In churches today, it is easy to fall into the mindset that a testimony without "significant sin" or trials is no testimony at all. Some when telling their testimony seem to focus more on their sin and glorify those actions and minimize the importance of their salvation. Augustine understands the importance of what he is writing. He is not publishing his sins in order to impress or shock the crowds with his sinfulness or knowledge, but he is truly pouring out with lamentation over how his sin affected his relationship with the perfect, sovereign God. In Book X, he opens with discussing the mixed reactions he will receive by publishing his confessions. He hopes that followers of Christ will "take heart from my good traits, and sigh with sadness at the bad ones...Let them take heart from the one and regret the other" (page 181). Yet he realizes that some will be disgusted by his honesty. His true desire is that people will read his story and learn from his mistakes, but also praise God with him for his salvation. We saw this same mindset from Augustine two weeks ago in Book VIII when he says: "Let all who adore you say when they hear these things: 'Blessed is the Lord in heaven and in earth; great and wonderful is His name'" (page 133). Augustine set an amazing example of how we are to rejoice in the redemptive power of the Gospel, and how our life before knowing Christ is a further testimony of Christ's greatness and not our own.
I commented on Francesca and Dallas' posts.
Agreed. This is a common issue where we often undermine - unintentionally or not - the incredible work of Jesus and His saving grace, focusing on our sin. I believe it is crucial to understand how deep our depravity truly is, but it is equally important that we share the goodness of God's mercy. I appreciate the Augustine's purpose for discussing his sins is, like you said, to lament over how separated he was from God in the midst of those sins.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we hear testimonies that focus way too much on people's lives before Christ. I think it is really good that Augustine does not miss the point. He glorifies the Lord's redeeming mercy rather than his own laundry list of sins.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Having an elaborate testimony in churches today is big. People do not want to hear it if you do not have a long sinful story behind it. I like how Augustine approaches the issue of his sins with coming to salvation.
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