Why does it take so long for some Protestants to become Christians

[Andrewn]

So it's important to understand that this isn't a "Protestant" thing. This is a specific subset of modern Protestantism that originated in America in the 19th and 20th centuries; and has nothing to do with what men like Luther and Calvin were saying and doing in the 16th century.

I think what you described is the difference between the historical Protestant movement and the more "modern" Evangelical movement with its Baptist and Pentecostal roots. Good perspective.

 

[The Liturgist]

I first attended Sunday School when FDR was president. The only thing I remember is the red kool aid was really good. I attended church Sunday school sporadically for many years, usually at the command of my paternal grandmother. One did not disobey grandma. I did not become a Christian until my mid-20s while in flight school, next stop Viet Nam.
Unlike many here I did not grow up in any denomination, so I did not have a lot of false beliefs to unlearn. I questioned everything from day one.

Thank you for sharing this with us. I greatly admire your contributions to the forum and also your gallantry and piety. God bless you!

For my part in my early childhood I always felt an intense connection to God: I think this was because the United Methodist Church encouraged me to partake of the Eucharist when I was three or four.

 

[DragonFox91]

B/c everyone's different? I'm a Protestant, grew up in the church, & always loved Jesus too. I can't pinpoint a specific date I didn't love Jesus. It's just something I was taught when I was little & believed it. I like the curiosity, but seriously, this seems like wanting to pick on Protestants b/c a couple examples in your life or something like that.

 

[The Liturgist]

B/c everyone's different? I'm a Protestant, grew up in the church, & always loved Jesus too. I can't pinpoint a specific date I didn't love Jesus. It's just something I was taught when I was little & believed it. I like the curiosity, but seriously, this seems like wanting to pick on Protestants b/c a couple examples in your life or something like that.

Indeed, I was raised Methodist and Lutheran, and cannot remember a time I did not love our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

[godisagardener]

It's always said there are no dumb or crazy questions. If we don't ask questions we don't learn.

I grew up in a Christian home. My dad was Baptist; my mom was raised a Catholic but became a Baptist. Growing up I attended a number of different churches -- interdenominational, Baptist, Church of Christ, Methodist. I was taught about Jesus at home and at church. I don't know a time when I didn't attend church or Sunday School. I grew up knowing Jesus and studying the Bible. I consider myself a life-long Christian. I accept the Gospel by faith and know, that I know, that I know I'm saved. It's as simple as that. Being a Christian isn't that complicated.

BUT... as a Baptist I have friends, know people, go to church with people, listen to people, who talk about their moment of salvation. When and where they accepted the Lord. The day, the time, the hour. The pastor of my church talks, and includes in most sermons, of when he accepted the Lord and stresses -- OVERLY stresses -- that if a person hasn't been through a conversion experience then he/she can't possibly be truly saved. He also stresses how we all lived a reprobate life before coming to know Jesus.

I don't believe that and I truly DO believe that stressing such salvation experiences puts many people off, maybe puts doubts in their minds, making them feel that if they haven't been through such an experience (coming to Jesus, as you originally put it) like having walked the aisle during a revival service, maybe they're not really saved. I actually heard a person wonder that herself during a Sunday School class. And not everyone has lived a reprobate life. I'm sure there are folks out there that did, and found God along the way, and proclaimed their faith. But that doesn't happen to everyone. I daresay it happens to a very small percentage of people.

You (original poster) are not alone in your question, even among folks of the Protestant faith. I have a sneaky feeling that just like you, and me, many many Christians don't recall a time when they didn't believe.

 

[DragonFox91]

I don't believe that and I truly DO believe that stressing such salvation experiences puts many people off, maybe puts doubts in their minds, making them feel that if they haven't been through such an experience (coming to Jesus, as you originally put it) like having walked the aisle during a revival service, maybe they're not really saved. I actually heard a person wonder that herself during a Sunday School class. And not everyone has lived a reprobate life. I'm sure there are folks out there that did, and found God along the way, and proclaimed their faith. But that doesn't happen to everyone. I daresay it happens to a very small percentage of people.

Yeah, I’ve been part of congregations that stress specific time & date & it’s always so awkward b/c I’m always like “I’ve always believed. I don’t have a specific date.”


But even tho there are congregations that push that, I think it truly is b/c everyone’s different.


For example many parents can pinpoint a date & time & pass that teaching onto their kids that they have to too, so their kids are expecting a date for it to happen. That’s why they don’t rush.


