The Witness Principle

An authentic witness requires an "authenticating second." The "authenticating second" is the church. But there is no authenticating without anointing. To be the second witness, the church NEEDS the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Did Jesus say, "Go into all the world and discuss the gospel?"
Did Jesus say, "Go into all the world and program the gospel?"
Did Jesus say, "Go into all the world and do committee work for the gospel?"
Did Jesus say, "Go into all the world and conference about the gospel?"

Jesus said: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel."
Jesus said: "Go into all the world and teach the gospel."

Like the preachers, teachers and martyrs of first-century Christianity (consult early church tradition for specific examples), there have been witnesses in our own time who have stood tall in times of testing. Being called by Christ to be a witness to Christ is the church's true identity.

In Jewish tradition, testimony for or against another must be corroborated by an "authenticating second" in order to be legally accepted as truth. Jesus upheld that tradition when he sent his disciples out in pairs to proclaim the Good News, to heal and teach. The Holy Spirit continues to uphold that principle by ...