Conversation
Here are some thoughts on conversion.
Gordon Smith says, "There is really only one tragedy in human life--the failure to become a saint."
We need a new language of conversion. In the 1950's A.W. Tozer said the words "accept" and receive" were past their prime. We need more concrete word pictures to help people visualize the different dimensions of conversion. The langauge of conversion determines the way in which a conversion is worked out. Gordon Smith says our "language of conversion needs to resonate with the deepest longings" of the people we're trying to reach.
I like thinking of conversion as a "chain reaction." It sets off a number of simultaneous reactions. Conversion is kaleidscopic.
Emotional Conversion
I think some people believe with their head, but they don't believe with their heart. They haven't experienced an emotional converstion. They are still plagued with guilt (shame about the past) and anxiety (fear of the future). They don't "know they they know." The conversion hasn't permeated the deepest regions of the heart.
I think other components of conversion include an intellectual conversion where we know the truth and the truth sets us free. This is the "eureka" moment when the Spirit of God removes the veil and reveals himself. I think we need to undergo a volitional conversion. This is letting God get in the driver's seat and giving him the keys to your life. And I think there is a spiritual dimension . This involves the spirtiual transaction that takes place. We become a temple of the Holy Spirit. Our sin is forgiven and forgotten (this can also be considered the legal or forensic dimension).
Pictures
I think conversion is like activating a credit card account. Once it's activated you have access to credit. The way we gain access to our spiritual credit--what Christ has already done for us on the cross--is by activating a relationship with Christ.
For what it's worth, faith is the only thing that can activate the account. And faith is the only thing that increases the credit limit. Romans 4 says that against all hope Abraham, in hope, put his faith in God. He was "fully persuaded" that God had the power to do what he had promised." Verse 22 says, "This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.' The words 'it was credited to him' were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus from the dead."
I think we need more "concrete" pictures of what Christ has done for us on the cross. I think every generation needs to play off of different pictures depending on the historical context. As Gordon Smith says, "Conversion never happens in a historical vacumn." I think the gospel is relevant in every generation because it speaks to our deepest longings, but those longings change based on time and place.
I think there was a time when the gospel played off "the fear factor." Conversion was "life insurance." But I'm not sure that is the cultural climate we live in. I think we need more positive appeals--appeals that play off of our highest hopes rather than our deepest fears even though the gospel addresses both. I think the gospel as an "invitation to a party" in Luke 14 is a good example of a positive appeal.
Sinetics
I think the way we see conversion is affected by the way we see sin. Sin is a waste of energy. Sin is a waste of potential. Conversion helps us reach our potential energy.
Sin is trying to meet a legitimate need in an illegitimate way. Conversion is meeting our deepest needs God's way.
Sin is total independence from God. Conversion is total dependence upon God.
Sin is sickness of the soul. Conversion is health and wholeness.
In a sense, if we always acted in our best self-interest we would always obey God. Sin is like a self-inflicted wound. We self-destruct. Jeremiah 7:19 says, "Are they hurting me? Most of all they are hurting themselves."
Sin is death. Conversion is life.
Final Thoughts
I think conversion is a process. Soren Kierkegaard said, "Do not be afraid of the laborious pace of conversion."
Every conversion is absolutely unique!
We need to help people write their spiritual autobiographies. And as Gordon Smith says, "One writing of our story is not the last writing." We need to keep writing and rewriting our story.
Gordon Smith says, "There is really only one tragedy in human life--the failure to become a saint."
We need a new language of conversion. In the 1950's A.W. Tozer said the words "accept" and receive" were past their prime. We need more concrete word pictures to help people visualize the different dimensions of conversion. The langauge of conversion determines the way in which a conversion is worked out. Gordon Smith says our "language of conversion needs to resonate with the deepest longings" of the people we're trying to reach.
I like thinking of conversion as a "chain reaction." It sets off a number of simultaneous reactions. Conversion is kaleidscopic.
Emotional Conversion
I think some people believe with their head, but they don't believe with their heart. They haven't experienced an emotional converstion. They are still plagued with guilt (shame about the past) and anxiety (fear of the future). They don't "know they they know." The conversion hasn't permeated the deepest regions of the heart.
I think other components of conversion include an intellectual conversion where we know the truth and the truth sets us free. This is the "eureka" moment when the Spirit of God removes the veil and reveals himself. I think we need to undergo a volitional conversion. This is letting God get in the driver's seat and giving him the keys to your life. And I think there is a spiritual dimension . This involves the spirtiual transaction that takes place. We become a temple of the Holy Spirit. Our sin is forgiven and forgotten (this can also be considered the legal or forensic dimension).
Pictures
I think conversion is like activating a credit card account. Once it's activated you have access to credit. The way we gain access to our spiritual credit--what Christ has already done for us on the cross--is by activating a relationship with Christ.
For what it's worth, faith is the only thing that can activate the account. And faith is the only thing that increases the credit limit. Romans 4 says that against all hope Abraham, in hope, put his faith in God. He was "fully persuaded" that God had the power to do what he had promised." Verse 22 says, "This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.' The words 'it was credited to him' were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus from the dead."
I think we need more "concrete" pictures of what Christ has done for us on the cross. I think every generation needs to play off of different pictures depending on the historical context. As Gordon Smith says, "Conversion never happens in a historical vacumn." I think the gospel is relevant in every generation because it speaks to our deepest longings, but those longings change based on time and place.
I think there was a time when the gospel played off "the fear factor." Conversion was "life insurance." But I'm not sure that is the cultural climate we live in. I think we need more positive appeals--appeals that play off of our highest hopes rather than our deepest fears even though the gospel addresses both. I think the gospel as an "invitation to a party" in Luke 14 is a good example of a positive appeal.
Sinetics
I think the way we see conversion is affected by the way we see sin. Sin is a waste of energy. Sin is a waste of potential. Conversion helps us reach our potential energy.
Sin is trying to meet a legitimate need in an illegitimate way. Conversion is meeting our deepest needs God's way.
Sin is total independence from God. Conversion is total dependence upon God.
Sin is sickness of the soul. Conversion is health and wholeness.
In a sense, if we always acted in our best self-interest we would always obey God. Sin is like a self-inflicted wound. We self-destruct. Jeremiah 7:19 says, "Are they hurting me? Most of all they are hurting themselves."
Sin is death. Conversion is life.
Final Thoughts
I think conversion is a process. Soren Kierkegaard said, "Do not be afraid of the laborious pace of conversion."
Every conversion is absolutely unique!
We need to help people write their spiritual autobiographies. And as Gordon Smith says, "One writing of our story is not the last writing." We need to keep writing and rewriting our story.
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