Plus, a lot of these people that can share their date & time lived & embraced sin even though they grew up in a Christian home. Yeah, they went to church on Sundays, but during the week at school & w/ friends, they lived like them. Then something happens & they suddenly realize the whole sin thing is a big deal. Sometimes it takes a really bad consequence, maybe not till even after their late teens / early 20s


There are many kinds of Christian homes. Some parents are more devout than others. Some teach their kids more than others.

 

[The Liturgist]

I don't believe that and I truly DO believe that stressing such salvation experiences puts many people off, maybe puts doubts in their minds, making them feel that if they haven't been through such an experience (coming to Jesus, as you originally put it) like having walked the aisle during a revival service, maybe they're not really saved.

This is a very good point, and it is worth noting that there are no references to testimonials in any of the ancient Christian liturgies we have manuscripts of* and that matter, the considerably newer liturgical compositions of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer and the Lutheran churches also lack testimonials.

Now, having spoken with @Carl Emerson , I do feel that some Christians benefit from testimonials, but I also feel they should not be a part of the primary Sunday service. Indeed, testimonials for those who care about them might be a way to stimulate church attendance for Vespers and/or Compline on Saturday or Sunday night, or during the week.

However, I agree with your point that testimonials have the potential to be distressing to some Christians, and also I am a stickler for traditional worship, particularly at the main Sunday service, so my view is that if some members of the congregation of a church wants to share testimonials, there should be a dedicated service at a designated time clearly demarcated for it. So using the example of using testimonials to revive a midweek Vespers, the testimonial service could come first, followed by Vespers, or vice versa, so that members who wanted to attend Vespers but not hear testimonials would not have to be present for them.

*These include, but are by no means limited to, the Divine Liturgies of St. Mark and Saints Addai and Mari from the second century, the Anaphora of the Apostles used by the Ethiopians since the fourth century but included in the Apostolic Tradition of St. Hippolytus in the third century, the ancient Roman Canon (we have no idea how old it is), the ancient Divine Liturgy of St. James (we also don’t know how old this one is, but most people think it is older than the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, which dates from the mid fourth century), the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, from the late fourth or early fifth century, but based on the much older liturgy of Antioch, the Anaphora of the Twelve Apostles, and the Gallican and related Mozarabic, Ambrosian and Beneventan liturgies, and other ancient liturgies such as the Ethiopian Liturgy of John the Son of Thunder, the many Syriac Orthodox liturgies such as the Anaphoras of St. Jacob of Sarugh, St. Severus and St. Philoxenus, the ancient Armenian liturgies, most of which are disused, with the exception of the Anaphora of St. Athanasius, the disueed Maronite Liturgy of Peter (Sharar), the disused Coptic Anaphora of St. Matthew, and many others.

 

[Carl Emerson]

"Testimonials" ????

Returning from the Tomb and and sharing Jesus Risen was a testimony.

Sharing encounters with the risen Jesus should be a normal part of Christian life today.

Sadly many of our churches have become a museum that faithfully testifies to what happened centuries ago but there is no sharing about what He is doing now.

This is to some degree a matter of keeping control and not letting the lay members speak in case they bring false claims.

Because of this there is a natural progression in fellowship from testimonial to praise to worship that we so often miss out on.

 

[Saint Steven]

B/c everyone's different? I'm a Protestant, grew up in the church, & always loved Jesus too. I can't pinpoint a specific date I didn't love Jesus. It's just something I was taught when I was little & believed it. I like the curiosity, but seriously, this seems like wanting to pick on Protestants b/c a couple examples in your life or something like that.

Thanks for your terrific post.

What does it even mean for a child to "love Jesus"?
Do they also "love" Santa and the Easter Bunny?
(some obvious benefits in those "relationships")

 

[Saint Steven]

Indeed, I was raised Methodist and Lutheran, and cannot remember a time I did not love our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Same question for you. (I hope it isn't offense, if so, apologies)
Just trying to get to the bottom of something here.

What does it even mean for a child to "love Jesus"?
Do they also "love" Santa and the Easter Bunny?
(some obvious benefits in those "relationships")

 

[The Liturgist]

"Testimonials" ????

Returning from the Tomb and and sharing Jesus Risen was a testimony.

Sharing encounters with the risen Jesus should be a normal part of Christian life today.

Sadly many of our churches have become a museum that faithfully testifies to what happened centuries ago but there is no sharing about what He is doing now.

This is to some degree a matter of keeping control and not letting the lay members speak in case they bring false claims.

Because of this there is a natural progression in fellowship from testimonial to praise to worship that we so often miss out on.

I agree, but conversely I feel that these testimonials should be used to draw people to the often neglected Divine Office services and midweek Eucharists. The idea being that the people who want to share testimony will attend those services, which would precede or follow the testimonials, increasing attendance, whereas those who don’t would not be subjected to them.

