John 1: 29-42 (Common English Bible)

The questions that Jesus asked are full of spiritual symbolism and meaning. When Jesus asks, “What are you looking for?” Sometimes people are so busy trying to survive, to protect their families and loved ones from danger. If life was fair, which of course it isn’t, everyone would have the same opportunities to explore the existential and spiritual meaning of life. 

When the disciples of John the Baptizer ask Jesus, “Where are you staying?” This is not intended to be a question about what dwelling Jesus lived in, the word the disciples used came from the Greek translation, meaning, “what energy do you use for your life-source for vitality, passion and love?

When Jesus responds by saying, “Come and See,” he is issuing an invitation to become something different than what you are. 

So how do we go about entering into this conversation with others? How do we bear witness? All does this is relates to what Christians have generally called evangelism. 

Evangelism is not simply maintaining or growing an institution one might be involved in. As a church we function as a kind of institution or organization. That might not be the essence of who we are but we are a part of it, whether church or business.

The problem with evangelism today is that it’s antiquated in modern society. For someone you don’t know, knocking on your door about religion is rarely effective anymore. As for myself when a Mormon or religious fundamentalist knocks on my door, I shut my door immediately. Now I do have some patience with the Jehovah Witness group. We do have a couple of things in common. We’re both antiwar and oppose flying national flags. But our conversation ends when I try to explain to them, God’s real name is Yahweh and not Jehovah.

One of the best religious authors around today is Richard Rohr, who has written a multitude of books about modern faith. The best one I recommend is “The Universal Christ.” Read it and your perspective of Jesus Christ will be changed forever. One of his statements to a question was, “Jesus did not come to earth to change the mind of God about humanity. God had already loved and created what God made billions of years ago.” Humans needed to know what God was really like. 

What would Jesus tell us to do? We can invite people to the SPC who have never been here before. We can invite those people who have been mistreated in their churches. We can invite people who support social-justice, we are a Matthew 25 Church. And we should stop dwelling on the past and instead look to the future members.

We can accept all people as God’s children no matter how different they may be. If someone comes into church with purple hair, give them a hug and welcome them. 

Our good and blessed God gives us an interest that goes beyond our own wellbeing. God inspires us to participate in stories greater than our own. We should have the same passion that Jesus shows to other people in dangerous situations. 

Another way Christ’s followers do is through advocacy. People who oppose injustice are following the teachings of Jesus. Trump is wanting to invade Greenland, a peaceful nation. Trump’s Ice violent goons murdered Renee Good in a peaceful protest. Martin Luther King Jr. was a saint who followed the teachings of Jesus. He was America's true prophet who became a martyr giving his life for racial justice and injustice. And tomorrow, Monday, January 19th, we celebrate the birthdate of Martin Luther King Jr.

Epiphany is about God’s self-revelation within the Incarnation. John the Baptizer said, “I came baptizing with water for this reason.” John realized that Jesus was the Christ and that was John's mission, baptizing the Son of God.

In today’s society, identifying oneself as a Christian can have different meanings, not all positive. So should we try to live in such a way as Jesus taught? I’ve heard conservative and fundamentalist Christians say no. I say YES if you want to be a true follower of Christ. AMEN.