▶ A Clear Standard for True Testimony and False Testimony
True testimony of Christ is an inner value that contains the holy will and wisdom of God, leading to salvation. It is the witness that turns many believers, brothers, and neighbors back to God by demonstrating and proving, through example, the divine nature that resembles God—namely, the love of the cross—which makes one a true child of God. This is the true testimony of Christ.
Yet today, because of the corruption, falsehood, and distortions of those who try to serve God while also clinging to the world and material things, most testimonies are nothing more than superficial experiences, layered with packaging upon packaging, inflated with lies and vanity, and utterly unrelated to salvation. For countless believers who belong to the world and the flesh, it is exceedingly difficult to discern between the inner value of Christ and the vain outward appearance of such false testimonies. But the truth is clear: of the ten lepers healed in Scripture, the nine who returned to the world and claimed their healing through Christ bore no true testimony of Christ at all, and their experiences had nothing to do with salvation.
To say, “I was healed of sickness” or “I became successful” is something heard everywhere, in any religion, organization, or worldly place. But if one leper, instead of running away, had forsaken everything to follow Jesus Christ, sacrificing himself to live by the love of the cross, and then spoke to the world of the love and sacrifice he experienced, this would indeed be a true testimony of Christ, an inner value worthy of salvation. However, testimonies of those who inevitably sin because they belong to the world—testimonies that reject God’s holy will of making them His children—are worthless. Even if they say, “God healed my sickness and granted me success,” such testimonies are just empty, for they have nothing to do with salvation.
True testimony is the experience of those who cast away every worldly desire, dream, and hope of the flesh, standing upon sacrifice, and who pursue only the love of the cross, thereby fulfilling God’s holy will and forming the divine nature within—the inner temple of the heart. By contrast, testimonies of those who speak of God’s grace yet live with a vain faith that continually falls back into sin—repenting yet sinning again—are nothing but shame to God. No matter how moving they sound, they serve only to disgrace God and Christ in the end, because they arise from desires and sins that continue to pile up.
Experiences that come from the mouths of those who, because of self-interest and gain, repeatedly fall into envy, jealousy, hatred, pride, lust, falsehood, strife, and contention—though they awaken and resolve hundreds of times—can never be the testimony of Christ. These are testimonies of pastors and believers who lack the love of the cross, and who therefore only continue to heap up more sin. Experiences inflated and decorated with falsehood, presented as though they were testimonies of Christ by attaching God’s name to them, are nothing but shells without substance. In today’s many churches, such false testimonies have become feasts of words—full of exaggeration, pretension, and distortion—used as tools to draw in believers. What appears to be “grace” vanishes as soon as one turns away. What seems to be “comfort and hope” that promises quick solutions to all problems is, in reality, nothing more than an impulse that stirs worldly desires and cravings, piling up more greed and sin.
Everything in this world begins, is fulfilled, and is gathered up under God’s providence. Thus, even if I suffer sickness, it is grace; even if I receive curses, it is grace. But most testimonies today come from those who, foolishly taught, think only that overcoming suffering and being healed of sickness is God’s grace, never understanding what God truly intends to awaken and accomplish through the afflictions and curses He permits. If they truly knew the deep grace of God, they would discover overflowing joy even in suffering and tears, and they would find mercy and abundance even in pain and anguish, so that they could not help but give thanks. But instead, their testimonies are filled only with cries of tears, pain, and hardship. Such testimonies, born of ignorance, blind many to God’s deep will and grace, and they have turned the churches into places where empty emotions—blocking the way of salvation—prevail. They are used merely as tools to collect more offerings and money.
Only those who pursue the divine nature—the inner temple of the heart—through the love of the cross, which is fitting for salvation, can give testimony that is worthy before God. Such testimonies do not disgrace God’s holy will, His name, or the precious love and sacrifice of the cross. But those who belong to the world, lacking the love of the cross that sacrifices self, cannot cast off the sinful habits that come from self-interest. Therefore, their testimonies will inevitably become shameful because of their sins, being vain and worthless before God.
▶ Discern the False Testimonies that Threaten Your Soul
The reason God created mankind, gave His Word, established the church, appointed shepherds, instituted the Sabbath and holy days, granted faith and hope, and sent Christ—the love of the cross—is only one: because God, who is love, desired to make mankind into His glorious children. Out of His great love, He sent the love of the cross to this earth, so that through it He might form within us the divine nature, His very character. Therefore, every value and principle that does not contain the love of the cross is incomplete, stands in opposition to God’s will, and becomes an enemy to Him. Thus, false testimonies that lack the love and sacrifice of the cross—which feeds, gives, and cares—are false, worthless, and meaningless.
The main characteristics of false testimonies are as follows:
1. They present content that is not found in Scripture, or that opposes or contradicts it, or that is cloaked in exaggerated mysteries used to deceive believers.
2. They bring in worldly lessons that have nothing to do with salvation, disguising them as God’s grace, often centered on worldly success.
