Testimonies

WED., NOV. 4, 1987, 7:08 AM
FARM, STUDY

Should the worship service at the Presbyterian Church include personal testimonies? This was a question your Session considered last evening, and, naturally, it is one that interests Me. So, as a king of testimony to you I shall share My convictions about this possibility.

Fundamentally, I like personal testimonies. I love and respect all relationships with Me, in any and all of My Triune forms. Most Presbyterians, though they have faith and a relationship with Me, as Almighty God or as Jesus, the Christ, are not very willing to express and describe that relationship publicly, even before fellow Presbyterians. Knowing that most of their fellow Presbyterians are reluctant to speak, each is urged, by this silent peer pressure, to “be as the others are.” It thus becomes normatively comfortable not to speak out. And thus anyone who does becomes a threat to the reluctant.

I realize how this social approval and disapproval works, and I do have warm feelings for those who just cannot talk about their spiritual life, but I am not pleased when this reluctance becomes oppressively normal. For I also love those who can testify, in some way, that their lives are enriched and made whole by some kind of relationship with Me. Actually, any willingness to speak in the course of a worship service, regular or special, is a testimony. Even making a rather informational announcement is a testimony, for that one separates herself from the silent majority and becomes one willing to speak. Willingness to speak is evidence of some commitment to the church, and this implies relationship with Me. I take what I can get!

Each elder who participates in the worship service is making a testimony. Some do it reluctantly and superficially, but given the range of individual status as active Christians, even this is accepted by and pleasing to Me. You do it because you truly want to, and I accept fully that this is your primary motive for being on the Session. So I say to you… continue to take and cherish these opportunities to testify with your words and your very being that you are an active, vibrant servant of Mine. Step forth from the shelter of those who would do it as a task and make your unique testimony, even as it must be muted and incomplete.

The talk last evening included allowing and encouraging people to make spontaneous prayer requests. Even a sentence of verbal request while standing in the midst of the congregation is a testimony. The logistics can be worrisome, but the actual doing of it is pleasing to Me, and accepted as a testimony. In making a request a person openly acknowledges that which all should share – a belief that prayer is heard and heeded. This is a mild testimony of faith. I accept even the widow’s mite.

A short testimony about what the church means in your life would be another step of disclosure. Anyone who does this is likely to be judged in two ways. There will be appreciation and what is said may inspire thoughts in others about what place the church has in their lives. And yet there also will be some negative judgments… resentment that someone is stepping forth from the silence that most share. The action says, “You, too, should speak” and the internal response is “Not me!” Sad, but true.