[quote=Der Pilger;646567][quote=Pergamum;646425]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Der Pilger 
I disagree with you, not with the text. I'm just trying to let the scripture speak for itself. No teaching pertaining to Christian faith and practice carries any authority whatsoever unless it echoes what God says in scripture. Therefore, since you seem convinced that Jesus approved of the use of personal testimonies--not just to share what God has done in one's life but also to communicate the gospel message--please show out of the text itself that this is so. Until you do that, all your thoughts about - sharing your testimony to get people open and ready to hear more
- your personal experiences
- testimonies drawing people rather than repelling them like much witnessing in our day
- possible negative results from trying to present the gospel completely and accurately
are all just that--your thoughts--and carry no authority whatsoever. |
I, too, am just trying to let the Scripture speak for itself.
Mark 5 has Jesus commanding the former demoniac to go spread his story around.
Then, Paul on several occasions gives the personal testimony of his conversion, the time before King Agrippa being most noteworthy.
The psalms also command us to tell about what the Lord has done. Testifying to the Lord's goodness is only right and natural.
There are thus multiple precedents for personal testimony in Scripture. These do not need to be theologically shallow, perhaps this is an assumption you are making.
Personal testimonies are one of the best ways to open your hearers up to a conversation about holy things.