The Worst Pre-Conversion Testimony Contest Error

As with Tithing, some Christians seem to delight in the depths of depravity in their former lives. While it's wonderful when God rescues people from degradation, it's ONLY by grace that anybody is saved.

And as much as I love the radio program, UNSHACKLED!, Pacific Garden Mission story writers inadvertently give listeners the impression that the worse you were, the better you are after being saved.

This tendency to compete for the worst pre-conversion testimony ought never to happen. Romans 3:23 (KJV) states plainly, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

The Apostle Paul could have boasted of how he once was an enemy of the faith. He wrote in 1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV) that, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

Even so, Paul also realized that people measuring their status against others were wrong. As he wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV), "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."


Christians ought to be happy they were accepted into the family of Christ. Some end up like the elder brother in Christ's parable. Luke 15:28-30 (BBE) says, "   "But he was angry and would not go in; and his father came out and made a request to him to come in. But he made answer and said to his father, 'See, all these years I have been your servant, doing your orders in everything: and you never gave me even a young goat so that I might have a feast with my friends: But when this your son came, who has been wasting your property with bad women, you put to death the fat young ox for him'"

This isn't the attitude of a grateful person but one who feels entitled to condemn others. And though God is glorified by the rescue of lost people, faithfulness also brings him glory.

Look at how Paul commended Timothy and his mother and grandmother. He penned in 2 Timothy 1:5 (KJV), "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also."

Spiritual pride is as sinful as any other sin. I'll be touching on this point in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? People love doing works to show off their righteousness but that's not what God wants in us. Humility is what he requires.

On Saturday, I'll write about a song popular back in 1971 and why it isn't a sin to have the blues.