Conversion for everyone?

[Crazy Liz]

Infants that will be raised in a Christian home don't have to go through a conversion. (change of belief system)

That's an interesting observation. I've been wondering for a long time if it is true or not.

I grew up in a church from the Anabaptist tradition, that taught everyone must go through a conversion. At some point, every Christian must decide to commit themselves personally to the faith. OTOH, I can no longer buy the idea that faith requires a certain degree of intellect autonomy.

What does everyone think? Does everyone need a conversion experience?

 

[Yitzchak]

The bible records what seems to be a conversion experience for Jacob. However it does not record one for Isaac. Perhaps it depends on the person. I have known some who grewup in christian homes and needed to get converted in adulthood. Others seem to not need some dramatic conversion but simply accept the faith fo their parents. I have no idea theologically how this is dealt with but I would suppose unless a person thinks that babies go to hell that there has to be some provision made for them which is different than our "sinner's prayer" pattern so commonly used today.

 

[BarbB]

I was raised in a practicing Christian home with two loving Christian parents and both my brother and myself went through conversion experiences!

 

[Cary.Melvin]

I was raised in a practicing Christian home with two loving Christian parents and both my brother and myself went through conversion experiences!

What were you before?

 

[BarbB]

Hi,

United Presbyterian. Pretty soft theologically!

Saved in a spirit-filled Episcopal church in Massachusetts (self described as high episcopal with evangelical and charismatic leanings ), now attending Church of God (nicely evangelical) and Christian and Missionary Alliance (beautifully pentacostal).

My brother is Assembly of God (which frightened me 20 years ago by the tongues and dancing - now I love it).

 

[Filia Mariae]

I think everyone is called to ongoing conversion.

Some people have a significant one-time event of conversion, but they are still called to continual conversion. Many people don't have get-knocked-off-your-horse-on-the-road-to-Damascus type event, but they are still called to conversion.

Conversion is not just a one shot deal where you are converted to Christ and then you get to go on your merry way. Not one of us is perfect, so we all must strive for continual conversion to Christ, whether or not we were raised in a Christian home.

 

[Crazy Liz]

So you are saying conversion (epistrepho) and repentance (metanoia) are flip sides of the same coin? They are connected in Acts 3:19.

I have come to understand repentance as a continuous process, rather than just a one-time event. Maybe the same is true for conversion?

Interesting idea.

 

[EdmundBlackadderTheThird]

I would venture to say that once one has been "converted" or "converts" to Christianity and strays, they would then "revert" to the faith. I have most commonly seen the word "converion" used to describe the change that God effects in our hearts when we accept Christ as our Saviour. After that change we are under the grace afforded by Christ's act on the cross. We are "converted" to from bein unworthy to enter God's presence to being worthy through the grace of Christ. This is not an ongoing process. Our growth in Christ and the Holy Spirit is ongoing but I would tend to think of that more a journey or "growing up" rather than an ongoing coversion. It may just be that I understand the semantics of the words involved differently than others. For instance I would not say a child is converted into an adult, I would say they grew into adulthood. Our walk of faith is just that, it is a spiritual growth. I think that you can only be converted once, after that anything else is forgiveness through grace.

 

[Filia Mariae]

Flesh,

I think we are probably just using different meanings of the word. Conversion comes from the Latin "conversio" to turn around. I'm thinking of conversion as a continual turn to Christ. None of us are perfect as Christ was, but we strive to be, especially since Christ Himself said that nothing imperfect can enter heaven. Obviously, of our own efforts we cannot become perfect, only God's grace can do this for us. But we have free will and must accept His grace, it is not forced on us. So, I guess I'm thinking of conversion as deeper and deeper cooperation with the grace God grants us, allowing ourselves to be transformed more fully into the image of Christ.

I don't know if this even makes sense...sorry for the rambling!:o

 

[EdmundBlackadderTheThird]

It makes perfect sense, and even emphasizes what I said. It is as I thought a semantics difference. I see an ongoing trasformation in my life, but feel I have had only one conversion. We simply use the terms differently. I feel that both points are valid. I do think that the only real answer here is "It depends on how you use the word "conversion"!

 

[Acceptance]

I would venture to say that once one has been "converted" or "converts" to Christianity and strays, they would then "revert" to the faith.

I concur

Don't you guys love semantics???

 

[Phoebe]

It makes perfect sense, and even emphasizes what I said. It is as I thought a semantics difference. I see an ongoing trasformation in my life, but feel I have had only one conversion. We simply use the terms differently. I feel that both points are valid. I do think that the only real answer here is "It depends on how you use the word "conversion"!

I used it to mean a change in your belief system. For example, one who converts from Judaism, Muslim, Hinduism, etc, to Christianity.

We are to live a life of repentance. Repentance doesn't stop at baptism.


Martin Luther said, "Every time you wash your face, remember your baptism." I think that was a wise statement.

 

[Serapha]

Hi there!



My Bible translation says, "For all have sinned". It doesn't exempt children growing up under Christian instruction.

~malaka~

 

[Angelus00]

The bible records what seems to be a conversion experience for Jacob. However it does not record one for Isaac. Perhaps it depends on the person. I have known some who grewup in christian homes and needed to get converted in adulthood. Others seem to not need some dramatic conversion but simply accept the faith fo their parents. I have no idea theologically how this is dealt with but I would suppose unless a person thinks that babies go to hell that there has to be some provision made for them which is different than our "sinner's prayer" pattern so commonly used today.

My f-i-l, m-i-l, dh, and children accept the faith of their parents. Me, I'm a convert to that faith.