11/08/2025
When I was a young believer in Jesus (back in 1971,) a new book came out shortly thereafter called, "Evidence That Demands a Verdict" (ETDV.) It was written by Josh McDowell, a very gifted and powerful apologist for the Christian faith (as he understood it,) who would regularly go to secular campuses to "debate" unbelievers on key aspects of the Christian gospel.
He, of course, was a professional speaker. He had very well prepared answers for every possible question, every possible rebuttal, and every possible objection that any of his amateur inquirers might ever bring up.
He always "won" every debate. He was a superstar in my early generation for Christian witnessing.
In the Bible study groups and even ministerial training classes, McDowell ETDV books and study guides set the high bar for anyone wanting to have a similar powerful witness for Jesus.
One small problem: nowhere in the life and ministry of Jesus did he himself "win every debate" with unbelievers or opponents. Being a witness of Jesus is very little about what you know and very much about who you are and who you are becoming.
I preached a sermon for Parma Christian Fellowship Church (www.pcfministries.com) on 11/02/25 by the same title as McDowell's book, "Evidence That Demands a Verdict." However, the focus of that sermon was very different that having all the right answers to fairly easy questions so a believer can win every debate. My biblical text, carefully placed into its actual context, was John 13:34-35.
At the last supper, a Passover meal, Jesus looked his very conflicted and at-odds disciples square in their eyes, and said, "A new command I give you: love one another as I have loved you, in order that you might love one another. By this, everyone will know you are disciples to me, if you love one another."
This is the gospel of grace, not that you have a stockpile of powerful answers to lob at secular unbelievers in college or at work or in your community. The fruit of the Spirit begins with love - not a smaltzy feel-good nicey-nice friendship or romance or do-goodism. Agapē is dynamic engagement in bringing a blessing or benefit to others, as Jesus taught and demonstrated.
Forgive each other.
Be kind to one another.
Visit and listen to each other.
Do what is right and good for each other.
Treat enemies who hate you the same way you would treat your closest friends and family.
Bless everyone you encounter, not because of who they are but because of who you are.
The Pharisees asked Jesus a "trick question," as to which of the 639 laws of Moses was THE greatest one. According to the Law, they're all the same: break one tiny one, you've broken them all. Jesus stepped away from that trick binary question to quote for them Deuteronomy 6:5 ("love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength") AND equally Jesus quoted Leviticus 19:18, a very obscure verse, "and love your neighbor as yourself."
Logic, proofs, Bible verses which "prove" other Bible verses, and forceful arguments was the direction Josh McDowell drive us young eager believers in our witnessing. Never once were were encouraged or taught how to authentically love one another: how Baptists could love Methodists or Charismatics or Catholics or Muslims or Ba'hai or atheists or intellectuals or idiots or rude people or disgusting people or poor people or immigrant people or deeply wounded people or.... anyone and everyone we might encounter.
A human life transformed by the Spirit of Jesus into the likeness of Jesus in his transformational love IS evidence that does demand a verdict. It's not a winsome argument that is an effective witness for Jesus. It's a winsome character.
One command: love one another.
