Do You Feel As If You Had to Have Taken Drugs in Order to Have a Good Testimony?

Hey Everyone,

Do you ever feel like you don't have much to offer other people or the kingdom of God because you're a "plain vanilla" Christian?

I like plain vanilla, it makes me think of french vanilla which is a classic

It looks kinda creepy to dredge up the same woman's threads.

Just a tip....

Try resurrecting other people's threads.

Hey Everyone,

Do you ever feel like you don't have much to offer other people or the kingdom of God because you're a "plain vanilla" Christian?

My Mom and I were talking about this because my parents regularly hear all kinds of testimonies through their work. She told that she often feels like she doesn't have anything to offer anyone because she's doesn't have an incredibly intense testimony as so many Christians do. She was born and raised a Christian, married early, stayed at home to raise a family... and continues to be my Dad's faithful help mate every single day.

I don't know if it's just me, but I'm often blown away by the testimonies some people have--recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, surviving abandonment and raising kids amidst the turmoil, and several "there is no cure" medical issues that were miraculously healed.

I admire each and every person for the personal struggles God has helped them overcome.

But it leaves me feeling as if... I don't have anything worthwhile to contribute to the Christian circle. This is part of the reason why I continuously come back to CC to talk about what's on my heart--in real life, I mostly listen, because nothing I have to add is nearly as powerful, and I don't want to detract from someone else's testimony.

On the flip side, I've also had some Christian people tell me (in a condescending way) that I've had a very easy life (with the implication is that I must be "Christianity Lite", and only a fraction of the true Christian that they are because of their trials.) To some people, more suffering and trials means they rate higher as a Christian.

Now, I am certainly NOT saying that anyone with a powerful testimony this way, but it often seems to me as if the most extreme testimonies are also showcased at the church or in a Bible study. The person who was rescued from the most sordid things is usually asked to share, not the small town girl who simply became a housewife.

I know that we all have a testimony, and that it's all valuable to our Lord.

But do find yourself ever feeling as if... The "true" Christians are the ones who have suffered the most, and somehow, you're not worth nearly as much to God or other Christians because your life hasn't nearly been so "colorful"?

Hey Everyone,

Do you ever feel like you don't have much to offer other people or the kingdom of God because you're a "plain vanilla" Christian?

My Mom and I were talking about this because my parents regularly hear all kinds of testimonies through their work. She told that she often feels like she doesn't have anything to offer anyone because she's doesn't have an incredibly intense testimony as so many Christians do. She was born and raised a Christian, married early, stayed at home to raise a family... and continues to be my Dad's faithful help mate every single day.

I don't know if it's just me, but I'm often blown away by the testimonies some people have--recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, surviving abandonment and raising kids amidst the turmoil, and several "there is no cure" medical issues that were miraculously healed.

I admire each and every person for the personal struggles God has helped them overcome.

But it leaves me feeling as if... I don't have anything worthwhile to contribute to the Christian circle. This is part of the reason why I continuously come back to CC to talk about what's on my heart--in real life, I mostly listen, because nothing I have to add is nearly as powerful, and I don't want to detract from someone else's testimony.

On the flip side, I've also had some Christian people tell me (in a condescending way) that I've had a very easy life (with the implication is that I must be "Christianity Lite", and only a fraction of the true Christian that they are because of their trials.) To some people, more suffering and trials means they rate higher as a Christian.

Now, I am certainly NOT saying that anyone with a powerful testimony this way, but it often seems to me as if the most extreme testimonies are also showcased at the church or in a Bible study. The person who was rescued from the most sordid things is usually asked to share, not the small town girl who simply became a housewife.

I know that we all have a testimony, and that it's all valuable to our Lord.

But do find yourself ever feeling as if... The "true" Christians are the ones who have suffered the most, and somehow, you're not worth nearly as much to God or other Christians because your life hasn't nearly been so "colorful"?

It's kind of interesting because I guess I think of it like this: let's use Exodus as an example.

