do you know what you believe to be true is absolutely true, really true? In today's postmodern culture people are sometimes less persuaded by the typical frontal lobed responses that set about to convince by rational arguments to "prove" that the Bible is supernatural, that the text is reliable, that Jesus was either liar, lunatic or Lord, etc. It's not that those aren't good reasons for faith. They are. All those responses have there place, but it's really not answering the question that many are asking today.

These days, people have very little certainty about anything. Even "scientific" truth has changed frequently. New discoveries are causing long standing theories to be adjusted or replaced. Historical "truth" is usually written from the perspective of those who conquer, etc. Post-modern people understand that what seems to be true is very often a matter of ones perspective. Since our perspective is severely limited, whatever they may believe to be true is only what they believe to be true at that time.

So even though Christians have great proof for the Bible, the resurrection, etc. it doesn't seem to have a lot of impact on post-moderns (though it should never be abandoned and DOES have it's place). Why? Post-moderns don't believe PROOF! Can you believe that? They have seen proof UNPROVEN so many times, when they hear our proof, they may believe we have an excellent case... from our perspective, but others have looked at the same "evidence" and had an altogether interpretation, blah, blah, blah. AAAAHHHHGGGHHHH! Know the feeling?

Does it drive you crazy when people respond to the gospel, "Well that's true for you, but not everyone." ? Don't worry, it's not just their response to the gospel. That's the post modern response to EVERYTHING. And it's not a response just to drive the evangelist crazy. Post-modern people are freaking out, trapped in their own knowledge of the limitations of their own perspectives. They can't deeply believe anything and it's driving them crazy too.


Is there something we're missing? Are there aspects of Biblical revelation that we're missing that perhaps God may have specifically designed to awaken the hearts of people trapped in the suspicion of the limitations of human perspective, so much so that they are AFRAID to believe anything too strongly? I believe there are.

A few random observations:

1) Jesus Christ said, "A man speaks of what he has seen and heard. You are from below and speak as from this world. I am from above and have told you what I have seen from My Father." Jesus has come to rescue us from our blindness. Jesus came directly from God can speak of His experience with the Father. We can only know what we've experienced and even when we have "spiritual" experiences, we're never quite sure what we're experiencing. At best we're bumping around in the dark. Jesus however comes to us saying that He has come into this world "from above" and can speak from experience of ALL THINGS eternal. And His life, death, and resurrection give proof that He was in fact speaking truth. "No man spoke like this man."

Jesus Christ would sometimes seek to humble the mind of the proud by showing them how limited their experience and perceptions were. Could it be that our post-modern friend's realization that our human perspective could never be the source of assurance of eternal reality is actually an ally, not an enemy, to the Gospel?

The problem that enters in is that they've been playing make-believe for so long that they've usually they are quite confident that everyone else is bluffing too.

2) "How do you know?" "Well," says the apostle Paul, "No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God." 1 Cor. 2:11 So the Postmodern replies, "Right, so nobody can know." Paul continues, "We have received the Spirit of God so that we may know the things that God has freely given to us."

How do we know? Not by logical deductions rooted in human reasoning. We know by revelation of God's Spirit. God gives us His Spirit, so that we have a direct and real perception of the reality of God in Jesus Christ that is not due to human observation based on physical senses and human reasoning. It comes directly by the Spirit of God shinging the light of Christ in our heart through the gospel so that we truly perceive eternal realities. Once we were blind, but now we see. We see God's perspective by God's Spirit in union with our human spirit which operates by faith.

"So what is it that keeps God from giving you this revelation by His Spirit?" you may ask.

3) Jesus said subjective assurance of His divine reality is possible only for those who are willing to believe and obey. But to those willing to trust and obey, assurance is promised. "If any man is willing to do God's will, He will know whether My teaching is of God or are my own." (Jn. 7:17) and "He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves ME; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." Jn (14:21) The ultimate issue is trust and surrender. God hides the truth from those unwilling to see it, but reveals it to those who are willing to surrender to it. The light is shining for all those who are willing to open their eyes and come out from hiding in darkness.

If you aren't willing to obey, you can at least see now that what Jesus said is true, "Here's the verdict: The true light came into the world, but men loved darkness because their deeds were evil." When you become willing to obey, you'll know too. "He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Are you following Jesus? No? Then you are in darkness. Humble your pride, forsake your own way, and call on Him to forgive and save you... then you too will know.

"They in Us that the world may believe"

I used to read Jesus' words "They in Us that the world might believe that you sent me" and hang my head in shame over the mess we've made of the church. A different denominational building on every corner is not what Jesus died for or what will cause the world to see the reality of the Lord Jesus. I can't count the number of times that the multitude of denominations has been brought up as an objection to the gospel when I'm talking to unbelievers. While I'm not completely immune from feeling disturbed about the man-made mess "churchianity" has become, I have found some real hope and joy lately in Jesus' words, "they in Us...".

Isn't it encouraging to believe that the Lord honestly intends to bring us into such an experience of Divine fellowship while we're on the earth that people would begin to believe that "Jesus really does bring people to God"? The Lord intends for us to be living in such a real experience of the reality of God that unbelievers would become convinced that God is real... not by our efforts or programs... but by our living IN GOD.

What is it to live in God? It's what Jesus was doing before the incarnation as the eternal Son of God. He was living inside His Father by the Holy Spirit. It's what Jesus did in His inner man while living on the earth. He said, "Do you not know that I dwell in my Father, and He in Me?" His body was on the earth, but His inner man was dwelling in the presence of His Father. And that is what He's dying to create inside of us... a spirit to spirit experience of fellowship with God.

And this fellowship is a corporate thing. "THEY in us". He's bringing us into fellowship with God together. We need one another to experience the fullness of God. My experience as a believer bears this out. I can honestly say that every step towards a more authentic experience of Christ has required or resulted in a more authentic experience of His body. I can't count the number of times I've gone to the Lord in prayer and He's changed a bad attitude I had towards another person, or felt prompted to encourage someone, or reminded of an opportunity to serve, etc. Just maintaining my personal fellowship with Christ in a living way has been the path that has brought me into deeper experience of body life. As the head directs and coordinates the body, so Christ coordinates us with one another.


Although I'm still not crazy about denominational fragmentation and greedy televangelists, I'm encouraged to pursue a greater experience of "They in US" by continuing the pursuit of Christ with others. We share One Lord, One Spirit, One Faith, One God and Father and are baptized into One Name. A bunch of people living together in the experience of this reality is what the Lord wants the world to see. It's what the Lord died for and what He lives for... inside of you and me.