Similar experiences?

[smiley1979]

When did you accept God into your life? Ever since I could remember, I had no doubt about God. My parents sent me to sunday school when I was a child. I think between 10 and 12 years old Ididn't attend any church but I attended a Christian camp every summer. By the time I was 13 I convinced my parents to take me to church. At school and amongst my friends I was considered the goody two shoes( not because of church).
Now, amongst a group of Christian friends, some used to drink, some smoke, some used to be in trouble with the law, and others have had girlfriends/boyfriends. I never had a drink, smoked, been in trouble with the law and I've never had a boyfriend or dated. Whenever someone gives a testimony, I always think that I don't have a testimony because I've never done anything bad. Well, at least the things I mentioned. I feel bad that my testimony would make others feel worse about themselves.
I was just wondering if there is anyone else out there who has had this same sort of experience.

 

[Kol]

What doesn't make sense to you will often make sense to those who need to hear it. You will have their missing piece.

Read John 9:13 and onward, about the blind man. This man didn't really seem to understand who Jesus was ("maybe he's a prophet"...oh gee, ya think?, he did just spontaneously give you sight), but his testimony was still very powerful...and I think that's one of the points.

It doesn't matter how great or dramatic your testimony is. It doesn't matter whether 100 people, 10 people, or only one ever hears it. God will use it in the exact way He needs it to be used.

There are people in John who don't even know Jesus' name when he heals them. But as soon as the pharisees hear "some man walked by and put his hands on my eyes, and now I can see", they know exactly who has just passed.

You aren't required to do anything but this: tell what happened to you. No more, no less. You are very seldom the first encounter someone has had with Christ. But you might very well be one of the final pieces for everything to fit together for them.

 

[PetLuv]

I don't think that previously being bad makes you a better Christian.
It gives people something to strive for in their today, no matter their yesterday.

 

[Luther073082]

When did you accept God into your life? Ever since I could remember, I had no doubt about God. My parents sent me to sunday school when I was a child. I think between 10 and 12 years old Ididn't attend any church but I attended a Christian camp every summer. By the time I was 13 I convinced my parents to take me to church. At school and amongst my friends I was considered the goody two shoes( not because of church).
Now, amongst a group of Christian friends, some used to drink, some smoke, some used to be in trouble with the law, and others have had girlfriends/boyfriends. I never had a drink, smoked, been in trouble with the law and I've never had a boyfriend or dated. Whenever someone gives a testimony, I always think that I don't have a testimony because I've never done anything bad. Well, at least the things I mentioned. I feel bad that my testimony would make others feel worse about themselves.
I was just wondering if there is anyone else out there who has had this same sort of experience.

Well you don't have really much of a testimony because it lacks any sort of a conversion story. So giving a testimony about how you came to God is a bit difficult. However you can talk about the things God has done in your life.

The fact that you've been a Christian your whole live should not hurt people's feelings so long as you talk about it with the same humility as a person who was into drugs and alcohol talks about it. Never forget that while you might not have done anything that the world count's as bad, you most certainly have done many things that God counts as bad. Just keep your mind on God's standard and not the world's standard.

I will say because of your history, you have an added burden upon you to be sure to be humble. There is nothing that discourages people from comming to Christ so much as the fear and belief that they will be second class Christians to those people who have been Christians their whole life. I know I certainly felt like that at first. It proved unfounded for which I'm glad. But you carry a heavier weight in the fact that people need to know your humility. I belive the bible says something like "boast of your weaknesses so that you may boast of Christ's strength."

Mine is sort of a hybrid. I was not really raised in a Christian family, however I did have dicipline. So therefore I never really got into big trouble and I didn't do drugs or drink. I was very much seen as a goody two shoes in some respects, however I was an atheist.

In college I came to the realization of God. It did change a few things with me, I learned forgiveness, loving your enemy, I became more patient which where very much invaluable things to learn. However those things aren't immediatly noticable and certainly arn't measurable. The only real measurable change that one could notice was I stopped taking God's name in vain.

 

[ModestGirlsRock]

I agree with the all above statements. I also have some friends in similiar situations that are probably even more "goody goody" than you are, but they're so friendly, humble, kind, and forgiving. They're my examples of people who look more like Christ everyday, and I'm so blessed to have them in my life. I bet you have seen Christians who seem so perfect, but they feel excluding whether it's unintentional or not. I have just graduated from high school so it's fresh in my mind of that group and how even though I'm a Christian, I felt inferior to them and no matter how hard I'd try, I couldn't quite fit in the "group". I think the difference between those I still call my friends and the "group" is that when I mess up or when anyone we know does is the willingness to forgive and still love. My friends have this willingness in abundance.