You Don't Have a Boring Testimony

"Likewise I say to you, the is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." - Luke 15:10

I taught threw John 4:27-54 on Sunday and mentioned how our testimonies can help bring a harvest of souls, I spoke on that no one has a boring testimony and I want to reiterate that point here in this post.

Often times we hear "amazing" testimonies (sometimes brag-a-monies if the sin is highlighted over the salvation from it) where a person was in drugs or killing people or paralyzed and they heard the Gospel, received Christ and were radically changed.  Those that do not have a testimony that wows the crowd can feel as if they should not share their testimony because it is boring because they grew up in a Christian home and knew Christ at a young age, or because "there isn't much too it".  They can feel as if the world does not need to hear how they were lost and now found because they weren't "into the evils of the world" as much.  If that is you (or you have ever felt that way of someone else's testimony) let me say:

YOUR TESTIMONY IS NOT BORING...and for four reasons.

1. Angels rejoiced in heaven when you got saved.  Whether it was at 5 years old or 35 years old, they rejoiced in Heaven for you!  And Scripture only tells us of 4 other things they rejoice about which makes your testimony a big deal to them.

2. You were lost and now are found - it doesn't matter of "how lost" because Heaven and Hell is not based on levels of righteousness (or lack thereof) that we can think in.  By nature we are sinners and the fact that we sin just proves that point.  We sin because we are sinners not the other way around.  A person who stole a penny but doesn't know Christ is as lost as the person killing others who doesn't know Christ.  Jesus died for you and saved you!  That is pretty miraculous.

3. Jesus is still working in you!  That is part of your testimony right there.  The fact He continues to shape you and grow you and conform you more to His image is unbelievably amazing.

4. Those of us who knew the ways of the world and did not grow up in a Christian home wish we had.  We wish we did not need to know the pain of a sinful lifestyle and could have been in that environment.

So don't convince yourself your testimony is boring.  Get out there and share it!  It is the one thing people can't argue about.  There are at least 2 billion people who will die without Christ during your lifetime (and to understand 2 billion, like I taught on Sunday, if I gave you $1 every 2 seconds from the day you were born to the day you died, you would still not reach 2 billion dollars).  These people need to hear about Christ, they need to hear about your testimony.  Share it! (but remember to keep Christ at the center...focus should always be on Him not you).

If you want to hear the full sermon, check out A Place of Refuge , and you can listen to the other messages as we are going through the Gospel of John

Original blog posted on www.refugesanger.wordpress.com

Left Behind Move & the Rapture

The new Left Behind movie with Nicolas Cage just came out (haven't seen it but want to) and along with it came a number of blog posts dealing with the Rapture and why it's not going to happen and how it is wrong, etc.

If you are looking for a blog post agreeing with those that say such things you've come to the wrong place.

If you are looking for a blog post looking to go into great detail on why the Rapture will happen pre-tribulation, you have also come to the wrong place.

I'm not one for great theological debates on blogs simply because they really don't do much good, but I felt compared to write this to point out those attacking Christians who believe in the Rapture are wrong on two points: some of the arguments they use and the lack of love in their attacks.

Faulty Argument #1: Believe in a Rapture is only 200 years old or so.

WRONG: Those Paul wrote to in 2 Thessalonians had felt they had missed the rapture.  That was one of the reasons he wrote the epistle to begin with.

Also many early church fathers taught a pre-tribulation rapture.  Two such examples are:

• Irenaeus (130 - 202 A.D) wrote on it in Against Heresies 5.29
• Cyprian (200 -258 A.D.) wrote on it in Treatises of Cyprian 

There are plenty more but this is not a post to argue for pre-trib rapture but to disprove some of the faulty arguments.

Faulty Argument #2: It is a form of escape-ism because people don't want to go through hard times

This argument is very American in it's sense because Christians all over the world are suffering and dieing for their faith.  Tell the woman whose husband just got beheaded that she doesn't understand suffering.

Also I find it hard to hope in the return of Christ, when one has to look out for 100 pound hailstones falling from the sky and other great catastrophes that will happen during the Tribulation period before He returns.  Last I looked, God does not appoint us to wrath.  

Faulty Argument #3: The word "rapture" appears no where in the Bible

Well neither does the word "Trinity" but both ideas are taught.  The Greek word "harpazo" from 1 Thess 4:17 is "rapturos" in the Latin translation so maybe it just depends on what Bible you read!

Faulty Argument #4: "Our love for the rapture reveals a lack of love for the very world Jesus came to save!"

Recently heard this one.  My response, "really?"  Many who believe in a pre-trib rapture are out spreading the Gospel and have a heart to see people saved (1) to know Jesus (most importantly), but also (2) to help them escape from the "wrath to come" (again, 7 years will be a time of wrath).  It sort of goes with the last faulty argument...

Faulty Argument #5: Believe in a pre-trib rapture makes people lazy Christians

Sorry, but anything can make a lazy Christian, a lazy Christian.  Those who really believe that the rapture of the church is imminent and live that way, take bold steps for the Lord and are doing radical things for His kingdom.  Post-trib people also do radical things for the Kingdom, but the point is the faulty argument, not saying pre-trib people do more or less.

Lack of Love

I honestly don't care what side of the fence you are on when it comes to non-essential debates like this, but when you attack other Christians for their theology and attempt to put them down, there is a real problem.  We read that "knowledge puffs up but love builds up" and yet so many use their theology to attack others (read Theology Test to test how well your theology is) and show how superior their intellect is.  The Bible was never designed so Christians can divide over non-essentials of the faith.

Again, this blog wasn't to create a debate on theology (though I'm sure there will be plenty of posts trying to help me in the error of my ways), but instead to ask those writing lengthy blogs on why a person shouldn't hold to a pre-tribulation view this: WHY DOES IT MATTER?.  As well as to also say, don't use faulty arguments in your arguments against it.

There are plenty of sound, God fearing, Jesus loving Christians who can make great arguments on both sides of the Rapture view - there is no reason to divide over it.

Go watch Left Behind (I'm guessing it isn't heretical like Noah) and don't feel bad for doing it (unless it is heretical like Noah).  Maybe use it as an opportunity to share your faith with someone in that theater.  Also understand it is just a fictional work based on a factual event to take place.  Left Behind is not the Bible, but Revelation has a whole lot to say on the matter (and as Revelation means "revealing", you should spend time in that book as well).