I have recently been having some conversations with some Christian teenagers and it is apparent that they understand the importance of sharing their testimony of how they came to know Christ with non-believers. I agree that it is very important to share what Jesus Christ has done in our lives. However, a distinction should be made between our testimony and the gospel. Our testimony is not the gospel but it testifies to what the God has done in our lives through the gospel and His grace.
The gospel is objective truth. It is universal truth that is grounded objectively, not subjectively. Our personal testimonies are subjective. The are grounded in the subject; that is, us. Testimonies can change from one person to another. Testimonies do not prove anything but merely illustrate what the gospel has done in our lives. For example, a Mormon could also have testimony but that does not make their beliefs true. However, you cannot argue with their experience because it is subjective and grounded in their experience rather than in some objective truth.
The gospel is truth. It is objective and is grounded in God’s Word and in the historically attested event that is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We defend this truth and we share this truth. Our testimony testifies to this truth but the gospel is the good news and can lead the lost into abundance life which Christ came to give. Our testimony cannot save anyone and it is only good news to us as the subject.
Let us share our testimony but let the sharing of our testimony point others to the main character of our testimony, God, not us. May we use it as bridge to share the gospel with others and may truth of the gospel grounded in God’s Word lead to the expansion of God’s kingdom through the conversion of the lost.
The Excogitating Engineer 