"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." [NIV] 

   When you share your testimony about how you got saved, be careful how you present it. Does your testimony offer objective proof, or does it only include subjective appeals?

• A Mormon could say exactly the same thing. They have read the book of Mormon from cover to cover. They want assurance that what they are reading is true. So, they pray to their god and asked him to give them confirmation that the teachings of the Book of Mormon are right. Thus, when they give you their testimony, this is their proof that Mormons are God's chosen people.

• A Buddhist could say exactly the same thing as well. They want assurance that what they believe is true. So, they pray to their god (or, however many millions there are) and ask him (or them) to confirm to them whether Buddha's teachings are right or not. Thus, when they give you their testimony, this is their proof that Bhuddists are going to be reincarnated into something better, whatever that means.

• A Muslim could also make exactly the same claim too. They have read the Koran from cover to cover. They want assurance that what they are reading is true. So, they pray to allah for confirmation that the writings of Mohammed are authentic. Thus, when they give you their testimony, this is their proof that Islam is the true religion.

• A Jehovah's Witness could make this claim. They have read the Watch Tower literature. They want assurance that what they are believing is true. So, they pray to their god and ask him to give them confirmation that the Watch Tower teachings, and the New World Translation (their version of the Bible) are inspired. Thus, when they give you their testimony, this is their proof that Jehovah's Witnesses are God's chosen people.

Subjective Proof

   An appeal to faith is the only leg people have to stand on when they put their trust in a religious doctrine which is different from the teachings of the Bible. When people make appeals to their faith in defense of their beliefs, they are making a subjective appeal to their experience. Subjective experience means, "resulting from the feelings of the person thinking". This in itself proves nothing. When somebody says, "My beliefs are right because I prayed about it, and God told me I was right to believe it", you are left with nothing more than having to trust their experience. People who talk this way are often following their hearts - trusting their experience as a measure of what is right and wrong! The Bible says that the heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). Should we be following our hearts? Should we be trusting our feelings to tell us what is right or wrong? Subjective proof is really no proof at all - here is why. An appeal to faith is an openly circular argument, such as...

Person #1: "Why should I believe in God?"
Person #2: "Because the Bible says so, that's why."
Person #1: "Why should I believe the Bible?"
Person #2: "Because the Bible is God's Word."

Objective Proof

   Objective proof is evidence which exists independent of the mind, and is determined by the realities of the thing dealt with, rather than the feelings of the person. Therefore, objective evidence is a much better proof to offer when you are giving your testimony and defending your faith. When people put their trust in Jesus and turn from their sins and get saved, they go through a process of spiritual conversion. And when this happens, a radical change of operation takes place, which can be proven objectively (2 Corinthians 5:17). People who do not have a spiritual conversion cannot prove their faith objectively - the only leg they have to stand on is their subjective assuptions, however sincerely they may believe them. The next time somebody asks you why they should become a follower of Christ as you are, make sure your testimony is objective, and not subjective.

   You can ask the question, "Is the light turned on?" To prove it, you don't have to assume anything - all you have to do is look at the light to see if it is on. This is an objective test of reality. But, if you say, "I believe the light is turned on" it is a subjective assumption. However real it may be to you, the assumption proves nothing. Read Hebrews 11:1,2; 

   "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for"

   The Bible defines faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of which is not seen". The English translation of the word substance comes from the Greek word hupostasis (pronounced "hoop-os'-tas-is"). Hupostasis is not talking about having faith without reason. It implys that faith is not blind, that you have a concrete reason to have faith in the first place. Now, faith in and of itself is not something that people can really "see", but the actions which result from your faith is something that people can see as real evidence. So, rather than filling your testimony with circular assumptions, offer your audience some objective reasoning that they can relate to.

Objective Proof Of Conversion In The Bible

   Read Galatians 5:22-26

   "...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." [NIV]

   The apostle Paul was saying this. If you are saved, and if you are a genuine follower of Christ, then the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) will be manifest in your life. However, if you are a false convert, or not saved at all, then the fruits of darkness; sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies (Galatians 5:19-21) will be manifest in your life.

   Whether or not somebody is a follower of Christ can be measured by the fruit that is manifest in their life. This is an objective proof. If this is true about a person, then you will see that evidence of it, by what they do.

Objective Proof Of God In The Bible

   The Bible does not offer any subjective proof of God's existence. It does however offer all kinds of objective proof that God is real, such as can be found in Paul's Gospel, Romans 1:20-23;

   "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles" [NIV]

   This passage tells us that even though you cannot actually see God with your eyes, the evidence of His existence is very visible in the works of His hands, displaying His glory in such a majestic way that we have no other conclusion to draw other than the fact that this Universe must have been made by an all powerful God, for a specific purpose. Just look around you - there is no way the Universe could have come from nothing. The Bible also offers this - just look at all the people who refuse to believe. What are they doing? They are making an effort to ignore the evidence God has given them of His existence, and when they do this, "...they become fools and exchange the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles". Now just look all around the world. Are these things actually happening as the Bible says they are? You betcha!  

Objective Proof of Faith In The Bible

   Now lets read James 2:14-19;

   "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder." [NIV]

   James is making an appeal to objective proof. He is essentially saying, "Don't tell me that you believe - prove that you believe by what you do." The proof James is talking about here is the evidence which results from a spiritual conversion - if anyone is a follower of Christ, their faith will result in certain behavior. The good deeds which result from faith in Jesus are an objective proof that one truly believes in God.

Conclusion

   So, how are you going to share the reality of the Gospel with people? Are you going to tell people, "I know God exists because I feel His presence all the time...", which is subjective, or are you going to tell people, "I know God exists because I see what He does...", which is objective? Clearly, an objective testimony is much better.

   So, when you share your testimony about how you got saved, be careful about how you present it. Offer objective reasons why you believe. Be careful that you don't make a subjective appeal to faith. People cannot really relate to that. It is better to give them something that is real - this has more impact. If you are saved, then your life should manifest some objective evidence which shows a conversion has really taken place, and that the teachings of the Bible have had an effect on you.

All Scripture quotations, unless noted otherwise are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.