If you had a choice between listening to Joshua's testimony (someone who saw all the plagues, miraculous provisions, and made it to the Promised Land), vs. an Israelite who had faithfully served God as an Egyptian slave... in the 400 years BEFORE God started to release His people... Which one would you want to listen to? (And I'm betting my answer is the same.)

I think one of the reasons why churches enjoy spotlighting such show-stopping testimonies is because it's like being able to say, "Look!! Here's tangible proof that everything I believe in is worthwhile, and the God I believe in is REAL... Haters!!"

Over the years, I've become less and less drawn to powerful testimonies, because for every alcoholic who get miraculously set free, there are thousands of other alcoholics who are still fighting their addiction every day, and their families and loved ones are suffering right along with them.

For my own faith, I have NEVER had a doubt that God is all-powerful.

My struggled always lies in the issue of why He seems to "pick" some to be set free during this lifetime... But leaves so many others behind. I know it's all His jurisdiction to choose.

But for every "Showstopping Amazing Testimony" I hear, the first thing I think about is, "How many people DIDN'T get their miracle, and how are they coping?"

um....
"small town girl that became a housewife"?
"Christianity Lite"?
Nothing "powerful" to offer??
Boring testimony--
you...
ever heard of someone named
"MARY"?
"they have no wine..." (wedding)
that Mary...

um....
"small town girl that became a housewife"?
"Christianity Lite"?
Nothing "powerful" to offer??
Boring testimony--
you...
ever heard of someone named
"MARY"?
"they have no wine..." (wedding)
that Mary...

One of the reasons why I wrote this thread (in 2016, natch!) is because I was thinking about the fact that many times in my life, I myself have gravitated towards Christians with more extreme testimonies.

I grew up in a conservative church and often found (not always, but, in my experience, often) that the people with more "colorful" testimonies were less judgmental and kinder to those who were struggling with something.

This could just be my own experience, but I grew up in churches in which people such as those who were divorced, those who struggled with drugs and alcohol, and even those who have tattoos or unnaturally colored hair were all lumped into the same boat--infectious sinners whom people kept their distance from, lest their sin somehow jump from these "obviously much worse" sinners onto those who felt they were a step above.

I always think of Jesus amidst the company of the Pharisees when the woman "who had lived a sinful life" came in and anointed His feet. He told them that those who were forgiven much also loved much, but that those who were forgiven little loved little.

Now of course, I've also been blessed enough to know some people who have "walked the straight and narrow" all their life and are NOT biting, critical, or instantly judgmental, but I have to confess that if I need to "really" talk to someone, I will often gravitate towards someone with a more extreme testimony.

Although I usually have nothing in my life that can really relate to their testimonies, I might feel more comfortable talking to someone like that because I know that certainly nothing I could ever say would shock them or cause them to turn their back, since they have generally heard (and even experienced) it all.

My Mom and I were talking about this because my parents regularly hear all kinds of testimonies through their work. She told that she often feels like she doesn't have anything to offer anyone because she's doesn't have an incredibly intense testimony as so many Christians do. She was born and raised a Christian, married early, stayed at home to raise a family... and continues to be my Dad's faithful help mate every single day.

Is it hard not to judge those who made those poor choices when you have not? I have been on the receiving end of judgement by the less blemished individuals but honestly I can't say that I blame them.

This is an awesome question, CharliRenee--thank you very much for posting!

I think it's always a danger for any of us to see ourselves in a better light than someone else--and judge them accordingly--because we are then able to tell ourselves, "Well, I might be struggling... but at least I'm not THAT bad."

In my own life, I've found that God always seems to put little "stoppers" in my way that make me stop and think what certain struggles must be like for other people.

I know it will sound lame, but I've always been sensitive to things that normal, everyday people don't seem to have a problem with, like sugar, simple carbs, and caffeine. All of them really mess me up, and when I've talked to people about the aftermath that I feel, it sounds very much like the hangovers that alcoholics go through (I rarely drink alcohol and don't have much experience with it because as you can imagine, if these little things mess with my system already, alcohol would probably put me in a coma--which is also why I never tried drugs.)

