The way we define conversion (the expected transformation of our lives rather than, just requiring salvation) does a great deal to define the Christian life. What is the scope of the transformation? How long does it take? Can we help it along? The answers to these questions should describe a dynamic and every-changing relationship with God and life.
Ever-changing. I have found that idea to be met with suspicion, but we should find hope in this idea. God is not ever changing, but I am. God has perfect knowledge, but I am still learning. God's character is perfect, but mine needs constant transformation. To know and to pursue God is to invite change into your life. Conversion is not a single act accomplished in the past. It is a way of life with God.
It is also important for students to know the scope of conversion. There is a temptation to divide our lives up into many small boxes (work, school, family, church, science, etc.), but God transcends our boxes. He calls for every part of our life to be under his Lordship.
Professor and author, Gordon T. Smith, has described conversion in terms of seven elements. He does this for descriptive purposes. He doesn't argue that his description (and labels) is the only one or that it is used in Scripture this way. But he does argue that all these elements are reflected in Scripture as part of Biblical conversion.
The seven are: Belief (in Jesus and in good theology), Repentance, Trust and Assurance of Salvation, Commitment, Water Baptism, the Gift of the Holy Spirit, and Incorporation into Christian Community.
Some of these occur once. Baptism is not a repeated act. The same is true of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Here he is speaking of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The gift of becoming a new creation in Christ. But while the gift of the Holy Spirit is part of salvation, the submission to the Spirit's guidance and empowerment to God's mission are ongoing activities of conversion.
One of the problems with some our bare-bones gospel presentations is that they leave out major portions of the call of Christ. We can give the impression that the Jesus doesn't care about every part of our life or that only part of our lives need to be handed over to him. In some cases the picture is reductionist. Jesus can be presented as desiring our hearts, our soul, and our strength, but our minds are left out or even preached against. Don't expect college-bound youth to respect a picture of conversion that doesn't include and value the mind (don't expect Jesus to be too excited about that picture either).
Conversion needs to be defined to counter some of the damage our marketing campaigns can do as well. Our culture currently distrusts organizations and institutions. I can't say I blame them, but we need to be careful that we don't emphasis this prejudice in our gospel. I have heard many Christians say that they don't believe in organized religion. That Christianity is all about a personal (insert "private") relationship with God. The Scripture does present the idea of a personal commitment to God and promises personal, direct access to God, but it also insists that we become part of the body of Christ. Commitment to a local body of believes is not merely an option. It is an expectation of obedience. In the same way, conversion does not present the repentance of sin as a health option for a successful life. It is part of our commitment to obey Christ.
If these seven elements of conversion are not a spoken part of our understanding of what it means to be a follower of Christ, then we shouldn't be surprised when those around us fail. But it might surprise us to learn that a gospel that doesn't present the possibility of conversion for every part of our life over a dynamic lifetime of obedience isn't enough to capture the hearts and minds of most students.
No comments:
Post a Comment