Tuesday, February 26th, 2008
the turning point
i was thinking about my testimony.
it’s come up 3 times this week now and well…
what made you a christian?
what made you believe?
some people have clear defining moments,
they can pinpoint it down to the day, hour, or even minute they were saved
or pinpoint exactly what it was that made them a christian.
for myself it’s hard to say what it was.
it was more like an amalgamation of so many different feelings, experiences
if i were to type it out in all its glory – it may turn into an “bill clinton” autobiography
but i’m interested to see what made you believe
or what is keeping you from believing
on Tuesday, February 26th, 2008 at 9:51 pm:
I’d say I feel the same as you. tbh, sometimes it really sucks when ppl ask me to share my testimony. I don’t know what to talk about! There’s so many things that, on their own, are important but didn’t really “make me believe”.
on Tuesday, February 26th, 2008 at 11:04 pm:
that’s pretty much what i feel too…that’s why i used to find it hard to share my testimony cos it just seems natural for me to believe in God =)
i guess some people might not feel as impacted by the testimony of one who didn’t have a miracle/major turning point in his/her life. for me, when i started reflecting on my life, i realised that God has always been performing miracles…however insignificant they may seem to others or myself initially, but there’s no doubt about it =D
on Tuesday, February 26th, 2008 at 11:44 pm:
The first attribute of these ‘defining moments’ for testimonies include when someone becomes aware of the reality God’s presence, which is spiritual perception. Another level of that would be the point at which they start to ‘love’ God, or gain an emotional attachment to God, specifically by what God did for them, which would be an emotional response to their spiritual reception to God.
I also have no defining moment I can pin point. Being brought up in a Christian environment made it difficult to find any turning point. My Christian testimony would be my life story, with its increasing sensitivity of the reality of the spirit of God.
Using my model, I have been brought up to be spiritually perceptive. However, I can identify main triggers to my emotional responses to my spiritual perception, which makes up my testimony. In my case, I would group multiple instances where I felt something emotionally relating to God to include. Those who have those earth-shattering defining moments would choose that one event for sufficient impact. Both of these are to the same effect in the end.
on Wednesday, February 27th, 2008 at 12:56 am:
thanks for the good reminder. it’s always good to review how did i meet God. i guess at first what really captured me was knowing that my God really loves me so much and i could indeed have a personal relationship with him. and it was just kinda blindly having faith gradually, not like having any “THE moment” and until now, he just keeps showing me his grace and almighty, every day, every minute. i really have no excuse of not believing him. He doesn’t let me go. and i’m not gonna let him go either =)
on Wednesday, February 27th, 2008 at 9:47 pm:
it was progressive – to a point – and progressive again.
a. progressive from gr.3 – 11 as God showed me things bit by bit. notably the year before baptism in gr. 11. A distinctive LOVE and maturity in the community I found at church. That God was alive and present. That he is immanent and active in the lives of those who follow him.
b. broken to conviction and response of commitment. God’s clear calling during youth camp preceding gr 11
c. God’s continual revelations, trials, invigoration of life
http://bilyxiao.com/my-faith