Telling Testimony

The sharing of personal testimonies, the events which one has experienced and witnessed in life, is one of the best ways possible to encourage other believers or open the gospel message to non-believers. Sometimes, by recalling for others what the Almighty has already done in our lives, it can encourage and strengthen the faith of oneself to move on to even greater events in life.

The sharing of one's testimony is usually done with a casual and relaxed atmosphere much unlike the formal and rigid time spent in teaching or preaching. Testimony given in a one-on-one situation relavent to a specific matter is likely to be more personal and shared only for the purpose at hand. Within public settings, the testimony is likely to be less detailed or of a topic that is not considered private.

We must realize that most people are defensive about being taught or being preached at ... yet they are often receptive to things we share. Teaching comes across as rough and even judgmental because it is saying that one thing is right and another is wrong. It implies that the person speaking expects the listener to follow what was said. Even if it is true, it can be difficult to take. It can be like someone who comes up, gives unasked for advice, and expects you to take it and follow it. Sharing, on the other hand, does not make demands of a person. It just lets another know what is happening in our lives and allows the other person to think about it. Hopefully they see something that makes them want to know more and pursue it.

Sharing testimony is like planting seeds. If we turn a moment to the parable of the sower, we have someone who is casting out seed. This method of sowing just spreads the seed out on the ground and lets it try to grow (much like one would do with grass seed). There is a heavy mortality rate for this type of seeding as is shown by the parable in that which is eaten, grows amongst weeds, or falls on the rocks. Planting, however, can be more involved. Planting is more like the person who has a garden who takes the time to make a row, dig a hole, plant the seed, and cover it over. Planted seed will have a much greater chance of survival than the cast seed.

Seeding and planting illustrates real life events. An example of casting seeds would be for me to go to a public mall and start sharing my testimony. There would be a mix of believers and non-believers in the crowd, many people going by probably would not care what I had to say, would not have the time to listen, or would soon forget what was said. Although there might be a few that are helped, I am guessing the percentage would be quite small. However it is very different when we can plant seeds. We have an advantage with family, friends, co-workers, or those we meet with on a regular basis. If they are people we talk to and who already listen to us, there already exists some interest and some trust there to build upon. This is fertile ground where we can plant the seed in the ground and cover it over.