christian conversion
I have been asking myself "what is true christian conversion? what is it that we are called to and what are we calling the rest of the world to?" As a way to jump start some conversation related to that question I would like us to do two things:
May we be mutually encouraged by one another's faith.
Jim Wallis joins Anderson Cooper along with Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Rev. Dwight Hopkins, American Baptist minister and professor at University of Chicago Divinity School, as part of a focus on "What Is a Christian: Where Do You Fit?"
Labels: what is christian conversion
posted by Clinton @ 6:16 PM
3 Comments:
Clint, I had a conversation today with a pastor who also helps run a used book store and he blew me away with what he said. he said that we shouldn't seek to obtain or impose our opinions or personalities or even beliefs on those we shepherd, but instead be in touch with the community and present our requests to God. this seems so upside down, so small--and i wonder that if this is part of what it means to be a christian how in the world would christianity have surived in any form up to the present day? the guidance of the Spirit amazes me here, above and inside of all our "dialogue" of what it means to be a christian, a tiny seed planted that somehow grows to be the largest in the garden.
i have more to say on conversion specifically--i have been thinking about that a lot too--but i'll stop here for now.
joyful christ's mass to ya.
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So I've been very slow to speak after watching this video clip/interview. Mostly b/c I haven't been sure how to respond or really what my thoughts are in relation to my own question: "What Is Christian Conversion". I have deliberately been slow to speak for this will be a long season of contemplation before I'm able to articulate my thoughts or even begin to make a move toward my findings.
Jesus told us to count the cost before we follow him. I currently find myself in a season of counting the cost.
I did come across a piece of writing by a man named Jonathan R. Wilson. Here is an excerpt:
"To think eschatologically, Christians must recognize that the end of things cannot simply be inferred from their existence or their nature. That is, thinking eschatologically makes us realize that God's actions are required for the goal or purpose of things to be realized. Living eschatologically, then, means that we must not line our living up with 'the way things are' in this age. The way of discipleship to Jesus Christ is not the best strategy for 'making life work' or 'getting along in this world' as those phrases would be commonly understood. Rather, the way of Jesus is living by that which is seen by the eyes of faith and sustained by the presence of hope; living eschatologically is making present that which is yet to come." - Jonathan R. Wilson.
Took me a bit to figure out what the hell he was talking about but as I understand it he is simply saying we live with the knowledge that God must act for things to happen. We know that God has moved and promised to take care of us; therefore, we are not bound by worries of food, clothing, or economic security. We are free to move in the direction that hope and love would take us without the prohibition of physical necessities.
I don't know if I'm interpreting Wilson's writing correctly but I do see part of the Christian conversion as a call to move where hope and love would take us without worry.
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