I Got a TESTimony Pt. 2

Every story of faith has a test. Paul’s journey wasn’t smooth—he spent fourteen years being shaped before stepping fully into his calling. The Gospel message he preached was not one he sought approval for from man; it was something God placed in him. But even then, challenges arose. There were those who tried to impose their own religious traditions on his ministry. He stood firm, refusing to let anything compromise the truth of the gospel.

Your testimony, too, will be tested. Opposition will come—some will doubt you, others will question whether you’re qualified. But your calling isn’t based on human validation; it’s rooted in God’s purpose for you. If you find yourself questioning your own journey, remember Paul’s example: Stay the course. The test is part of the testimony.

However, in saying this, I think it's necessary…imperative even to consider that the test in our testimony might also be in the lesson that we take from Peter in Gal. 2. Why is it that he even needs to be mentioned in this passage? Why is what he did so important that we need to highlight it? What does it mean for us and the possible test in our testimony? Buckle up.

When Hypocrisy Creeps In

Paul had to confront Peter—a fellow leader, a fellow believer—because he wavered under pressure. Peter, who was filled with the spirit and a (if not thee) key spiritual leader responsible for birthing and building God’s Church after Jesus ascended, had been advocating for the cause of the Gentiles being grafted into the family of believers. We see this in a variety of stories in the narrative from Acts 10 through Acts 15. Keep in mind, all of this is with his people in Jerusalem, the epicenter of Jewish faith in Jesus. Then, while in Galatia, he is boldly eating and fellowshipping with Gentile believers in a very…very Gentile land. However, when certain Jewish Christians arrived he suddenly withdrew out of fear of criticism. His actions weren’t just personal; they led others, even Barnabas, into the same hypocrisy which is wild.

How often do we allow the fear of what others think to dictate our actions? Do we adjust our faith based on who’s watching (if you can’t say amen, say ouch)? The truth is, when we compromise for the sake of approval, we risk leading others astray (yes, you can say ouch some more :-)). The world is watching—not to see if we are perfect, but to see if we are real. A true testimony isn’t about appearing flawless; it’s about standing firm in truth, even when it's uncomfortable.

Everyone Has a Role to Play

Paul and Peter had different assignments. Paul was called to preach to the Gentiles, Peter to the Jews. Their missions were distinct, but both were essential to God’s plan and equally as important. We must recognize that everyone in the body of Christ has a unique, purpose-filled assignment. Just because someone’s journey looks different from ours doesn’t mean it’s less important. Instead of tearing one another down over differences, we should honor each other’s God-given assignments. Unity isn’t about sameness—it’s about mission. When we embrace that, we move forward together.

The Power of Restoration

The beauty of Peter’s story is that failure wasn’t the end. He had messed up before—denying Jesus three times, struggling with doubt—but God’s grace remained. Paul’s confrontation in Galatians 2 wasn’t meant to condemn Peter, but to restore him to the truth of the gospel. What we need to remember here is the reason why Paul was able to do this is because he saw himself in Peter: one who committed atrocities against the Church…except his looked a little different. Through these two, we see that persecution can look like killing those building God’s Church, and it can also look like excluding those whom God has included and leading others into the same deception; a different type of death. And Peter, despite his mistakes, realized this, repented, and continued in his calling.

Your testimony isn’t about perfection; it’s about redemption. Maybe you’ve fallen short, maybe you’ve struggled with hypocrisy, maybe fear has held you back. But God’s love restores. The question isn’t whether you’re tarnished—it’s what you do after the tarnish is revealed. Will you hide, or will you allow God to shape your story into one that reflects His grace?

— Jordan Brown

Pastor (Ministries and Outreach) [OV] Church