Testimonies?

Now this post is going to really get up the noses of our evangelistic brethren. It is going to question the biblical validity and necessity of giving testimonies in church services, especially evangelistic services. This is customary amongst some evangelical ministers, though the practice is largely dying out.

Why am I prepared to do this? For this reason, that the giving of testimonies can detract from the teaching of Scripture on how a sinner becomes a Christian, by going beyond what is written. The major objection to the giving of testimonies is this: they tend to reduce all conversions to a similar pattern, and to standardise experience in a way that went beyond Scripture. While this is not the intention of the testimony-giver, this impression is left on the minds of those who hear them.

How often I had heard it said by soundly converted Christians, that they almost wish they had lived a profligate life, so that they would have a story to tell like So and So. This is very sad, and undermining of faith.

Indeed, when newly converted sinners are asked to give their testimony, the pressure is on them to dramatise what their experience has been, and to include that which is noteworthy in their past lives. Further, those personal testimonies that I have heard have spent much more time on their lives before they became Christians, and precious little on their lives afterwards - surely a wrong emphasis. The story prior to conversion is all about me, while the story after conversion ought to be about what God's grace has been doing in the Christian's life; it ought to be, not self-centred, but Christ-centred.

Now I have no doubt at all that the motives of these testifiers are often well-intentioned. But as I have already stated, the effect can be carnal and man-centred. It is not the first time that Christians, on leaving a testimony meeting, were so impressed by what they had heard from the testifier, that this was all they had to talk about - not Christ, God's marvellous grace, the message. The true focus was removed from God, and placed, inevitably, on man!

A dramatic telling of the story of conversion, especially if one had a colourful life prior to this, can be most gripping. So the time is taken up with these unique features, rather than with the amazing grace of our sovereign God.

The reason why testifiers do not concentrate on the really important aspect of their conversion is this: in every conversion, it is the grace of God that is at work, therefore, it is exactly the same in every conversion. Further, their pre-conversion life is so interesting, that, in comparison, their Christian life is boring - and you can't have that!

How many times have you heard Christians say in their testimony that when they decided to become a Christian, it was "the best decision they ever made." The focus, again, is on what I did, not on what God in His grace did.

Or, I have heard Christians testify that they "never regretted becoming a Christian." Now think about this for a moment: what you left behind was nothing compared with what you now have in Christ, yet how can anyone say they never regretted giving up what they could not keep in order to keep what they could not lose? The very language of having 'regrets' about belonging to Christ is abhorrent, and dishonouring to our gracious Lord and Saviour. Using a weak analogy, what man in his right mind would talk about regretting having millions, after giving up poverty!

Yet this is the kind of careless language that is being used by new Christian. And I doubt if their minister took them aside and talked over with them the basic biblical theology of conversion.

When you become a Christian, you do not give up anything; rather you gain everything. That's why all this talk about people sacrificing to serve the Lord in some special way is out of order. They are sacrificing nothing, but they are gaining everything.

In my own ministry, which commenced some 34 years ago, I don't think I ever gave my testimony in any sermon, evangelistic or otherwise, throughout all those years. I don't think it is necessary, and there is no biblical mandate for doing it.

If someone is bearing testimony to their Saviour, let them do precisely that! Talk about Christ and His beauty, loveliness, and graciousness, but please talk no more about yourself. In comparison, there is nothing in your life to talk about with pride, yet so many almost gloat in their past lives, and revel in telling others how 'bad' they had been. I would be ashamed to tell the world what I was really like, so I don't do it. In fact, the parts of the story that are related in testimonies are those in which the teller has a certain pride, therefore enjoys telling them.

Are you proud of Christ? Then tell us that. Are you delighted in your Saviour? Then that's what we want to hear. Do you enjoy spending time with Him in prayer and bible study? Then, tell the world. Is serving Christ your greatest joy in this life? Then, glorify Him when you rise to speak. But keep yourself in the background; don't let your 'self' appear to mess up the testimony. Give Christ all the glory, and remember, "those who honour Me, I will honour."