I Don't Have a Testimony
Have you ever heard a Christian say “I don’t really have a testimony”?
I have. This especially seems to be a common saying among people who have grown up as Christians or in the church. It can be a somewhat limiting mindset to have when it comes to reaching our Muslim friends.
We tend to believe in the power of story and testimony, but may not think that our own cuts it. I think about people like my husband who didn’t grow up in the church and came to Christ out of drugs, alcohol and other unhealthy lifestyle choices. Wouldn’t he be better to reach others trapped in similar situations? I think about my former Muslim friends, many of them have incredible testimonies of dreams, visions, miracles and persecution. Wouldn’t they be best to reach Muslims? These people have been miraculously saved.
Maybe that’s not your story though. It’s not mine either. I grew up in the church and chose to follow Jesus when I was four years old.
If we aren’t careful, we can use the idea that we don’t have a “testimony” as an excuse not to reach people. We think that surely someone would be better at evangelism who can relate to what other people are going through. A former Muslim can reach the Muslims, a former drug addict can witness to someone fighting addictions, a former prostitute can reach the prostitutes. That’s fair. However, there are two arguments against that worth considering: One, who does that leave us to reach? And two, is that Biblical?
Matthew 28:19, the passage on the Great Commission, makes no concession for the types of people we should witness to. It says to make disciples of ALL nations.
Certainly God will use your and others specific experiences to reach others. But this is the great news: If you have ever thought you didn’t have much of a “testimony”, I’m happy to tell you, that’s simply not the case.
Have you believed in Christ and accepted his forgiveness? Then you have the most powerful testimony and story to share that has ever been told. You have been rescued from the depths of sin. You are freed from being a slave to selfishness, fear and pride. Death no longer rules over you. You have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of light. You have been adopted as a daughter of the King of Kings. That is your story. And that is the most important testimony of every believer. I mentioned above those people who had been miraculously saved. We all have been miraculously saved.
Having understood this, it also compels us to love lost people generously and without judgment. Each one of us could be a Muslim, drug addict, a prostitute, or even a persecutor, without Christ.
Unless we truly believe we were rescued from the deepest darkness, we will never truly appreciate the glorious light we have been given. And until we begin to grasp how lost and wicked we are without Christ, we won’t fully appreciate His sacrifice for us. Part of the reason why our brothers and sisters who are former Muslims in closed nations are so on fire for evangelism could be that they understand their story. We can do the same. We don’t have to wait for an experience that we think is novel-worthy. The greatest story has already been told, and many more are waiting to hear it. You have been entrusted with it; you already have a powerful testimony that is worth sharing.
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” 2 Corinthians 5:20