How to tell your story (without being the hero)

‘Sharing your testimony’ is the bread and butter of many evangelistic strategies. As is often said: ‘No-one can argue with your story’.

Notice how the man born blind answers the Pharisees in John 9: ‘I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!’ It’s the most brilliant riposte (not that it endeared him to his questioners!). But it gives hope to every Christian. I don’t have all the answers, but I do have a story.

Not what it first seems?

As we progress in the New Testament, notice how Paul tells his story repeatedly in Acts (chapters 9; 22; and 26). He also narrates something of his life in his letters (e.g. Phil.3 and 1Tim.1). And at the end of the Bible, the book of Revelation attributes the most extraordinary power to testimony: ‘They triumphed over [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.’ (Rev.12:11) The idea that anything should be considered triumphant alongside ‘the blood of the Lamb’ is astonishing enough. The fact that it’s ‘the word of their testimony’ indicates a jaw-dropping power to testimony. But…