Sunday, April 3, 2011
Should Testimonials be a Secret?
I was having a discussion with one of y classmates the other day and we were talking about testimonials in a church setting. She was convinced that testimonials are necessary for a church because they provide a first hand look at what God is doing in people's lives. She got me thinking on the concept of testimonies in general. I think that it is necessary for each individual to have their own testimony but it isn't necessary to share it with others, if you don't want to. I believe that your own experience is personal and that you should be free to tell it if you want. I was wondering what you thought about testimonials? Is it necessary to share your own testimonial or should you keep it to yourself? And should you have to listen to other people's testimonies?
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Testimonials are definitely a very personal story. Seeing as they are so personal I definitely think testimonies are something that should only be shared if an individual so desires. With that being said, I think that sharing testimonies and other divine experiences with fellow believers is a vital part of fellowship. And fellowship is certainly a vital part of any religious community. Testimonies certainly have a role in the church.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Maddy. Testimonials are very important to fellowship which is an integral part of churches. If people are willing, then it would be beneficial for the person sharing and everyone listening to hear that person's experience with God. The listeners can learn from the example that the speaker is putting forth. However, I do not think that it is necessary for everyone to share their testimonies. Sometimes people will not be comfortable with this because it is too personal. Testimonies are very useful, but not necessary for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI think testimonies are necessary. People use testimonies as a form of Thanksgiving, and by sharing their experience with others, they are sharing God's grace with others. While there are several examples of this in the Bible, I think it is vital for people to share their recent experiences because it allows Christians to recognize God's power in a closer way, rather than feel distant from characters such as John or Paul.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what everyone has been saying, but i think that everyone should share their testimony at some point in their life, no matter how personal it is. I don't think that they should be forced to, but sharing definitely has its benefits. You never know what is going on in someone's life, so maybe sharing your testimony could help someone else out spiritually if they have something similar going on in their life.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with everyone. Hearing a fellow believer tell their own personal story of struggles and disappointments and the turn around God allowed him/her to have is often more convicting than a sermon. Seeing God's grace in someone else's life is hugely beneficial. Testimonials are a great asset to the church and the believer.
ReplyDeleteI believe that no one should be forced to talk about their personal experiences with God unless they want to. The relationship is between that person and God and most likely that relationship is different than someone else's with God. I do believe that telling testimonies can be helpful to oneself and others because people can learn and aid from these testimonies, but religion in general can be a very personal and sensitive subject so if someone does not feel comfortable telling their testimonies I do not believe they should have to.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of these comments; I think testimonies are very powerful but should not be given to everyone. I do not think people should feel pressured by others or by their churches to share their testimonies. Instead, these personal experiences should be shared according to the will of each individual. Additionally, I do not think that testimonies are essential to churches or other religious institutions. Although religious experiences can be used as powerful examples of God, they also detract from the idea that believing in God requires faith without proof or explanation of his existence. Thus, I do not think that testimonies of God's supposed intervention and aid in people's lives is necessary in a church setting.
ReplyDeleteI would like to add that I think a lot of times, people hear others' testimonies and compare them to their own or maybe try to imitate them. I've heard many times that your testimony is the "second greatest story ever told" and I think that a lot of times, people can get caught up in other people's testimonies and not realize how great their own testimonies are.
ReplyDeleteI also think that testimonies are a wonderful way to strengthen one's faith. In my opinion, religious beliefs are so much more meaningful when you hear how they have effected and helped other people. You can hear the same Bible passages over and over again but they might not mean anything to you until you hear how much it means to someone else. I don't know of any Churches that require people to give testimonies but if that does happen then I don't think that is right. The whole point of a testimony is that you were so moved by something you feel the need to share it with others.
ReplyDeleteI personally love hearing testimonies. One of the most meaningful church services for me was one in which a close friend of mine gave her testimony in our college led service. Emily is right... you can read scripture over and over, but it takes hearing how God is working through lives to really make the true connection. Testimonies are powerful, and I think they are a great way to share faith.
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