I don't feel a draw for alcohol, but I could eat sugar all day, every day, all the time, and man, does it ever do a number on my system. And yet, I still reach for it, pretty much every day. I understand the draw, the comfort, and even a feeling of desperation for such foods, and I believe that God has tried to explain to me that this is very much like what alcoholics and drug addicts feel--there is not only a physical addiction, but also a sense of emotional attachment and escape that seems nearly impossible to break.

I know most people will think, "Good grief, that's nothing--get yourself a real problem," but I honestly believe that God has used this to teach me about what other people go through.

As for those who struggle with other things, like those who have had multiple physical partners, etc., I understand that people are often looking for love, acceptance, and identity--I feel this on a regular basis myself--it's just that for whatever reasons, I'm not drawn to seek out those kinds of outlets.

But I know very well that if my life took a different turn, I could make those choices, too.

For everything my flesh wants to judge someone for, God usually stops me and says, "Hey, do you remember the time when..." I felt or experienced a similar feeling to what that person was probably feeling. In other words, I relate to people with extreme testimonies because I've felt, or still feel, the base feelings that lead them to do those things, and I know that I'm certainly no better than they are.

And it makes me want to help them.

Over the years, I've had some hard lessons as to what is actually helping someone vs. what is enabling them, but trying to understand people is one of the biggest yearnings that I personally have on my heart.

While reading this thread I was thinking
of the story of the prodigal son.

Imagine if him and his brother turned up to your church on Sunday to share their testimony.

Maybe it would go something like this:

Prodigal

I had everything, wealth, loving father, status, we had servants who did everything for us. But I wanted excitement, more wealth, more independence I felt smothered by dad and got fed up of being told what to do.

So I asked dad for my family money my inheritance early and took off to see the world. Friends flocked to me I was the most popular person around. We drank, made merry, did whatever we wanted then the money ran out and all my so called friends left.

I was homeless, jobless, skint so to survive I took the lowest of the lowest job just to part fill my belly for a few hours each day.

Then some time later I came to my senses and crawled home to dad hoping he would want me back. He did and he throw a lavish party for me to celebrate. Now I know my dad really loves me like never before!

His brother

Me and my brother had everything and lived in the lap of luxury. My brother always was a spoilt brat though he never did his chores, never really respected the family values. I always did the right thing but try as I might I never felt dad loved me.

My brother walked out one day taking his part of dads inheritance with him. Surely dad would love me now after all I was the one who always did the right thing!

Then you will never guess what, some time later my brother returned looking like something the cat dragged in with no money left. Guess what my father throw him a big party to celebrate. There I told you dad loved him more than me!

I told dad how I felt and he said son. I love you more than you can know everything I have is yours. Don’t begrudge your brother his fathers love. I’m dad to you both and love you both more than you can know!

Moral of the story’s they both had a testimony to tell of the fathers love, they both had issues. Maybe the issues of the good brother were hidden and more subtle but he still had valuable lessons to learn. They both needed to see the love of the father first hand for themselves. Both stories are as important and dramatic as each other. They both tell of the fathers love for them.

Whether your testimony is short and sweet or long and dramatic, God still did a extremely dramatic work of salvation on your life. It involved a death on a cross. How much more dramatic can you get. Lol

I know I've been MIA for... a really long time, but most of you know my testimony. Okay, some of you do. And I used to think it was great to have it. I had come out of a lot, I've overcome a lot, and I wouldn't be a Christian without all the idiotic things I've done.


But now. Man, now I wish I had been more on the straight and narrow path. I have a lot of regret and pain and sorrow and grief. Yes, God has turned and will turn the bad into good, but it's painful. It's like wringing out a towel or like sending grapes through a press to make wine.




Not having a huge testimony has saved you, my darlings. I wouldn't wish this grief on anyone.