3. They exalt the hardships and adversities of famous or renowned people of the world, combining the worldly teaching of “sweet fruit through suffering” with God’s grace, even though it has no relation to salvation.
4. They promote testimonies of loyalty to the church and altar, boasting of increased wealth and happiness as the result of giving much money and offerings.
5. They offer testimonies of supposed healings without any true evidence of complete recovery, claiming “the gift of healing,” but these testimonies prove false in time, often leading to greater sin and even death.
6. They lack testimonies of inner value—the divine nature of the heart, formed by the love of the cross, leading to salvation. Instead, they are testimonies of superficial worldly success, possessions, and health.
7. They are superficial testimonies of outward appearance, not inner value. Because they have no substance, they are always inflated with packaging and exaggeration, becoming hypocrisy and vain pretension.
8. They lack the love of the cross that feeds, gives, and cares. Instead, they highlight only human emotions, experiences, and lessons about life, producing impulses that vanish as soon as one turns away.
9. They arise from ignorance and lack of knowledge of the Word, driven by pride, empty conviction, and vain resolutions. Such testimonies are nothing more than the outer shell, flattery, and vanity of those enslaved to applause and ambition, lacking any example of Christ’s true life.
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.(Proverbs 19 : 9)
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.(Proverbs 14 : 5)
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.(Proverbs 17 : 4)
Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.(Psalms 5 : 6)
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.(Proverbs 17 : 7)
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.(Revelation 21 : 8)
A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.(Proverbs 14 : 25)
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.(Revelation 22 : 18~19)
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.(Proverbs 18 : 2)
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.(Psalms 17 : 10)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.(2 Corinthians 10 : 5~6)
▶ Revival Meetings, Prayer Centers, and Testimonies
Under the pretense of evangelism and under the pretense of prayer, the true purpose of those who continually practice lawlessness, falsehood, and corruption is only this: to enrich themselves further with more wealth, self-interest, power, and glory, securing a greater foundation for authority, and drawing more money and possessions to themselves. Under the guise of spreading God’s name and the truth of Christ, under the guise of leading more people into Christianity, they build churches of brick that were never meant to be built—illegal houses of worship—as if they were true missions of Christ. They build them larger and more numerous, but in doing so, they only make the lives of countless believers more burdensome.
In order to satisfy their hidden greed and selfish ambitions, they even go so far as to steal the tithes and holy offerings that should be shared with the flock. Cloaked under the false pretense that “greater temples must be built and proclaimed for God,” these so-called shepherds, who ought to lead their flock with peace, gentleness, thanksgiving, and joy, instead drive them into deeper anxiety, heavier yokes, sorrow, and even death. Their brick churches are nothing but places of theft, stealing more tithes and offerings through the guise of worship. They stir up fleeting enthusiasm, convictions, and resolutions, bending down the backs and faces of those who have little. These are the ones who drive believers into greater worries, sighs, and burdens because of money and possessions. Though they appear to stand under the name of God and the Word, their hearts love wealth and money. Toward those who are wealthy, they flatter and fawn endlessly, but toward the poor, they despise and discard, being proud of their own intellect and head, teaching with arrogance no different from worldly men, yet with even greater cruelty and pride.
Like corrupt rulers and kings who, seeking more glory for themselves, build greater cities and larger palaces, caring nothing for the groaning of the people, demanding forced labor and excessive tribute, driving them into misery, ruin, and death—so are these churches, rising ever higher daily without any fear of heaven. Under the guise of spreading the faith, they demand guarantees, tributes, and offerings, oppressing believers, exhausting them, and grinding them down. Today’s church buildings and prayer centers are mostly such places—not houses of prayer for all people, but prisons filled with corruption, uncleanness, and shame. They are like cages for the weak-hearted, or like traps for the desperate who wish to grasp even a straw of hope, yet who are instead plunged deeper into ruin. They are places where the poor are despised, where sermons force money and offerings from believers, wounding their hearts, where human zeal and fleshly passion are stirred to drive them to greater worldly ambition.
Yet all that is heard and taught there is nothing more than vain lessons of human life and worldly philosophy, like the teachings of secular teachers. These are sparks that flare for a moment and vanish; flowers that bloom quickly and fade quickly. Where then is the lasting fruit of such inspiration, comfort, and teaching that seemed so dazzling in outward form? Deceived by sermons that seem for a moment to solve all problems and fulfill all desires, the heavy yoke, the sorrow, and the sighs that return again upon the footsteps of the believers as they leave testify that such sermons and teachings are not inspirations born of the love of the cross, but are nothing more than hollow lessons, comforts, and inspirations void of vitality. What use are repeated resolutions, or stirred-up zeal, when all of it is vain? Deceived by empty teaching, they only repeat the foolishness of following their worldly desires, cravings, and satisfactions. Instead of the fruit of Christ that leads to salvation, what they bear is envy, jealousy, strife, pride, falsehood, lust, and hatred—sins that repeat like the world, leading to destruction. Such faith deceives even their good conscience, arming them with pride, stubbornness, and empty willpower born of fleshly zeal, heaping up only more sin and greed. And what then will soothe and fill the desolate hearts that grow ever more barren? How long will they chase repeating folly? How long will they pursue vain desires that deceive even their conscience? In all these wasted years of empty faith, what remains but shallow excuses, cunning arguments, and hardened stubbornness, while their conscience withers and dries up, leaving only weary and burdened hearts, no different from the world.
