Category: Testimony

by Doris Murdoch

I retired from teaching four years ago.  Over the past four years, I have reminisced over the many experiences one could have with thirty-four years of teaching.  When I think of parent conferences, I recall one where a grandmother came in to accuse me of being a racist.  I listened to her concerns and then I positively assured her that I would never make decisions in the classroom based on the race of a student.  I invited her to visit in the classroom during the school day to observe my actions, teaching techniques, and relationships with the children.  I wanted her to see first-hand that I was not a racist.  This openness immediately put her at peace. I don’t recall ever having anymore confrontations like this that year.
This could have been a bad situation if I had not acted as Jesus would have expected me to behave.  Sincere listening took place.  There was compassion for the grandmother’s concerns. There was an open invitation to be a part of the educational classroom experience.  Jesus holds us accountable for our response to other individuals.  He expects us to respond as He would respond.
When the Roman centurion (Luke 7:1-10) searched out Jesus for the healing of the centurion’s slave, Jesus could have turned him away.  After all, he was Roman, not Jewish.  Jesus listened and had compassion.  Jesus respected the opinions of the Jewish elders and the leadership skills of the centurion.  Most of all, Jesus honored the centurion’s faith, for the centurion knew that Jesus could heal the sick. Jesus was willing to go to the centurion’s home, but the centurion’s faith was so strong that he knew Jesus’ words would heal the slave. Jesus responded with, “Not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”   Jesus set the example in this story for testimony, personal and in the faith of the centurion.  When we have a story that will glorify God and share the gospel of Jesus Christ, we need to proclaim it to others.

by Doris Murdoch

I viewed the movie, “Mary and Martha”, on Prime TV today. It was a very moving movie….I cried through this one! The movie was about family members dying of malaria and the events that occurred after this that altered several families’ lives forever. I highly recommend the movie.
Besides sharing the story of malaria, this movie points the finger at “first world countries” and our lack of understanding and apathy for the worldwide struggles of mankind. Government avoids dealing with these struggles; life is better to look the other way and reap the rewards of public office. Societies and individuals get wrapped up in the social demands of petty conversations and purchases of the “worldly needs”. Even our family can become callous when they witness what they consider overindulgence in helping others and aiding the world in being a better place for us all. On a personal note, one can get involved in education and achieving goals and then overlook the needs of others in our quest.
What will our story be? I’m guilty of choosing success, recognition, and pride in these endeavors. Is that the story I want? Do I want to testify to the world of my great achievements? Or do I want a story that will testify to my growing faith and help others to get on track with a growing faith? Do I want to glorify myself or glorify God? What kind of faith do we have?
On page 188 of my book, Testify: By the Blood of the Lamb and Word of Our Testimony, I emphasize the words of Charles Stanley¹. He suggests three essentials to be operative for someone to check out your faith. First, your character needs to be solid. What a person is on the inside is so much more important than what is observed on the outside. Sometimes that means following God to where or whom you least expect. Second, your conduct, or what you do, must be true to what you say. Conduct reveals character. A godly walk needs to be maintained and carefully watched over. Stanley’s last essential is conversation. Your conversation will either cloud or confirm your character and your conduct. Jesus should always be at the center of your conversation, not you. With Jesus at the center, the seed is planted and the Holy Spirit will nourish it into life. Your responsibility in sharing your testimony is to line up your character, conduct, and conversation. This can withstand cross examination and can be a life-changing experience for you and the person who is receiving the testimony. As we look at these three essentials, we see that testimony development can be beneficial in giving testament to your faith.

¹Stanley, Charles. The Glorious Journey: Insight, Encouragement, and Guidance for Your Walk of Faith. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. 1996.
 

by Doris Murdoch

In the news recently, we’ve seen crimes in Louisiana with the theatre shooting, the Chattanooga shooting of the military men, and the Charleston shooting in the church Bible study. The recent disheartening events continue on. We could identify these crimes with terrorism, racism, lack of respect for the military or lack of respect for our nation and the people that live in this democratic society. How do we take a stand and how do we stop these crimes against humanity?
If we read my book, Testify: By the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of Our Testimony, we may better realize the importance of thinking through God’s process of change or sanctification that each of us is experiencing as we grow as Christians (or at least we should be experiencing!). Once reading the book, we need to share our experiences or stories with others; our one present story may be one of many testimonies we’ll have as Christians. The book will take each person through step-by-step directions on how to identify these experiences and how to share these experiences through a personal testimony.
The biblical figure, Paul, shares his testimony in Acts 26. Paul testifies to King Agrippa concerning his faith change when he came to truly know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. He found that following Jesus Christ was the only way to true salvation with eternal life in heaven. He confessed his crimes of persecution against Christians. Paul allowed King Agrippa and anyone else in the throne room to hear his story of conversion, no matter the consequences. He was compelled to share his story in order to glorify God in his witness to others.
In a worship service recently, I witnessed a young man reveal his story of being raised in a racist home where one condemned those of the black race. God changed this man of the South and the racist imprint in his mind. We’ve heard the saying that God works in mysterious ways. Well, this gentleman was converted and called to serve black people in a nation of Africa. He and his lovely family will depart for East Africa to serve as missionaries in an Islamic community of Somalis this year. My heart is deeply warmed by his story. As a missionary and as a Christian, this young man will continue to grow and change in his journey of sanctification.
This man has a testimony to share. God called him to testify to the change in his life. God’s using him in a powerful way. Each of us, as “children of God”, have that same responsibility. Through story sharing, we may be able to convert or alter the beliefs in society, person by person, or one by one.
Posts that follow will share stories of faith or testimonies that may alter or enhance the belief system in each of us.