Conversion and Calling
We usually think of conversion in fairly narrow terms. Before it was: "I don't believe." Afterward, it's "I Believe." We think of it in 180 degree turns. But must we understand conversion in such stark terms? I've already asked this question once, but I'd like to expand on it.
For generations American lived in a kind of "Christian" environment. Christianity defined our culture, at least in a generic way. We sang carols in school, read the KJV (unless we were Catholic and went to our own schools), and when we pledged "One nation under God" we were pretty certain what that meant. In this context, Horace Bushnell's idea that one could grow up never knowing anything other than being a Christian, an idea that was fleshed out in his magnum opus, On Christian Nurture.
But things have changed. A generation of Americans have come of age, a majority of whom likely know little or nothing about Christian faith or church life. They may not be unbelievers in the narrow sense, but they know little of the faith. In this context, conversion becomes more of an issue. One need not move from disbelief to belief, but there will be a change in focus and attitude.
Indeed, instead of 180 degree turns, entering the life of faith may involve a series of 45 degree ones, turns that may occur long after one encounters God or enters the church. That said, I'd like to add a component to our discussion.
Conversion may be more than a change in life's perspective. Conversion it would seem, if we look at the life of Paul (Acts 9), comes with a calling to service.
Anthony Robinson and Robert Wall write in regards to Paul's conversion on the Damascus Road:
They also point out that conversion and calling is also often linked to suffering. Indeed, in Acts 15, the word comes that not only is Paul (still known as Saul) called to bring the good news to the Gentiles, but he will suffer. Thus, it seems like we should be prepared to endure some difficulty along the way. But endurance, as we've told, does build character (Romans 5:3-4), so maybe a little suffering isn't a bad thing.
For generations American lived in a kind of "Christian" environment. Christianity defined our culture, at least in a generic way. We sang carols in school, read the KJV (unless we were Catholic and went to our own schools), and when we pledged "One nation under God" we were pretty certain what that meant. In this context, Horace Bushnell's idea that one could grow up never knowing anything other than being a Christian, an idea that was fleshed out in his magnum opus, On Christian Nurture.
But things have changed. A generation of Americans have come of age, a majority of whom likely know little or nothing about Christian faith or church life. They may not be unbelievers in the narrow sense, but they know little of the faith. In this context, conversion becomes more of an issue. One need not move from disbelief to belief, but there will be a change in focus and attitude.
Indeed, instead of 180 degree turns, entering the life of faith may involve a series of 45 degree ones, turns that may occur long after one encounters God or enters the church. That said, I'd like to add a component to our discussion.
Conversion may be more than a change in life's perspective. Conversion it would seem, if we look at the life of Paul (Acts 9), comes with a calling to service.
Anthony Robinson and Robert Wall write in regards to Paul's conversion on the Damascus Road:
Conversion is for the purpose, here and elsewhere in Acts, of calling: "For he (Paul) is an instrument I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel" (vs. 15). In this sense, Paul's experience of blinding light has much in common with Moses' encounter with the burning bush. This theophany, the revealing of God, bring with it a task and a calling. (Robinson and Wall, Called to be Church, Eerdmans, 2006, pp. 147-48).
They also point out that conversion and calling is also often linked to suffering. Indeed, in Acts 15, the word comes that not only is Paul (still known as Saul) called to bring the good news to the Gentiles, but he will suffer. Thus, it seems like we should be prepared to endure some difficulty along the way. But endurance, as we've told, does build character (Romans 5:3-4), so maybe a little suffering isn't a bad thing.
Comments
Trust me.. I would be impacted by a failure, in fact would probably lose my job. But I also see why at least one needs to go away. Car demand is down ONE THIRD overall. Its not a matter of which car is better.. even Honda is getting killed right now, and they were considered bulletproof.
Lets play a game.. can you name all of General Motors brands? Can you name all the Pontiac models? Whats the difference between a GMC Yukon and a Chevy Tahoe? How about between a Mercury Milan and a Ford Fusion? There is SO much duplication.. each brand requires its own dealership, advertising, etc. They HAVE to shut them down. I am not suggesting there should be no domestic dealers or that all need to go away, just a large reduction. And of course.. the union benefits have to be reduced.. which of course no one is talking about.
My fear in this is that the tax papers are now in the car business. We will force them to make all of these energy efficient cars no one will buy b/c they are too expensive and gas is now so cheap!
Bottom line.. would you lend your personal money to GM or Chrysler? B/c thats exactly what Congress is asking me to do. For me.. there is way too much risk!
-Chuck
I love the desert tradition because it suggests (as does the experience of Jesus) that we won't be who we're supposed to be until something (suffering, the desert) strips away what's false and we see what's true. Thanks for this on transformation.
Along the path to God I think one keeps making "mid-course" corrections, small conversions, to move closer to the correct course, closer to the path that God is calling us along.
The first conversion may seem more dramatic, especially if it involves crossing the barrier from unbelief over into the realm of belief. But the conversion is never complete nor does the converted fully comprehend the ways of faith and the teachings of revelation. That takes time, and learning always involves error and correction.
And conversions happen to life-long believers. When one grows up in the faith one can take its teachings for granted, and become sloppy about what one believes and about how one manifests belief. It is easy to lose connection with God altogether. And so conversions happen to believers as well: reminders, revitalizers, new lessons, new revelations, and new calls from God to new understandings and new tasks.
True faith is not unlike the old Maoist mantra of endless revolution - ceaseless conversion.
God is always talking to us, we just have to learn to listen and respond.
John