What does it mean to bear witness? Basically, that we testify; we offer evidence or proof that something is true or that something has happened, because we saw or experienced it.

Bearing false witness, as we know, is against the commandments. Why did God think it was so important? Maybe because communities are built on trust, and if I bear false witness—if I say something is true because I saw it happen, but actually I did not—then I am not trustworthy and I weaken the structure of the community.

As we work with survivors, we must remember that it is crucial for us to be trustworthy. Abuse of children is almost always based on lies and false witness; if we hope to be effective supporters of those who have lived through such abuse, we must be very careful to be truthful. An honest “I don’t know” is far more godly than a dishonest testimony or assertion of fact.

We’ll talk more about the importance of bearing witness, but for now, let’s focus on asking God—repeatedly—for help in “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).