[T]oday if you talk about Christianity being true or historically verifiable, many people would be puzzled. Religion is assumed to be a product of human subjectivity so that the test of "good" religion is not whether it is objectively true but only whether it has beneficial effects in the lives of those who believe it.Total Truth, Nancy Pearcey, Crossway, 2004, pp. 116-117.
This quote reminded me of a pitch made by a popular preacher on television a number of years ago. He suggested that the host "try Jesus for 60 days and see if He won't change your life." While it's true that Christ will change our lives, "try Jesus because it works" seems to be just a subtle form of the prosperity gospel. This is quite different from truth claim that God's wrath is coming, you must repent and believe the gospel.
This also makes me wonder about the over emphasis placed on personal testimony. If the testimony is more dramatic, it's more convincing and, therefore, "better". Yes we should testify to what God has done in our lives, but is there a subtle shift to where we believe the testimony is what validates the gospel because the message is insufficient to stand on its own?
This reminds me of something Os Guinness said: "The Gospel isn't true because it works, it works because it's true."
ReplyDeleteSo very true. Our pastor made a similar statement after two young boys made a confession of faith. He basically explained our downplay because we "expect" them to...but His work of grace in their hearts us just as amazing and still a miraculous work.
ReplyDeleteSo true! I love Rosemary's quote as well.
ReplyDeleteWe never try Jesus. He always tries us...
Psalm 34:8? Possibly?
ReplyDeleteI think there is some truth to the idea that once you believe on the Lord, you will know that He is.
Maybe they are going about it wrong though.
I agree with you about the testimony thing. I once heard someone say that they "made up" a dramatic testimony, since theirs wasn't enough.
Total Truth: Excellent book!
ReplyDeleteFor a great message on this idea of "try it, it works" vs. absolute truth, consider Dr. Voddie Baucham's message on "Why I Choose to Believe the Bible":
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=530914253
@Scott: Thanks for the link.
ReplyDelete"Testimony" from "new" believers (if indeed they are believers) can be skewed to the point of "lie". I remember 15 years ago listening to a fellow give his testimony...within the narrative was his new job, driving a truck to a city without knowing how to get there. Fortunately for him, he met "an angel" at a necessary fork in the road. Further on, he met another. All in all, he met three
ReplyDelete"angels of God".
It was awful.
Excellent post, Persis. It reminds me of a point Doug Wilson made in one of his sermons; namely, that the drama of one's personal testimony is given too much consideration in today's evangelical circles, almost as if that is the true measure of the Gospel's power.
ReplyDeleteWe think it's amazing that God saved the drug-addicted axe murderer on death row... and then we look at our own testimony and think, "How boring."
Yep, this fits in well with my latest bug-bear, I agree with the post and all the comments. My church recently introduced its first occasional member testimonies with the result that the (expository)sermon was cut from the usual 25-30 mins to 12 mins.And the testimony was pretty cringe making, and lacking objective truth..The second one said how her awful life had taken a turn for the better since God led her to supportive people in the church. Very nice, but was there a repentance which leads to salvation?, and would non-Christians have been misled?
ReplyDeleteI really like Rosemary's quote. So thankful that God opened my eyes to these truths! Blessings!
ReplyDelete