I’m thinking about “testimony” time in our old-fashioned churches. The ones that are sometimes looked at as insignificant “saved, sanctified, and filled with the holy ghost” expressions from all attendees. Well, if I were in one of those churches today, I would like to say “Praise God, I’m saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost, and Aliiiiiive! Bless His Holy Name!” And I mean every word of it!
We used to sing choruses during testimony time. Testimonies and choruses. “I’ve had a hard time this week, but I’m getting along.” Standing Somewhere in the Shadows You’ll Find Jesus. “The devil has been after me this week, remember me in your prayers.” Do, Lord, Oh Do, Lord, Oh, Do Remember Me. “I’ve come through with victory after that bad time I was having.” While I was praying Somebody touched me. While I was praying Somebody touched me. While I was praying Somebody touched me. Must’a been the hand of the Lord. There was something special about testimony time when they were happening. We try to resurrect that special bonding in the form of “cell” groups; all growing churches have them. People connecting with people.
Upscale churches cut out that kind of participation lest they get some testimonies like these (okay, I admit it, they were funny sometimes).
“Remember Aunt Mary in your prayers. She’s been in bed with the doctor all week.”
or, “The devil’s been after me all week, but bless his holy name, I still have the victory.”
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image: Pixabay
Sweet aroma 
Ha! Love this. I miss spontaneous testimonies, too! When did we stop doing that?? I sneak one in now and then, but I do notice most churches just don’t like unscripted moments anymore.
Once in a while, IB, we just have to erupt on blog! 😀 Can’t do that in church services.
I think a lot of this controlling the Holy Spirit started when services had to be held to 58 minutes in order to fit three services in on Sunday morning, get the parents out to pick up kids on time, fit the whole thing into a TV hour. Back in my day we only had to get out in time to beat the Baptists to the Pizza Hut. 😀
This is what is missing in many of our churches today. Sadly it is a necessary part of being a Christian but social has tended to replace what should be affirmation of the ‘Relational’ because our God (Christ) is not about religion but about Presence.
He can definitely not be “formatted” to fit our schedule, and schedules have become so rigid the leadership chooses not to allow audience participation.
I particularly remember a Thanksgiving service, where anyone who wanted to do so could give a thanksgiving testimony before the sermon. My children were young (maybe five and seven). So many people stood up and gave testimonies during that morning service. The next year the church limited the number of testimonies because of the time that it had taken the previous year. How sad! Only a few stood up. The Holy Spirit has quenched.
Right, Judy. That is very sad. The Holy Spirit is not likely to show up at all if he is seen as intruding on the time schedule. People sing about freedom and denounce legalism to the extent of putting ourselves in bondage to a clock. That’s bondage.