Today I served on jury duty. Well, kind of. I went to the Jefferson County Courthouse and waited in a line of my peers for my name (Greg Stier) and number (#4) to be called.
It was. Out of one hundred and twenty jurors in the big waiting room I was in the first fifteen to be chosen to go to court. We took the long trek up to level three and to the far edge of the building.
Once there we settled into our seats while the judge instructed us that only six of us would be chosen for jury duty that day. The prosecuting and defense attorney would take turns asking us questions to see who the “lucky winners” of jury duty would be that day.
When the defense attorney found out that I was an evangelist it got kind of awkward. She started grilling me. I don’t know for sure why she was picking on me. Maybe a faith healer spilled annointing oil on her as a kid or something.
Our conversation went something like this:
“Mr. Stier, I see that you are an evangelist by trade.”
“Yes I am.”
“So you are a minister.”
“Yes.”
“Do you believe what you believe out of blind faith?”
“No, I do not. I believe what the Bible says. It’s not blind faith. It’s not a leap into the darkness but a leap into the light.”
“But the Bible is just a religious book sir.”
“Actually, its more than that. It is the inspired Word of God. It is inerrant and fully trustworthy.”
“But you believe this book even though there is no proof that it is true?”
“The Bible is full of proof. It has been substantiated by science, archaeology and fulfilled prophecy.”
“Yes, but you weren’t there when it was written Mr. Stier yet you still accept it by faith.”
“Yes, and you weren’t there when the Constitution of the United States was written and yet here we are in a court of law operating by it’s principles.”
When I said that a juror in the front row yelled out “Hallelujah!”
Moments later the judge said another wonderful statement, “JURY #4 IS DISMISSED.” At that moment I almost yelled out “Hallelujah” but managed to restrain myself.
I love our country. It is a privilege to call myself a United States citizen. But in the courtroom of public opinion Christianity is increasingly being marginalized as an insignificant belief system held by insignificant people from an insignificant heritage. The problem is that the same “insignificant” truths that we hold true were the same ones that this country was built on. Love it or hate it this country was erected on the timeless truths of God’s Word, not a mere religious system based on blind faith.
Long after the United States is gone as a nation, the Word of God will stand firm. The Judge of the universe has declared it so.
Court adjourned!
