You know your friend Jim well. You know his testimony. He grew up in a Christian home, but he was saved from the dangers of religion and works-type salvation mentality when he was 16. He never got into drugs or drinking. He was never into any of that partying stuff. However, you've noticed that his testimony has changed a bit since then.
-Jim's testimony: Take 1, this time with 3 girls as audience.
"I remember that I was in such a deep place. I needed a way out. I was so desperate. So I started skipping school and drinking. I drank while I skipped school. I was such a rebel without a cause, such a bad boy. I almost bought a motorcycle and a red leather jacket. And then I got I saved."
-Jim's testimony: Take 2, this time in front of the entire church audience.
"I remember that I was in such a deep place. I needed a way out. I started smoking cigarettes, then I started doing drugs and even drinking alcohol. I was always getting into fights with the kids from the neighborhood. I almost got a tattoo, and then I turned 12 and got saved."
It's obvious that your friend Jim suffers from OYTS (Outdoing Your Testimony Syndrome). It's a terrible condition makes Christians compete with each other to see who has the "best" testimony, which usually means more dramatic. Apparently, these brothers have forgotten that a soul saved from hell, whether from partying or religion, is what truly matters.
Know anyone like Jim?
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GREAT post!
ReplyDeleteI like what a preacher said once: your testimony isn't about you - it's about God. Don't make much of the sin that He saved you from... make much of the Savior that saved you from sin.
Focusing on how "bad" we were before we met Christ doesn't edify anyone really. We should be focusing on the Lord and glorifying Him for what He has done.
Thanks so much for the comment!
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