I started sharing the gospel at a young age and have experienced varied results from my attempts at evangelising to unbelievers. Of the many times that it failed, one prevalent element was missing - the opportunity to share my testimony.
Revelation 12:11 says, "And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." Our testimony is a powerful tool to introduce Jesus to others. How we live and what Christ has done to and through us is more powerful than the ideologies and theologies we preach.
And because our testimony is crucial, it's important that we protect it by being wary of the way we live. Here are five ways that we ruin our testimony without even knowing it at times.
Not being careful with your social media posts. With the rise of social media, it can be easy to forget just how heavy the implications of the things we post, like, share or even just view have on our testimony. Social media has become more than just an accessory to our daily living. Even the extent to which you use it can speak loudly about what you really value most.
Putting too much emphasis on material blessings. Sure God has a plan to give you a hope and a future, but He has this heart for everyone. The danger behind teachings that rely too heavily on prosperity is that they make people believe they are the centre of the universe. But we are not. Ultimately, Jesus is the centre of everything we do and that's the biblical emphasis on purpose that we must live out.
Doing something just because it's permissible. Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Luke 17:2 says, "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin." Things like drinking to excess, watching compromising movies, having certain relationships, might not always be sinful but when we tread on the edge of a cliff, more people could stumble than just you.
Failing to speak life. Proverbs 18:21 tells us, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." There's only two things your tongue can speak, and if it's not speaking life then it's definitely speaking death. With the words that you say, are you speaking life to others and adding to their value? When we fail to do so, we become a burden instead of being a blessing.
Neglecting family. While we may preach and champion the concept of faith in God, the way we conduct our family is one way that we live it out. When we fail to lead our families or to participate in a way that blesses the people closest to us, that speaks louder than any doctrine we can ever share.
