How does one evaluate a testimony?

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TheLearner

Well-known member
#1
Jan 14, 2019
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Brighton, MI
#1
How does one evaluate a testimony?

Timeline make sense?

What can be verified?

Any other ideas?
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#2
Jun 30, 2015
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#2
Does the testimony bring glory to or point people to Jesus?

Is the experience consistent with the teaching of Scripture? (Not, ‘Did a very similar event ever happen in Scripture’)

Does the testimony edify the hearers in their faith?
 
oyster67

oyster67

Senior Member
#3
May 24, 2014
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#3
TheLearner said:
How does one evaluate a testimony?

Timeline make sense?

What can be verified?

Any other ideas?
Click to expand...
Not my job to judge testimonies. If the content glorifies God, I give them the benefit of the doubt.
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#5
Jul 3, 2015
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#5
Vulnerability, powerlessness, confession of weaknesses but not overly graphic, how God revealed Himself,
ultimate culmination in surrendering to God and the ensuing freedom and joy walking in His ways.
 
Cameron143

Cameron143

Well-known member
#6
Mar 1, 2022
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#6
Two things I notice in testimonies that resonate with me...the humility of the one testifying and the centrality of Christ in their message.
 
ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
#7
Apr 21, 2021
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#7
TheLearner said:
How does one evaluate a testimony?
Click to expand...
Can you clarify more what you mean by "testimony?" Are you talking about someone's testimony about a miracle they experienced? A revelation from the Lord? What, exactly.
 
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Locoponydirtman

Guest
#8
#8
I typically do not judge a testimony, but take it a face value, whether it be a conversion or of a miracle. However I have had the impulse to dismis what someone is saying as sensationalism.
 
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Locoponydirtman

Guest
#9
#9
Also i guess that i should add that of they are selling something, I just count it all as lies and walk on.
But if they are just telling their personal story, unless it really strikes me as phoney, I dont have any judgements
 
K

Karlon

Well-known member
#10
Mar 8, 2023
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#10
TheLearner said:
How does one evaluate a testimony?

Timeline make sense?

What can be verified?

Any other ideas?
Click to expand...
by applying the book of 1st John which teaches how to discern the spirits. & use your own heart, mind, soul, conscious & spirit with the help of the Holy Spirit.
 
K

Keris

Member
#11
Oct 2, 2023
75
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18
#11
TheLearner said:
How does one evaluate a testimony?

Timeline make sense?

What can be verified?

Any other


Hi ! ❤️

A testimony is beyond worth if it makes the listener hungry for more of God.
🌻
As 'storytelling' goes, most listeners will appreciate a timeline that makes sense.

I suggest we are prepared to have different versions of our testimony, depending on how much time the listener is willing to give us.

And I believe that any testimony is extremely powerful if the listener can see that the person sharing their testimony is desperately in love with Jesus.

We want the Holy Spirit to work. We do not want to rely on our ability to tell good stories.

🌻
Click to expand...
 
Mii

Mii

Well-known member
#14
Mar 23, 2019
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#14
TheLearner said:
start at #2 wife kicking me off computer
Click to expand...
I see you've developed a new system for bookmarking :)

It's taken 4 years for me to utilize all the "shortcuts" the site has for ease of access (not easy to learn but nice once you do)


Interesting topic though, I'll have to think about it. There are plenty of testimonies that aren't "stage worthy"...probably most all of them in reality. No I'm not suggesting that stage worthy testimonies don't exist (because they do) and indeed I was recently moved by one. I might link it on CC at some point because that rarely happens to me anymore. Things are pretty dark out there.

I'm not a big fan of the stage in general though (pulpit or otherwise).

Also

Dino246 said:
(Not, ‘Did a very similar event ever happen in Scripture’)
Click to expand...

This is vague to me, will you elaborate?
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#15
Jun 30, 2015
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#15
Mii said:
This is vague to me, will you elaborate?
Click to expand...
Some people think that unless an event or experience has a clear precedent in Scripture, it wasn’t God. That isn’t a valid criteria.
 
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Edify

Well-known member
#17
Jan 27, 2021
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#17
TheLearner said:
How does one evaluate a testimony?
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Check the person's life to see if they walk their talk. The christian's fruit should be paramount. Without it, we cannot see if they are truly glorifying Christ or not.
This is why I'll NEVER honor any tv preacher, because I don't know how they really live. Nobody else should either, IMO.
 
The_Watchers_2017

The_Watchers_2017

Banned
#18
Jun 20, 2022
6,460
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#18
the Moment one begins to Testify you can feel and sense if this is truthful. it will be edifying and encouraging and uplifting to your own spirit as the Testimony is explained.
 
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