The Art of Belief

It has been said that no man can argue with your experience.  I think that is why a testimony is the thing that people can argue with the least.  

If I tell you that I know a man who was legally blind one day (with coke bottle glasses), and then was tested to have 20/20 vision several days later without surgery, you would be astonished and perhaps skeptical but you could not argue that I believed in this fact.  You might also be more likely to trust me (and therefore my story) if I was a more reputable person, hence why people say part of "acting right" is to protect your "witness."

So generally, we believe someone and what they tell us if we find them trustworthy.  I don't really need to give you a thoroughly worked out logical proof; as long as I can make you trust me, you're more likely to believe me even without one.  Perhaps part of blogging is building a report with people so that you can have a better foundation to influence them, and the decisions they make.  I would be lying if I didn't admit this is part of my dastardly plot.  If I can prove myself to be a trustworthy person, you are more likely to believe and trust me, and therefore more likely to accept advice and direction.

Hopefully, the direction I continually point people is heaven-ward.  I mention all this so you'll have a better feel for me, and be more willing to see my point.  In other words - I hope I'm building trust.

Jesus did the same.  Certainly he was wise and full of knowledge, and had the old testament hidden in his heart.  But Jesus built trust with people by proving himself through what he did.  Here was a man who healed strangers, fed thousands, and lived quietly.  He was unassuming, and ultimately died an apparently worthless death, and yet he is the supposed Savior of the world.  CS Lewis came to a remarkable conclusion: Jesus was either crazy, a liar, or the Savior of the world.

If belief is a matter of trust - what about Jesus isn't worth trusting?