Testimony?

[Thuli]

Hi xtianne and welcome

I have read the book, watched the DVD, sent her emails and even visited her website and the forum.

Can I ask you, what is the reason behind your request/suggestion. Do you have something you want to discuss about the book?

 

[orthros]

Peace.....God brings each of us closer to Him in His own way; that is the way He chose for you & it worked! God Bless, "orthros"

 

[tpirob]

Amen to the posts above! Tim raises an important point, which I believe many Christians (at least in my limited experience) overlook in practice, even while they evangelize theoretically: our behaviour towards non-Christians is the frontier of our faith, where we should be at our best and most Christ-like behaviour. But for many it's the back-alley and wrong-side-of-the-railroad of their Christian life, a place to be the most defensive and the most aggressive - not the substrate for being the "salt of the earth", the ground in which God's gospel must grow.

Apart from the fact that such a mentality has a detrimental effect on our testimony towards "heathens, pagans and sinners" (like Pharisees towards the "uncircumcized"), with the result of 'preaching from on high' rather than 'serving from below', it also affects our interpretation of the Bible. It's easy to undertand how we must take care of each other, our "brothers", but how do the verses heron quotes above apply to non-Christians? Do "neighbours" also qualify as "brothers"?

No doubt they do, but how to express this Biblically? Seekers are not Christians yet, and often have a false idea of God that they think is Biblical. Under such circumstances quoting the Bible cannot be a method of persuasion, but of clarification - it is our resource, not yet theirs. Otherwise, what starts as a theological discussion quickly degenerates into an argument over definitions, interpretations, meanings of words etc. It only emphasizes division (which already exists in understanding and background), and the testimony gets lost in the process. It's a hard lesson even among Christians (1 Tim. 1:4; 6:20; Titus 3:9). The Biblical answer to this is (no surprise here) brotherly love towards all people, "which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Tim. 3:5).

It's that last bit that we miss: evangelism starts with yourself, and it is only persuasive when that overflows into the other person's life. Then it will be the Spirit acting instead of you, the fruit of the gospel becoming visible from its roots in you - and people will see God more easily, without you getting in the way. "Love your neighbour as yourself" can only be true if that love emerges from a depth beyond your ego.

Evangelism means being a witness of how Christ treats 'sinners', supported by our knowledge of how He treated us. We are literally a witness, almost a specator, of God's work. But it requires us to be the servants of his will, messengers of his words: priests and prophets.

Not everybody has the gift of teaching or interpretation, and we should be the first to admit this. Invariably, a non-believer's first encounter with Christianity is the law, and the conviction of sin that comes in its wake can be paralyzing and overwhelming, which requires wisdom and support to get through - it should lead to repentance, not alienation! The law is only good if it is used properly (1 Tim. 1:8) The gifts for being fishers of men are "the greater gifts" we must actively seek (1 Cor. 12:31) which are only accessible through "the most excellent way" which is the universal, divine kind of love, practiced in faith, and giving hope. Without that, not even God's message spoken in the tongue of angels will sound like anything but a clanging symbal. "And if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?"

amen, brother.

 

[ChrisCarol]

Tim, To be a Christian is to believe in Christ. It has nothing to do with an icon or church membership or for that matter baptism. The thief on the cross was not baptized. I am not saying it is not a thing that we should do but rather it is for a witness to others.

God looks on the heart:

1 Samuel 16:7​

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.​

There is no doubt in my mind what has been in your heart and I am sure, beyond any doubt, that God knows and approves also.

I am very happy that your life is better now that you and your wife are in church together. I do not believe it is as much you are in church but rather that you are together.

I have been in church all my life but Jesus Death for remission of sins, His Burial for change and His Resurrection for our Eternal Life, is the Only thing that has ever made me feel like I am worthy of being His Child. All because I believe in what He did for me.

I pray this Easter season that you will experience far more than you have ever imagined.

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/l/a/alasand.htm

Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I?
[originally, For such a worm as I?]
Refrain
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine—
And bathed in its own blood—
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His Soul in anguish stood.
Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature’s sin.
Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.
But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give my self away
’Tis all that I can do.

Carol