When we talk about evidence we will inevitably get to the subject of testimony. During any trial people are called forth to say what they know, saw and heard. Sometimes expert testimony is also given to corroborate that evidence. However all testimony in a trial must have probative value which means it must prove the point of the fact being established. Again, the Kingdom of God (KoG) is the fact being established by this blog. Therefore if our testimony is to have probative value it must present proof of the God’s Kingdom.
1 John 5:10
He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
Each and every human carries within themself two testimonies one as a child of Adam and the other as a child of God. In our unity with God we must become aware of the reality of God’s spiritual presence and His Kingdom. This makes us all brothers and sisters in the fellowship as humans and as children of the kingdom. For example, in the fictional television series CSI, a concept is proposed that says if a person commits a crime they will leave a trace of their presence at the scene of the crime and therefore evidence can be gathered to prove they were present.
As humans our DNA, Culture and mindset can be traced backed to the earliest human remains and with scriptural help all the way back to our human Father, Adam. Likewise our spiritual awareness, spiritual curiosity, and spiritual traditions can also be traced back to our spiritual Father, God.
In a court of law people are called on to give testimony for the purpose of trying to establish an already existing fact. If testimony fails to have probative value it can be objected to and ruled irrelevant or immaterial because it does not prove the point of the case. The same is true with the KoG, and when we give Kingdom evidence we must be mindful that it is not about the human vessel carrying the evidence it is about the infinite supernatural presence animating the human life. The scriptural concept of pride warns about this and our jury of peers can also rule our evidence immaterial if our presentation is about us and not the KoG.
Also in a court of law, testimony can be objected to if it calls for speculation, calls for a conclusion, is considered argumentative, or is inflammatory. Likewise when we present Kingdom testimony we must try to understand how we are presenting it to others.
If we look at an event in either the spiritual or material worlds there is a story surrounding the event we are trying to prove. The event story has a beginning, middle and an end. Again, for testimony to have probative value it must corroborate the events of the story bringing light to the truth of the event. If testimony can corroborate other pieces of testimony making the story clear we could assign great value to that testimony and consider that a connecting piece in the story puzzle. However if we can disprove a piece of testimonial evidence we could cause doubt concerning the facts of the story that is being told.
Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Revelation 19:10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
I have often heard the Kingdom of God described as the puzzle box top picture. When a person tries to solve a puzzle and they have the final picture, putting the pieces together could be simpler. Biblical scripture is about 6000 years of narrative, broken up into two testaments. All of which points to the fact of God’s Kingdom.
Without biblical scripture Jewish and Christian religions would be without a framework or purpose. However these religions of which I am a member traditionally present scriptural testimony in a way that calls for speculation, calls for a conclusion, is considered argumentative or is inflammatory. This is not to call into question the truthfulness of scripture, this goes directly to the presentation of testimonial evidence.
1 John 2:9
He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
Luke 23:34
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
As Children of God we may not see the truth, and even Jesus asked Father to forgive them for their ignorance to the truth. Like a moth to a flame we have been created in the image of our spiritual Father. If we understand God’s love more that our traditions we will draw closer to God and His Kingdom. As we can put some of our religious traditions on hold and seek the KoG we will move away from things that are traditionally irrelevant or immaterial.
The religious communities of the materialistic world carry an interpretation of the box top that is sometimes objected to by a jury of our peers. What is needed is a more spiritual interpretation of the KoG. As spiritual awareness increases there will be greater probative value and fewer objections to the evidence we are presenting.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.