How does one evaluate a testimony?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,223
1,584
113
68
Brighton, MI
#1
How does one evaluate a testimony?

Timeline make sense?

What can be verified?

Any other ideas?
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,614
13,863
113
#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

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#3
How does one evaluate a testimony?

Timeline make sense?

What can be verified?

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

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
61,161
30,311
113
#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

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
20,089
6,885
113
62
#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

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,437
3,685
113
#7
How does one evaluate a testimony?
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.
 
L

Locoponydirtman

Guest
#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.
 
L

Locoponydirtman

Guest
#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
 

Karlon

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2023
2,703
1,236
113
#10
How does one evaluate a testimony?

Timeline make sense?

What can be verified?

Any other ideas?
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.
 
Oct 2, 2023
75
59
18
#11
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.

🌻
 

Mii

Well-known member
Mar 23, 2019
2,082
1,330
113
#14
start at #2 wife kicking me off computer
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

(Not, ‘Did a very similar event ever happen in Scripture’)

This is vague to me, will you elaborate?
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,614
13,863
113
#15
This is vague to me, will you elaborate?
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.
 

Edify

Well-known member
Jan 27, 2021
1,569
661
113
#17
How does one evaluate a testimony?
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.
 
Jun 20, 2022
6,460
1,330
113
#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.