Conversion Process

Can you remember your birthday?  Let’s see…my first memory actually involves a three-wheeled plastic ride-on bike that I got for Christmas one year.  Nope, I can’t seem to “reach back” that far into my memory.  I CAN however tell you about my spiritual birthday. 

It was a Wednesday night.  I had just finished listening to a lesson in my Bible class over the Ethiopian eunuch.     I remember finding my dad downstairs and telling him that I wanted to be baptized.  He started scurrying around; politely brushing past people that were asking him questions (he was the Education Minister at the time for a church in
Bossier City).  I don’t remember the actual baptism, but I DEFINITELY remember what happened after I came out of the water.  Dad hugged me.  He told me he loved me. 

Is that the end of the story?  Not hardly.  It’s not really the beginning, either.  The “conversion” experience is more of a process than it is a “moment in time.”  Yes, the point of baptism is where we come into contact with the blood of Jesus.   It is there that God washes us clean.  What happens before that?  What about after? 

Think to your own experience in “meeting Jesus.”  Who helped you to “build” on your faith before your baptism?  Who helped after? 

Share the Well…Part 1

I’ve heard many jokes about being a member of the church of Christ, mostly told by members themselves.  One in particular hit home. 

 Three ministers were discussing a pest control problem.  Each minister was dealing with a family of rats that had made their “church home” in one of the pews in the sanctuary (auditorium for all of you CoCers).   Each one was discussing different ways to rid themselves of the pesky critters.

Minister 1: I’ve tried rat poison, I’ve tried traps.  Nothing seems to get rid of these rats!

Minister 2: I’ve tried those new high frequency emitters.  That didn’t even work.

The third minister smuggly sat back in his chair and stated, “Well, I finally found a way to get rid of my rats for good!”

Minister 1: Really?  I’d love to know how!

Minister 2: Me too, contribution is being affected!  Members are starting to smell things in the seats!

Minister 3: I finally decided to baptize all of the rats and make them new members.  After that happened, they left the building and never returned!

One of the goals for the Central family in 2007 concerns local evangelism.  What is the difference between discipleship (I know that can be a scary term in our fellowship) and conversion?  I saw this on another blog.  Let me know what you think:

1.  Discipleship begins prior to conversion.
2. Discipleship involves participation in community (church) prior to conversion.
3. Discipleship often involves participation and experience (in a similar belief?) prior to conversion.
4. Discipleship often involves participation in service prior to conversion.
5. Discipleship often involves participation in missions prior to conversion.

 How does this change our thinking on “local evangelism?”  Does it?  Are the above 5 statements correct?  If so, how does this alter our approach to reaching others?