There are many traditions within Christianity where sharing your testimony is not only common, it’s expected. Those traditions have something to teach us as Lutherans, not just because they also happen to be the ones growing in worship attendance, but because part of being a disciple is the ability to give your own personal testimony. Since we don’t really use the language of testimony in the Lutheran world, an explanation is in order.
In general your testimony is the overall story of your relationship with God.
The Apostle Paul had a 4-part model for this that we can see in Acts 22:1-21.
1. History of his life.
2. His life before knowing Jesus.
3. His conversion Story- How he came to know Jesus
4. His life after conversion
Today people tend to use a 3 part model.
1. Before knowing Jesus
2. How you came to know Jesus
3. Your life since knowing Jesus.
For those who have been a part of the Church since their birth, this model may seem like it doesn’t apply, but all of us have at some point made the choice to continue in faith and God has blessed that act of faithfulness.
I think it’s important we can all articulate our personal testimony.
Testimony is used in another way too in the Church. It can also mean a story of God’s grace, God’s work in your life, or how you saw God at work in the world. When you give a testimony, you are testifying to God’s work in the world that you witnessed.
During the Advent season, I am asking people to either give their personal testimony or a testimony during worship, so, you will get to hear about how God has worked in the lives of others in the church. I look forward to hearing these testimonies.
Peace,
Rev. Serrano