The sermons of these people stir fleeting emotions, flattering worldly desires, to demand more offerings and possessions. They are always cloaked in lies and false appearances, like flowers arranged beautifully in a display window—outwardly fair, but only hiding inner corruption. These are worldly leavens, abominations unrelated to salvation, cunning snares that stir greed and sin. Covered in false words and hypocrisy, they present worthless testimonies and hollow teachings, making people believe only in outward appearances. Like the nine lepers who were healed but ran away, while only one returned to follow Christ, such false witnesses speak testimonies that are only shells and surface values, never understanding why God gave them affliction, sickness, and judgment in the first place. They only cry and cling in pain for their own flesh and bones, never discerning God’s deeper will. Thus, sigh upon sigh, tear upon tear, regret upon regret, burden upon burden pile endlessly in their lives of sin and greed. Yet they exalt themselves, deceived by pride, claiming to be true Christians, to have the Spirit, to be children of salvation, when in truth they have not put to death the flesh and remain bound to arrogance and vanity.
What profit is there in such testimonies? Outwardly they seem like true believers, apostles, and witnesses of light, but inwardly they are empty—like dough puffed up with leaven—filled only with weariness, barrenness, and emptiness of worldly living. How then can this be the true fruit of Christ? These are mere outward teachings of those who have not grasped God’s true will and truth, teachings bound to the world, unrelated to salvation. Where then is the true temple of the heart with the love of the cross?
Those who, having briefly escaped the curses, sicknesses, and calamities that come as a result of sin through worldly living, soon turn back again, forsaking the will of God and returning once more to the sinful life of this world—like the lepers who, though healed, turned away—are those who cry out and cling to God only when punished and struck. In their repeated folly, bound to the world and the flesh, heaping up sin and greed in their lives, how can they possibly pursue the love of the cross? How can they ever perceive the deep grace and will of God?
Unlike the people of the world who murmur and lament in poverty, true Christians, even in poverty, discern the sorrow of the hungry, cultivate hearts of patience and self-control, and come to know what true grace, thanksgiving, and joy of God are. They are able to be content in every circumstance, with a heart enriched by compassion, learning the true beauty of Christ. But those who merely cry out in pain from beatings and tears, without such depth, possess only empty testimonies, devoid of center. With vain tears and vain testimonies born from continually sinning and being struck, how can they ever yield the fruit of the divine nature—the temple of the heart—that bears the beautiful love worthy of salvation?
God reveals His healing, miracles, and glory to mankind not as judgment for our sins, but in order to make us perfect as children fitting for salvation, to form within us His divine nature of love, compassion, and mercy, and to refine us through tribulation and suffering. Though such things bring grief, tears, pain, and affliction, they are meant for our training. Yet the foolish pursue only their desires for worldly success, comfort, and ambition, turning again to walk the path of sinners, lamenting only their own conditions, pains, and sorrows, and thus casting away God’s holy will and the blood of the cross. Their testimonies are therefore vain and meaningless.
What use are the testimonies of those who, like the nine lepers who were healed but did not follow Christ, turned back again to the world where only sin and greed are born? Such testimonies are of no value before God! It would be better for them to have died early in their sins, or even like a life miscarried before seeing the light of day, than to bring forth such testimonies. Those who know heaven and God will understand this truth. Signs of healing and outward evidences of value may serve some small purpose in awakening people to the reality of God’s existence and stirring reverence, but they do not yield the beautiful hearts conformed to God’s divine nature, which are essential for salvation. They are like feeding porridge to an infant who cannot yet swallow solid food. Out of compassion for human weakness, God sometimes shows visible miracles and signs through the flesh, so that we may know and testify that He is alive. Yet these are only outward signs and powers, not the deeper work of forming within us the true inner values of God’s nature.
In other words, unless one advances to pursue the way of Christ that leads to true salvation, unless one forms within himself the nine beautiful virtues of God’s divine nature, these outward signs remain nothing but shells, empty of substance, entirely unrelated to salvation. They are, in fact, abominable testimonies that bring reproach upon the glory of God.
Testimonies that do not form these nine beautiful fruits of the Spirit—love, compassion, joy, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, patience, self-control, and peace—are nothing but shells without substance. They are excuses and corruptions from wayward pastors and believers, or the foolish testimonies of those still babes in faith, unable to escape the swamp of worldliness, repeating sin endlessly, proving by their conscience that they are still bound sinners.
Thus, most testimonies today are empty tools misused by faiths that have not received forgiveness of sins, that repeat sin, and that remain under the rod of discipline. They are vain faiths leading only to sighs, burdens, and sorrows that never cease, faiths that end in death (Luke 17:11–19).