Have you wanted to give a testimony of Christian Science healing but been afraid to? Or talked longer than you had intended? Or forgotten an important point when giving a testimony? These questions bring another question: Have you ever thought of preparing in advance to give a testimony?
Every week inspiring accounts of healings can be heard at testimony meetings in Churches of Christ, Scientist, Christian Science Societies, and Christian Science college organizations. Mrs. Eddy states in the Manual of The Mother Church: "Testimony in regard to the healing of the sick is highly important. More than a mere rehearsal of blessings, it scales the pinnacle of praise and illustrates the demonstration of Christ, 'who healeth all thy diseases' (Psalm 103:3)."Man., Art. VIII, Sect. 24;
Motivated by a deep desire to share the spiritual truths that have brought healing to their own lives, many people are able to speak with the freedom that comes from an unselfed and active brotherly love. Never an intellectual exercise, Christian Science testimonies are an outpouring of an individual's genuine gratitude. Sometimes the testifier speaks spontaneously when the inspiration comes to him; sometimes the speaker has thought about his testimony for days or weeks and is ready to share it when the opportunity is right.
In his First Epistle to the Corinthians, Paul gives this account of the nature of his preaching: "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. . . . And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power."I Cor. 2:1, 3, 4; The apostle knew that any success he had in conveying his message was due not to any eloquence of his own but solely to the power and grace of God.
The very desire to share a healing so that others may know that they, too, can avail themselves of the ever-present, healing Christ is the loving motive that will enable one to do it. Mrs. Eddy tells us, "Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action."Science and Health, p. 454;
Preparation to give a testimony begins with the preparation of the heart. Mrs. Eddy says: "The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love. Without this, the letter is but the dead body of Science,—pulseless, cold, inanimate."ibid., p. 113; And in the Bible John tells us, "Perfect love casteth out fear."I John 4:18; Doesn't it follow then that the way to calm a fearful heart is to be more conscious of expressing love?
Preparation is something that goes on in our experience hourly, weekly, yearly. When we study the Lesson-Sermon,in the Christian Science Quarterly; we are preparing to meet whatever challenges the day may bring. When we attend our weekly church services, we can go prepared to give.
The following illustrates one kind of preparation. At a Wednesday evening service, while listening to the selections from the Bible and Science and Health, I was reminded of a healing of my own. All during the testimony part of the meeting I tried to organize my thoughts so that I could stand up and express my gratitude for the healing. However, I did not want to miss hearing the good testimonies others were giving, and when the time was up, I still had not risen to my feet.
But I did not let it go at that. I did something about it. That night I recalled the ideas that had occurred to me during the meeting. During the next few days, I tried out ways that would best convey my thoughts and my gratitude for the healing. I memorized a short statement by Mrs. Eddy in Science and Health that had been helpful to me in the healing experience, as well as a phrase from a hymn, so that I could quote them accurately. The following Wednesday I was prepared, and with much joy and gratitude I told of my healing.
Even though preparation in advance may have resulted in a better flow of ideas for me, still there is no one prescribed right way or wrong way to give a testimony. Simple statements of truth, naturalness, and a spirit of brotherly love in the presentation, as well as loving-kindness, and charity with each other when listening, are elements contributing to the receptive atmosphere for healings at midweek services.
In our preparation to give we should remember it is the power of God, divine Love, that inspires us to rise to testify to a healing and the accompanying growth in understanding. The same divine Love governs what we say and how we say it in order to meet some unseen need in the congregation. Our voices can be full and clear; then each expression of gratitude and testimony of healing will be heard by everyone present. We can speak with freedom and confidence as we realize that "the preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord."Prov. 16:1.
