Here is part III of the series on Personal Testimony, continued from last Thursday and Friday.   This is the final installment of the series.

How can a testimony be used incorrectly?

1.       Testimonies void of the gospel can give a false impression of what life is like as a Christian.

No two Christians have the exact same story or walk with God. So giving a testimony about your life as a Christian without a clear unpacking of the gospel is likely to give the hearer a false impression about what they should expect if they become a Christian. This can lead to a false conversion centered on idolatry (discussed in point 3 below) or leave the hearer with lots of baggage in the form of faulty theology and inaccurate expectations, such as Christianity leading to an easy life or a life free from pain and frustration.

2.       Testimonies void of the gospel can distort what Jesus died to save us from.

Jesus did not die to save us from some particular hardship or addiction or so that we could have some particular standard of living. He did not die so that we could be comfortable or wealthy or married to the woman of our dreams. Jesus died because we chose to rebel against God. He died as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of those who would put their faith in him, so that they might be reconciled to God. He died to save us from death and eternity in Hell away from God. We must always strive to avoid distorting the real message of the gospel – forgiveness of our sin against a holy and just God through faith in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

3.       Testimonies void of the gospel can reinforce a man-centered worldview rather than a God-centered worldview.

God becomes a genie-in-a-lamp who grants your wishes as long as you “believe” in him and have enough “faith.” We see this as people come to God based on what they perceive he can provide them (happiness, money, health, wife/husband, job, etc.), rather than from a realization that they are wicked sinners in need of a Savior and a right relationship with God. The Bible calls this idolatry. The focus becomes how God can materially improve your life (or make you a “better you”) rather than the beauty of a gracious, loving God who gave his life so that we could be ransomed from the punishment we deserve for our sins.

In the words of Adam Bond, Director of XEE (Gen X Evangelism Explosion)-North America,

“Your [personal testimonies] provide all the evidence and proof necessary to reveal the reality of the gospel in this generation. Most importantly, they will inspire a genuine curiosity about God through which you’ll be able to simply and clearly explain the gospel.”

I think he’s hit the nail on the head. Our personal testimonies should leave people desiring to know more about God and help provide us an opportunity to dialogue about the gospel. Testimonies are a means to an end, not an end themselves.

“I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ” (Philemon 1:6).

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