The role of Christian testimony is often misunderstood. Testimony is often seen by others as merely the story of the person testifying. But it is really the telling of a part of that person's life within the framework of the larger story of how what God made has been brought back together with its Creator, the greater story of the Good News and of the gathering of believers which that Good News created. Each testimony is an open, face-to-face version of what is actually so, which, when added to the testifying of others, becomes an up-to-the-minute part of the Scriptures' 'cloud of witnesses'. Sometimes a testimony is done to support what someone else is doing or saying by giving some additional life-stuff to think about. Testimony shows that a person can be changed, and the Christian faith is not a fantasy and can be lived. Since anyone can testify and anyone's testimony can have an effect, the practice of sharing testimony can break down the walls of race, age, gender, or socio-economic class. Testimony can be an eye-opener for visitors who have no idea of how good the Good News can be. It can help people to be less afraid of God and more aware that God is near and at hand rather than at a far distance. Money, illness, conflict, fidelity, young love, addiction, attitude, work, daily encounters with evil -isms, new awareness, sadness, fear: all kinds of matters of who they are and what happens to them are all brought to the Body when testifying. But they're not brought up as matters to discuss or as a laundry list of failings or successes. They're brought up as a place in life where God is at work, where the struggle is bared, where the victories are celebrated and the Source of all true victory is given praise. When done in a worship service or a church meeting, testimony must fit in with Paul's concern for good order, and not take over the place of the sacraments or Scripture. There are places in the service that may be suitable for testimony in worship, depending on the format of the service, the minister, and the tradition of the congregation. For instance: -sharing your conversion story at your adult baptism. -sharing about an answered prayer or healing, before praying together. -telling a brief story of confession about a specific sin before a general absolution of the gathered. -in some traditions, sharing about life events that build on or draw from the meaning of a hymn, as an introduction for or in the midst of a praise song chain or medley. -in some traditions, an anecdote or short telling in a specified or pre-set place in someone else's sermon, to illustrate or support the point of the sermon. -in some traditions, testifying during the praise time after the sermon or after the end of the service. Testimony is usually more impactful in a small-group setting where it is more likely to be trusted and the testifier is more easily held accountable. In that context, testimony is part of the caring and sharing which is the net of support for which small fellowship groups exist. Testimonies can also be helpful as part of church non-worship events.