 

[The Liturgist]

Same question for you. (I hope it isn't offense, if so, apologies)
Just trying to get to the bottom of something here.

What does it even mean for a child to "love Jesus"?
Do they also "love" Santa and the Easter Bunny?
(some obvious benefits in those "relationships")

On a certain level I was aware that Santa and the Easter Bunny were metaphorical, and furthermore, since my family always went to church at Christmas and Easter, it was impressed into mind that Jesus was at the center of these wonderful holidays. But my relationship with Jesus was not confined to these holidays.

Specifically, I was blessed with a continuing experience of the Father’s infinite glory, the Son’s divine love, and the uncreated grace of the Holy Spirit, our comforter and paraclete. I prayed about everything, petitioning God when I needed something, and my prayers were very often answered, and offered thanksgiving for the numerous blessings I received. I probably said a hundred prayers on some days. Also, as architecture has always been an interest of mine, from the age of 11, I began drawing churches as a devotional activity.

There was also Holy Communion, which I tried unsuccessfully to replicate by dipping bread into grape juice, and also I took the Eucharistic prayer literally, and always believed I was consuming the actual body and blood of our Lord. This remains my belief.

 

[concretecamper]

This might sound like a crazy question, but hear me out. I’m always hearing Protestants say they came to Jesus at age 15, 20, 30, etc. Even though they were raised in a Christian household. However, this baffles me, because I have no memory of becoming Christian. I am fortunate in, that unlike most people, my memories go back to just under three. Anyway, I simply don’t remember not loving Jesus. There is no beginning point where my love began. It’s the same thing with my parents and older sister, I began loving them before I was able to form memories. So, I am confused when I hear many Protestants say they didn’t become a Christian until there teens or later. I’d there something I am not understanding? Just curious.

people become Christian through the Sacrament of Baptism. According to Church teaching, Tradition and hostory, that is the only way

 

[Saint Steven]

I agree, but conversely I feel that these testimonials should be used to draw people to the often neglected Divine Office services and midweek Eucharists. The idea being that the people who want to share testimony will attend those services, which would precede or follow the testimonials, increasing attendance, whereas those who don’t would not be subjected to them.

"... whereas those who don’t would not be subjected to them."

That is so funny, thanks - LOL

 

[The Liturgist]

"... whereas those who don’t would not be subjected to them."

That is so funny, thanks - LOL

That said I do think my Kiwi friend @Carl Emerson is absolutely right to say we need more testimonials, because for a lot of people, they are edifying. And not just personal testimonials, but reports on missions, testimonials concerning pilgrimages, and miracles, including those known to recur, for example, certain miracles in the Holy Land such as the cloud over Mount Tabor on the Feast of the Transfiguration.

By the way, @Carl Emerson is one of the most kind, caring, devout and godly Christians on Christian Forums. I pray that I could be a tenth as pious and decent as he is. Which is why I support what he is trying to do.

Since testimonials can be discouraging to some people however, I believe they should be combined with the Divine Office and used for Saturday or midweek services. For example, many Anglican churches have a Healing Service on Wednesday. That could be a good time for testimonials. Or perhaps after Evensong on Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

 

[Berserk]

I recall a Fundamentalist preacher from my youth bellowing, "If you can't point to a time and a place, then You're not a Christian!" What a heresy! I recall trying to stop my kid brother from responding to an altar call to get saved. Though young, he was already a fine Christian boy and it cheapened the Gospel to induce guilt to put on a good show at the altar. Worse, public profession of faith does not automatically get one saved; salvation is the unseen work of the Holy Spirit and, as such, is subject to the Spirit's discretion and timing. The Holy Spirit doesn't jump just because we crack our whip! And we mustn't lose sight of the fact that the initial regenerating work of the Spirit is a sudden or gradual transforming experience of divine power. Horace Bushnell wrote the most famous old book on Christian Education. His central theme was this: young people should so be educated in the faith that they can never recall a time and a place when they became a Christian.

 

[concretecamper]

This might sound like a crazy question, but hear me out. I’m always hearing Protestants say they came to Jesus at age 15, 20, 30, etc. Even though they were raised in a Christian household. However, this baffles me, because I have no memory of becoming Christian. I am fortunate in, that unlike most people, my memories go back to just under three. Anyway, I simply don’t remember not loving Jesus. There is no beginning point where my love began. It’s the same thing with my parents and older sister, I began loving them before I was able to form memories. So, I am confused when I hear many Protestants say they didn’t become a Christian until there teens or later. I’d there something I am not understanding? Just curious.

According to Scripture and Tradition, Baptism is what makes one a Christian. It isn't a self proclaimed declaration (a work).