Madison’s question to Matthew: What is the importance of sharing testimonies? How did you process yours?

As I think about it, the embracing of “testimonies” is a unique thing to the Protestant faith. Sure, testimony is given at a trial in court, yet in most cases, you wouldn’t use the term in conversation with a friend or random person – it is a Protestant thing.

I took part in a Catholic studies class a few months ago as a Protestant representative – they were engaging in an understanding of the various Christian streams. To begin my time, I simply shared my testimony, letting them know that I would use the common terms that I would typically hear when a Protestant shares their testimony. This would give them an understanding of my tradition and allow them to ask questions about terms and ideas that I shared in my testimony that they may be unfamiliar with. I’ll never forget one student’s question: “Does everyone in your church have a testimony?” Of all the questions I was expecting, this was not one of them.

So, does everyone have a testimony? Do you have a testimony? How would you articulate it?

“Evidence or proof provided by the existence or appearance of something.”

“A public recounting of a religious conversion or experience.”

“A solemn declaration.”

We all have a story. It is unique to us. “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages. At first, the infant, mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.” Shakespeare “As You Like It” Act 2 Scene 7

So why do we, as Protestants, insist on sharing testimonies? What is it about them the helps to shape us as followers of Jesus? Why should I be interested in your story? Why should you care about my story?

First of all, I would suggest that the bible models this idea for us. How often do we read in the Psalms or the Prophets the term “Remember”. Remember what God has done. Remember how he found you and picked you up. When you children ask, remember to tell them…

Our stories, our testimonies, are part of our remembering. They help us to not forget, and we can be encouraged as others remember what God has done in their lives.

As a community we are stronger as we hear each other’s stories of faith. In the times before electricity and gadgets (or so I’m told), families and communities would gather to hear stories. Stories of the past, to remind each other about life. The stories held them together, made them a community. In the same way, our testimonies hold us together with our common focus on Christ.

And, they stretch us. I can’t tell you how many times my faith and understanding of God has grown as I hear how someone else has experienced God. Sometimes it has caused me to tilt my head and wonder if this can really be true, and yet I can’t argue with someone’s testimony, it is their story, their reality. Stories of God appearing in dreams, speaking through audible prompts and causing people to do things that seem to not make sense in the moment, and yet reveals itself to be right after the fact. As I pull together the many testimonies I have heard over the years, my understanding of the character of God and how he chooses to interact has grown in some amazing ways for which I am grateful.

So, how have I processed my testimony? First of all, let me start my saying that I love my testimony. I probably couldn’t always have said that but I can now. I love it because it is mine. God has intersected my life in a way unique to me, he has shown his love to me in a way that I can relate to it based on my personality. You can probably infer from this that I am saddened when Christians say that they don’t have a “very good testimony.” For me, the love of Christ is so compelling that anyone who believes in him should be overjoyed with whatever their testimony sounds like, because none of us deserves his love – Grace!

And so, as I ponder and share my testimony, I have simply looked to those moments in life where God has met me in distinct ways that have moved me to new levels of understanding and commitment to follow him.

Praying a prayer of salvation at age 8 at Camp Crossroads. Being baptized in grade 9 (and sharing my testimony before all the adults at church!) Choosing to step away from friendships in grade 11 that were distracting me from faith. Engaging with a mentor in university to guide my faith and learning to embrace spiritual practices as a discipline rather than when I simply felt like it. Electing to mentor/disciple other guys who were younger to help them deepen their faith which in turn has deepened mine. Stepping away from a banking career as I heard the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Choosing to become a pastor even though it wasn’t my career path of choice. Electing to embrace a Lead Pastor role even though I felt inadequate to do it well.

The more I learn about God and his character and the way he engages with creation, the more I realize I don’t know God that well, and so the more I lean into what God would have for me to comprehend, which in turn causes me to work harder at listening to the Spirit’s promptings. The bigger God get’s in my understanding of his complexities, to more I simply rest in the fact that “he’s got this.” It is not for me to control, it is simply for me to follow and say yes. Whether he has decades more for me to do, or if my piece will end soon. I’m good with God. And because of Jesus, God is good with me. And that is my testimony to date.

So what is your testimony? And who have you shared it with recently?

For the kingdom.