Happy Saturday, friends!
My schedule last Saturday didn’t have time to fit in writing, though I certainly did some pondering.
Our family gathered last Saturday to celebrate my mom’s life and legacy. We had originally scheduled her 90th birthday party for that day, but she celebrated it in heaven instead.
Lots of laughs, tears, and stories.
Later today, I’ll be on the road heading for another celebration. Tomorrow, the First Baptist Church of Montague, TX is celebrating their 150th anniversary. Their pastor invited me to come lead worship for their morning services and speak briefly at their afternoon celebration. This church is one of the 60+ churches I worked with as Executive Director of Harvest Baptist Association from 2008-2023.
Both 90 years of life and 150 years of ministry are worth celebrating.
But today I’m pondering something else that’s been percolating for awhile.
And I’ll admit up front that I won’t do it justice. I’m not sure I could in a whole book – certainly not in this format.
Here’s the statement I’m building around:
Evidence is not proof.
Here in Amarillo, it’s Election Day for various city government positions such as mayor and city council.
I’m really excited for this day!
Not necessarily because of the outcome, but because it should end the constant barrage of text messages, television commercials, and glossy mailers that keep providing evidence of how despicable some of the candidates are.
Evidence is not proof.
Often it’s not even really evidence, but that’s a different issue.
I’m also aware of some of the hot issues of the day—things like immigration, health, education, national security, science, the economy.
To be honest, I’m baffled by some of the conclusions that people draw when it seems that the best evidence points in a completely different direction.
But evidence is not proof because there seems to always be alternative evidence.
That’s the problem with evidence: not only is it inconsistent and inconclusive, we also are prone to only accept the evidence that fits our chosen narrative.
I suppose that’s ok as long as we remember the original statement.
Evidence is not proof.
Here are some things that are really important to me—things for which I believe there is a preponderance of evidence—that I cannot prove.
I can’t prove the existence of God.
I can’t prove the truth and trustworthiness of the Bible.
I can’t prove that Jesus rose from the dead and is eternally alive and present through the Holy Spirit.
I can’t prove the intelligent design and creation of the earth.
I can’t prove that I’m a follower of the Way of Jesus.
Evidence is not proof.
So, how do we know any of this even matters.
We don’t.
We believe. We trust. We walk by faith.
It’s not a blind leap of faith with no compelling evidence.
But it’s faith nonetheless.
And, honestly, there’s something beautiful about that because it requires that we clearly identify the object of our faith.
We avoid giving our complete allegiance and affirmation to lesser things.
We allow evidence to be what it is—data to help us gain information and perspective.
Always remembering that evidence is not proof.
Be wise, curious, humble, and amazing today, my friend.
