My Testimony - Nick
Posted in Nick's Posts, testimony 2 comments
Hi all!
So, I want to start by sharing something that is totally a God thing. As I was preparing to share my testimony on here, I remembered somewhere else that I had shared my testimony. My fiancé and I (we get married in less than two weeks btw!) met on eHarmony and we shared testimonies early on. To save time, I thought it would be helpful if I took a look at what I shared back then and maybe even just use that. Well, when I found it, I saw that it was EXACTLY one year ago TODAY that I shared my testimony with her. How crazy is that?!? Totally a God thing!
Anyways, here's my testimony. :)
I was raised Catholic. When I was growing up, it seemed to me that what I was being taught about Christianity didn't seem to match up to how people lived and acted. It's important to note that I could've gotten that impression in any denomination, not just Catholicism. Anyways, in middle school, I started reading the Bible on my own (something that is not encouraged in the Catholic church as much as it is in Protestant churches). I learned a lot about God and got really fired up, but it was aimless. I wanted to learn more about other denominations. In high school, I briefly dated a Baptist girl. During a youth retreat with her church, her youth pastor explained what it meant to be born again - something I had never heard before because Catholics don't emphasize that part of the Bible.
In college is when I really came to know Christ. I worked at Windermere Baptist Conference Center over three summers, where I learned a lot about...well, a lot...from the other summer staffers. Over time, I learned that although I don't like the idea of different denominations, my beliefs most closely match that of Baptists.
I don't have any clear "moment" when I became a Christian. I didn't even know what an "altar call" or the "sinner's prayer" were until I dated that girl in high school. To be honest, those concepts made me question my faith rather than making me feel confident in it. There was a long time when I wondered if I was really a Christian since I had never had a "moment." I prayed the "sinner's prayer" on several occasions after learning what it was because I was afraid that I had somehow done something wrong since I didn't have a "moment." As I gained maturity, though, I came to the opinion that, although accepting Christ is very, very important, the concept of a "moment" of surrender is overemphasized in the Baptist church while the concept of daily surrender and accountability is perhaps underemphasized.
Now, I wouldn't trade how I came to know Christ for anything, because I've seen how God has used it to give me a unique viewpoint, a way to see things that I probably would have missed if I had been raised differently. So, yeah. That's my story. :)
In college is when I really came to know Christ. I worked at Windermere Baptist Conference Center over three summers, where I learned a lot about...well, a lot...from the other summer staffers. Over time, I learned that although I don't like the idea of different denominations, my beliefs most closely match that of Baptists.
I don't have any clear "moment" when I became a Christian. I didn't even know what an "altar call" or the "sinner's prayer" were until I dated that girl in high school. To be honest, those concepts made me question my faith rather than making me feel confident in it. There was a long time when I wondered if I was really a Christian since I had never had a "moment." I prayed the "sinner's prayer" on several occasions after learning what it was because I was afraid that I had somehow done something wrong since I didn't have a "moment." As I gained maturity, though, I came to the opinion that, although accepting Christ is very, very important, the concept of a "moment" of surrender is overemphasized in the Baptist church while the concept of daily surrender and accountability is perhaps underemphasized.
Now, I wouldn't trade how I came to know Christ for anything, because I've seen how God has used it to give me a unique viewpoint, a way to see things that I probably would have missed if I had been raised differently. So, yeah. That's my story. :)
2 comments:
So, I said I wouldn't take the time to be on here but I thought I'd check it out..especially as the title is pretty awesome and I recently experienced some sparks flying as Proverbs 27:17 came into play in my life (maybe more on that later.)
Anyway, Nick, I just wanted to comment on your thoughts on missing the "moment", as I share a similar story in my decision to follow Christ.
As I prepare to teach VBS this next week, I always struggle with the "ABC's of salvation"... I've even written out my personal "D through Z" list that I felt needs to go along with it.....but I will take your words and simply add a "D" --- the DAILY surrender and accountability!
Thank you!
"As I gained maturity, though, I came to the opinion that, although accepting Christ is very, very important, the concept of a "moment" of surrender is overemphasized in the Baptist church while the concept of daily surrender and accountability is perhaps underemphasized."
So true brother and it has to do with almost all of protestant-ism...many people want to lean on the moment because surrender and accountability are just as they sound: work. May God help us with this as we daily move toward becoming more like him!
Great post :)
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