I ran across a transcript of Evel Knievel’s comments to Robert Schuller at his baptism on the Keep Believing Ministries blog.
I don’t remember ever reading or hearing a testimony so focused on feelings. For example, quoting from it:
Isn’t it a wonderful feeling? Isn’t it a wonderful feeling to say, I have a God that I can believe in, a real God that I can believe in? Isn’t it a wonderful feeling to wake up in the middle of the night and say, well I’m glad I woke up and now I can go back to bed in a few minutes and sleep, but in the meantime I’m going to think about Jesus Christ. It’s such a warm wonderful feeling to me.
I looked for comments about a changed life; this was all I found, which is very nonspecific and quickly gets back to feelings again:
I just…the diamonds, and the gold, and the racehorses, and the women, and the booze. I want to tell you something, I’d been a sinner. You’re looking at a real sinner, but not anymore. You’re not looking at a sinner anymore, and I’ve had everybody…thank you…I’ve had everybody in my family trying to help me. My son and my wife came here today from Montana and Las Vegas, and friends that came to see me and be with me and I’m so happy. This is the biggest step that I have ever taken in my life, Dr. Schuller is right.
If I compare this with Zacchaeus’ testimony in the New Testament:
[Jesus] entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
(Luke 19:1-10)
Maybe Zacchaeus also said “I feel so wonderful that Jesus and I are friends! I’m so happy!” We do know he was happy because he welcomed Jesus gladly. However Luke didn’t include that as part of Zacchaeus’ testimony per se. Luke’s emphasis in that is on Zacchaeus’ immediate pledge to not only stop defrauding people but to pay unnecessarily generous retribution.
We see evidence at least in words, based on a specific pledge, that Zacchaeus is now truly a follower of Jesus. Because he is already behaving like Jesus in being generous like Jesus.
Zacchaeus’ news was also obvious good news to his community in practical ways as well as spiritual ones – he was not going to defraud them any longer.
I’d like to hear more Zacchaeus-style testimonies.
In saying this I don’t mean to judge Evel – he is new to all this. I don’t even know if he’s heard of Zacchaeus yet.
I hope there is someone like Zacchaeus in Evel’s life: someone who, had he been there when Evel was baptized, would have run up to Evel afterwards and said “Awesome, man! So tell me, what’s changed in your life so far? Has Jesus turned your life upside down yet?” And from there, that person, with kindness and wisdom, would have led a conversation about all that being a follower of Jesus entails.
I can’t tell from the testimony whether anyone has had that conversation with Evel yet and that concerns me.
Thanks Helen, having gone and read his testimony i found it a positive experience, going on TV etc seems to be a very public public way of saying his life has changed. I’m sure you’re right that there is the journey of our lives that we then go on to live and to ultimately ask the Q by God at the end what we did with him but as starting off places i found evel’s moving and profound…
Hi Paul, I’m glad you enjoyed his testimony.
was a great leap of faith 😉
Paul I hope you weren’t trying to win any prizes with that joke!
I’ve been a Christian for 37 years and I can safely say that peace and joy are natural responses to the love of Christ. So is happiness. Those emotions do not proceed from an unbelieving heart. And I am very thankful that Jesus Christ still provides us with those wonderful, positive and often glorious emotions even 37 years later. The warfare may be raging. Doubts and fears may assail. But the one who endures and keeps the faith to the end will most assuredly be saved. So, Evel, keep looking up to the Reason for your faith and the Source of your joy! “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Once saved always saved… one is not “be saved” by enduring to the end.
I just saw it on Tv …and what I saw was a child like response to an indescribeable experience. We have to remember that we have no idea what type of christian influences he has had in his life. Only the Lord knows a mans heart. I for one am proud of him….and call him blessed.
I am so thankful that I got to watch Evel give his life to God and believe in Jesus. I have always looked up to him and was a hard headed tough guy all my life.I gave my life to the Lord five years ago and my life has changed from a drug addict all my life to being a totally blessed and happy and very loved man. His testimony just made me cry with joy and confirm that God is an awsome God. I cant wait to spend time with him some day. Maybe God will let us jump the gates of Heaven side by side . All things are possible with God . God Bless You Evel………….
Thank you Kevin for the comments. You see, I grew up in a christian home, but did not know Jesus until I was 21. I was involved in drugs and drunkeness, and living on the wrong side of the tracks. But God’s amazing grace found me, and He gave me the power to overcome. I really understand what Jesus meant when He said, “He who is forgiven much loves much”. Now I have been following Jesus for 22 years, and although there have been many trials, the Lord has delivered me out of them all. Today, Evel passed into glory, as many that I know personally have also. Better one day in His house than thousands elsewhere ! Whoever may see this, Love and Live for Jesus with everything you’ve got ! Ride on Evel !
I think you’re being judgmental and analyzing this way too much. Instead, simply be glad for a man who’s obviously lived a life devoted to himself and has now confessed he’s made a mistake and has committed himself to the Christ. The thief on the cross at the last minute didn’t have time to display works of a changed life yet Jesus said “Today, you’ll be with me in paradise.” If you read about Evel and investigate rather than speculate, his family say he was a changed man and love him for it. Heck, Robby even started visiting and talking with him again. That’s HUGE!
Scripture says “Angels rejoice when a lost soul returns to the Lord”. Let’s do that for this man. End the futile discussion and simply rejoice in the fact he heard the Master’s call and responded with a sincere and glad heart.
Paul I’m simply saying I think a changed life is important. It sounds like you know Evel was changed, which is great news.