The Testimony of Bill Boyle

My story is not only about how God confronted me with my sin and worked repentance in my life, but also how He worked in my broken relationship with my parents. God not only restored us, He drew us together to live in the same house after 10 years apart!

My parents were missionaries to China and Japan. I was born in Walton, N.Y., during the time my family was back in the U.S. on furlough. I was the youngest of five children. We returned to Japan and I lived there for the next seven years. At that time Dad believed it was time to retire from the mission field and focus on working for the Christian Amendment Movement. We lived in Los Angeles, Calif. for two years, and then moved to Wilkinsburg, Pa., for the next six years.

Being a missionary and preacher’s kid carried an awareness that you were always on display. While in Japan when we were invited to the home of neighbors or acquaintances, I was reminded that I needed to act like a Christian. In America, I was expected to live by a higher standard of behavior because I was a preacher’s kid. Pretty soon I learned how to appear like a saint, yet all the while at home I acted like the enemy of Christ.

I regularly attended both morning and evening worship services, went to Sabbath school class, and went to prayer meeting every Wednesday evening (the only junior-high-aged kid). I tithed my vast income that I accumulated as a paper boy. I would smile the angelic smile to the adults who would praise my righteous living at church, and then I would go home and show anger, rebellion, and hostility towards my parents who tried to force me to be someone I did not want to be.

One summer while I was at the presbytery youth camp, I became ill. I felt awful, so I went to the camp infirmary to be checked out and treated. While I was there, my counselor, Bruce, came to visit me. He was a young man who had recently professed faith in Christ and started training at the RP Seminary.

While I was lying on the cot with my sore throat and aches, he asked me if I was a Christian. I do not remember what I said, but I do remember what I thought. Who is this guy to question whether I am a Christian or not? Doesn’t he know who I am? Doesn’t he know I am a missionary kid? Doesn’t he know how many times a week I go to church? I felt insulted, and I was angry!

After Bruce left, my anger gave way to self-inspection. Why did he ask me that? Did he ask me that question because he saw no evidence of my being in Christ? Did he see through me? The Holy Spirit began to convict me of how I treated my parents as well as my family. I saw my righteousness for what it was: hypocrisy. My sore throat was insignificant compared to the pain I felt in my heart, knowing the shame I caused my Lord and the hurt I caused my parents. I knew that the God of the universe saw everything that was done in secret.

Later that night I attended the meeting and, later, the campfire. The words of the gospel spoken in the meeting gave me hope. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for my sin. I repented of my sins and knew that the guilt of my rebellion directed to my parents, but ultimately toward God, was forgiven.

Although initially there was definite change in my attitudes in all areas of life, I began to fall back into resenting my parents, and I epitomized the rebellious son.

Dad and Mom were recalled to Japan in 1971. They gave me the option to finish my senior year at my aunt and uncle’s house in Aliquippa, Pa., or go to Japan with them. I thought it would be fun to return to Japan, but I was unprepared for the culture shock I felt after arriving. I expected to have my Japanese come back with just a brief refresher course, but I had forgotten almost everything. I missed my friends back home. I blamed my parents for my unhappiness.

Recently I found a journal that Dad kept, chronicling everyday life in Japan. I was impressed at the hurt I was causing both Mom and Dad, while they were fighting to spread the gospel to unbelievers in Japan. In my selfishness, I did not care for anything but me. I was hindering the cause of Christ.

I was so glad to get to go back to the U.S., to get back to my summer job on the farm, and to go to Geneva College in the fall, so that I could get away from the influence of my parents.

I thoroughly enjoyed the college life and played soccer. It was so nice to be on my own; but, even though I was free of parental restrictions, I was beginning to see more of who I was. I realized that maybe my parents were not the problem. The words of Exodus 20:12, “Honor your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you,” kept bugging me. I began to see more of how I really did not love others as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-6. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”

Again the Holy Spirit cut my heart and brought such remorse that I wrote a long letter to Mom and Dad asking forgiveness for the many heartaches that I gave them. They were so gracious to accept my request, and assured me of their love. I felt like the prodigal son returning home.

I met my future wife at Geneva. After I graduated, we married and started our home in Kansas. Mom and Dad left Japan and moved in with my Grandmother Robb in Orlando, Fla., until Grandma died.

My parents did not have much savings and felt that they needed to find a place they could live. Carol and I felt a desire to help, but we were limited in resources ourselves. With the help of my brother Scott, we bought a house and made an apartment in the basement where Mom and Dad would live. This arrangement allowed a degree of separateness at times when the door was closed, but most times the door was open, and our children would go downstairs to visit and joy in the interaction with their grandparents. Often Mom and Dad would come upstairs and we would have worship together as well as share meals together (unless Mom decided to cook liver and onions).

What a wonderful God we have. It is only by God’s grace that my broken relationship with my parents was restored, but even more that my broken relationship with my heavenly Father was restored. When you are hostile toward God and His commands, every area of life is affected. There is no peace, and the bitterness and resentment will surface in how you look at all of life. I was dead in sin even though I lived among so many who loved Christ. Being around Christians and doing the things associated with Christians did not make me a Christian. First John 1:9 states; “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Five years after Mom and Dad moved in with us, Mom was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. She died several months later. Mom wanted to die at home, and my aunt in Florida came for the last month and helped care for her. The last days were hard, but what a precious thing it was to try to make her last days here on earth more comfortable.

I think sometimes how different it would have been if God had not brought me to see my sin and repent. God is good, and He continues to remind me of that each day. In Psalm 34:8 we are called to “taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” I can joyfully testify to that.

Bill Boyle has been married to Carol for 35 years, and they have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. He serves on the session of the Shawnee, Kan., RPC and has worked as a respiratory therapist in various hospitals since 1977.