One of today’s multitude of saints on the calendar is the disciple-later-apostle named Philip. Philip is perhaps best known from the story in the Gospel According to John (1:45-46). Philip, convinced that Jesus of Nazareth is the deliverer that he and his friends have been longing for, goes to his good friend Nathaniel to share this news. Nathaniel is unconvinced (what good could possibly come out of Nazareth, after all?). Philip simply says to his friend: “Come and see.”

To me, it is utterly refreshing that Philip did not spend his time arguing that his experiences and beliefs were right! Instead, he invited his friend to find out for himself. An incredible amount of good can actually happen through inviting those who don’t (at least at first) share our beliefs to “come and see”–see what we believe.

Note: if we disagree with someone and all we have to show for our beliefs is a well-polished ability to be, well, disagreeable–they why should that person make any changes at all? What is the good of arguing someone into silence (which is really arguing that person into a simmering resentment, and for no good reason)? What victory is gained by having better talking points?

In a world where “facts” mean increasingly less to increasingly more people, the best response is “It’s OK if you don’t believe me–come and see for yourself!” Who can resist such an invitation?

But beware–we have to have something and somewhere worthy of such an invitation! It is useless to “have righteousness on your side” if someone dropping in you, your friends, your community, and your actions doesn’t find warmth, love, acceptance, and good news. Spending our efforts offering our proofs that others are wrong says so much more about us than about anyone else. So what if they are doing that same thing?! Isn’t the only value of holding a different belief that it helps you actually become a different (and by that, I mean more loving, more accepting, more joyful, more hopeful, more encouraging) person?

I like Philip’s approach–Come and see! Make up your own mind! Nathaniel found out for himself. So will others!