The Preacher and His Preaching by Alfred P. Gibbs

Author:Alfred P. Gibbs [Gibbs, Alfred P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781593871246
Publisher: ECS Ministries
Published: 2001-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

V. THE DANGERS OF IT

This may sound strange, yet the telling of one’s personal experience also has its dangers.

1. To allow it to supersede God’s Word in the preaching of the Gospel

While a personal testimony is good, it should never be allowed to become a substitute for the scriptural setting forth of God’s way of salvation. A testimony is but a personal witness to the truth of God’s Word in one’s own experience; but the principal thing is the Word of God, and nothing must be allowed to displace its authority in the minds of the hearers. It is a poor thing to substitute the personal pronoun “I” for a “thus saith the Lord.” A testimony is only of value as it magnifies the grace of God, the Person and work of the Lord Jesus, makes clear the way of salvation and emphasizes the truth of the Word of God.

Many a soul has been made to grope on in spiritual darkness while trying to get an experience similar to the person whose testimony he has heard. He looks in vain for some “vision,” or waits to “hear a voice” saying: “thy sins are all forgiven.” He tries to get some wonderful “feelings,” such as the speaker described himself as having. All the while he is occupied with these things, his attention is diverted from the Savior, through whom alone salvation can come. Thus he is made to flounder in the bog of despondency, through trying to get another person’s experience instead of one of his own! It must ever be remembered that it is not an experience that saves, but the Savior Himself.

2. To make it a mold for everyone else

God is a God of infinite variety. No two persons are saved under exactly similar circumstances. There are no spiritually “identical twins.” For a speaker to insist on every one having an experience of God’s salvation similar to his own is not only foolish in the extreme, but positively dangerous. It directs the attention of the audience to his experience, instead of Christ’s Person and work. It has been pointed out that there are many ways to Christ, but only one way to God, and that is through Christ (John 14:6).

It is both interesting and instructive to notice the different experiences of conversion recorded in the first chapter of John. First was the preached Word, “Behold the Lamb of God” (vs. 35-36). Next came personal work when Andrew brought Peter to the Lord (vs. 40-42). Following this was the direct approach of the Savior who said, “Follow Me” (v. 43). Last came personal experiences of Christ Himself on the part of those who responded to His invitation to “Come and see” (vs. 45-46). Some come to Christ because of their fear of hell. Others trust the Savior because of His goodness and grace in giving His life for them (Rom. 2:4). Still others because of a desire for peace and satisfaction.

Whatever the means may be that God uses, the result is always the same; for the soul is led to trust Christ as Savior and own Him as Lord.

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