Testimonies

[nahkoe]

I've been considering testimonies I've read and heard and wondering if my perception is accurate.

It seems a testimony goes something like this: 1. I was a sinner (insert sin of choice in some cases) 2. I found Jesus and got saved. 3. Now I'm doing this, this, and this for Jesus!

Where is the part where people admit how challenging the transition from living in sin to living for God can be? Is this included in testimonies I haven't looked at? I know I have read books and heard stories that include the challenges of living for God and walking with Him, but that's not really what I'm talking about.

What do you think? Should the challenges and the journey of transitioning from a former lifestyle to the lifestyle God desires be included in testimonies? Or should it be painted as rosy, and yes, most I've read definitely lean towards rosy, pie in the sky, even if they acknowledge difficulties while living for God...the doubt, questions, even shock from a sharply transitioning lifestyle is something I don't see!

[ILG]

You make a good point. The transition for me was incredibly difficult, leaving everything I knew, family, friends, the state I was living in, the lifestyle I was living in. My husband and I did this together, with little help and a lot of condemnation for not doing it good enough.

I never really thought before about what you wrote above, but testimonies are often whitewashed.

[missourimary]

Most people paint things rosy... no offense, but so does a car dealer, or any other salesperson.

We've been talking about this in Sunday School. Often, people don't relate to rosy. They do relate to people that are just as human as they are.

[Praxeas]

Sorry but Im one of those rare persons that when I heard the call I left all and trusted in God and it was not a hardship to do.

I did not feel oppressed. I did not miss my old life. I didn't find it too hard to be a Christian.

However since then has my life been without troubles? Of course not but I do have a wonderful savior to lean on now as opposed to before.

[Sam]

Over half a century as a Christian I've heard lots of good testimonies as people told about what the Lord had done for them. Some have been very uplifting and encouraging.

Of course I've heard lots of "canned" testimonies and tales of woe also.

[nahkoe]

Sorry but Im one of those rare persons that when I heard the call I left all and trusted in God and it was not a hardship to do.

I did not feel oppressed. I did not miss my old life. I didn't find it too hard to be a Christian.

However since then has my life been without troubles? Of course not but I do have a wonderful savior to lean on now as opposed to before.

I get this too. :) I just sort of hope I'm not really the only one out here who's struggled as much as I have, and still do. Honest is good, and appreciated on either side of the coin. I'm grateful for those who get to just turn and that's it, but sometimes I wonder if something's wrong with me that it's been so difficult and I rarely hear about anyone else who has struggled.

[nahkoe]

Most people paint things rosy... no offense, but so does a car dealer, or any other salesperson.

We've been talking about this in Sunday School. Often, people don't relate to rosy. They do relate to people that are just as human as they are.

Sure, people do paint things rosy, but aren't Christians supposed to be honest? :spit Really mostly tongue in cheek, but I think that's what I'm getting at in my thoughts right now. If Christianity is better, is the ideal, is what we want the world to turn to, then isn't it a problem to misrepresent it to those most likely to call us on it and use such misrepresentation as an excuse not to seek God or turn to Him?

[Praxeas]

I get this too. :) I just sort of hope I'm not really the only one out here who's struggled as much as I have, and still do. Honest is good, and appreciated on either side of the coin. I'm grateful for those who get to just turn and that's it, but sometimes I wonder if something's wrong with me that it's been so difficult and I rarely hear about anyone else who has struggled.
What do you mean by struggling? It was my impression by "testimony" what was meant was our coming to the Lord, not the trials we face since then

[Praxeas]

Sure, people do paint things rosy, but aren't Christians supposed to be honest? :spit Really mostly tongue in cheek, but I think that's what I'm getting at in my thoughts right now. If Christianity is better, is the ideal, is what we want the world to turn to, then isn't it a problem to misrepresent it to those most likely to call us on it and use such misrepresentation as an excuse not to seek God or turn to Him?
Being honest and blathering on and on and on and on for an hour about everything are not the same thing.

A 'testimony' is supposed to be about HIM. It's supposed to be about what HE has done.

Christianity is about being saved, being in a right relationship with Him.

It's not better because it's a better way to heaven. It's the only way.

We are wrong though when or if we mislead people into believing Christianity is about a Joel Osteen smiley moment. :toofunny

[nahkoe]

What do you mean by struggling? It was my impression by "testimony" what was meant was our coming to the Lord, not the trials we face since then

I do mean the testimony of salvation, the coming to the Lord, not the life since. For me, this has been a long, interesting, quite twisted process.