We accept human testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he
has given about his Son.10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not
believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given
about his Son.11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his
Son.12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Over the past couple of weeks the news on television has been
dominated by this inquiry going on in Ottawa. The inquiry is
looking at the business dealings that went on between a German
businessman and former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

Now I\u2019m not particularly interested in talking about the details of
what went on or passing any sort of judgment \u2013 that\u2019s not what
we\u2019re here for and it would be inappropriate to do so\u2026

What is relevant \u2013 and what makes the events of this week useful to us is the testimony of Prime Minister Mulroney. Because really that\u2019s what this inquiry is really all about. It\u2019s not about facts \u2013 it\u2019s not about evidence\u2026it\u2019s about what he says and whether people trust what he says.

Six days of him on the stand \u2013 answering questions and giving his
account of the evidence \u2013 and the sole question that is before the
proceeding is \u2013 do I believe him.

Whether it\u2019s a former prime minister talking about his business
dealings and lobbying efforts \u2013 or it\u2019s somebody telling you that
the latest Star Trek movie is the best Star Trek movie ever\u2026we are
people who rely on testimony\u2026

Think about why you are here and what brought you to church and
to faith in the first place. How is it that you learned about Jesus
Christ? How did you find out about the cross and dying and rising
and the forgiveness of sins?

For many of us it was the influence of parents. Mothers and fathers who brought you into the community of faith \u2013 who carried you in their arms to the baptismal font \u2013 who made promises to you there to raise you and to share with you the meaning of God\u2019s love for you.

Your parents who prayed with you, and taught you what they
believe, and testified to you what they experienced and how Jesus
loved them.

For others of us it was the testimony of friends. Those of us who came to faith at an older age may have experienced this. Seeing faith within someone else. Hearing how Jesus has impacted their life. And what we\u2019ve done is we\u2019ve connected their testimony to our trust in them and it brought us here.

For others still it was the testimony of a religious leader. Billy
Graham at a crusade giving a wonderful account of grace with
power and conviction and integrity. Or a Catechism teacher
explaining things in a way that finally makes sense. Or a pastor in
a sermon. Or a deacon through the witness of generosity.

\u2013 but the testimony of many. The preponderance of evidence has
influenced our hearts and minds. You are here because many
people have shared their faith to you in many ways.

Witnesses who are credible \u2013 testimony that you trust. And like the
Bible says to us at the beginning of verse 9 of our text: We accept
human testimony\u2026

\u2026BUT\u2026and even as John writes this and even though he doesn\u2019t
continue with this line of thinking \u2013 there is this unwritten
understanding that human testimony isn\u2019t enough.

If we go outside of these walls \u2013 if we start talking to people who aren\u2019t in church and who don\u2019t believe\u2026often what we\u2019ll here are the stories of unreliable witnesses.

Of parents who enforced and legislated faith rather than sharing
and modeling it. Of friends and acquaintances who marketed Jesus
to them and treated them as customers of grace. Religious leaders
who fell. Who misused their authority. Who proved not to be
credible in the testimony they gave.

This is the problem with human testimony \u2013 sometimes it can be
good \u2013 sometimes not so good \u2013 and the clever and motivated
atheist will tell you that\u2026