Don't Argue, Testify....

A couple of years ago I had lunch with a friend who is a part time preacher; he is a great guy and has very firm beliefs -- as one would expect of a leader. He loved to argue scripture and could quote chapter and verse at death defying speed. This man is still preaching today and leading a church in our area, he devotes his free time to service and for him what he is doing is a great, but it is not and never will be for me.

Faith is a deeply personal thing and true faith is not something anyone can be talked into. If someone can be talked into believing in a deity by clever arguments then a better orator can talk that same person out of that belief. That is not faith, that is logic, or at least a poor attempt at logic, and faith is not logical. Faith is a deeply held certainty that something is true regardless of any visible, logical or provable factors.

As humans we love to argue, to hear our own voices and to “prove” to ourselves and anyone who will listen that we are right. I am doing that right now, but I try to hide it by cleverly denying that I like to argue. Arguing that I don’t argue, so to speak.

Anyway my point is, if you want to talk to someone about your faith don’t argue with them over who is right and who is wrong. Just tell them how you feel and what your faith has done for you.

Testify.

There used to be a guy on TV selling an herbal diet drink that understood this concept better than anyone else I have ever heard. When people would ask him an overly technical question he would answer something like, “ I’m not sure about that, but let me tell you how it affected me.” And from there he would tell them truthfully of his experience. People can and will argue over minute and meaningless details, but how can they argue over your experiences? They may be asking for an argument but you will answer them with a living example from your own life.

The next time someone asks you an argumentative question like "How can a loving god allow war?" don’t fight with them or defend your beliefs. Don’t try and prove to them or yourself that your are right, or smart, or clever. Instead be sincere, be honest, be vulnerable, and tell them how your faith has helped you in this life.

Testify.