THs NATURE AND NECESSITY OF CONVERSION + OCT. &, 1962 ACTS 3:1-21

THERE ARB A Fy ASPECTS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH THAT AR# GROSSLY MISUNDERSTOOD:

/

AND OUT OF MIS UNDERSTANDING HAVE COME ERROR AND SUPERSITTION. esis THE MOST PREVALENT

OF THeSH IS THAT BODY OF DEFINITIONS THAT MAKES UP OUR CONCEPTION OF CONVERSION | iF

ae i

THERE IS ON# SINGLE WORD ABOUT CHRISTIANITY THAT EMBARRASSES US IT IS CONVERSION.
Wis SHY AwaY FRM IT, Wi IcNoORs IT aS IF IT wek# NOT AT ALL A PART OF OUR FAITH, WE

ARd UNCOMPORTABLE WHEN SOMHONG BEGINS TO TALK ABOUT IT, GENERALLY SPEAKING THE MAJOR

a

STRAND OF PROTHSTaNT CHRISTIANITY CONSCIOUSLLY AND INTENTIONALLY NELECTS* ‘TO MENTION
THE WORD.

AND Y8T FOR SOM’, MYSALF AMONG THEM, THIS SITUATION IS NOT AT ALL SATISFACTORY.
IT DOHSN'T RBQUIRG MUCH READING OF THE BIBLE TO DISCOVER THAT CONVERSION IS MENTIONED

THEREIN, QUITE PROMINANTLY AND HWPHATICALLY aT THAT. / IN OUR SCRIPTURE LESSON THIS MORNING,

A PORTION oF PETER iS S.uhMON, WH FIND THE WORDS "REPENT AND TURN AGAIN, THAT YOUR
SLNS MaY BE BLOTTED ain THE CONTENT OF JOHN THE BAPTISTS! MESSAGE wag WREPENT
Bu CONVERTED, BYLIEVE IN TH# GOSPZL." / IN MATTHEW 16:3 wa ns UNLESS YOU TURN AND
= 7
BECOME LIKit CHILDREN, YOU wILL NEVER ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN." } JOHN 3:3 SAYS/ "UNLESS (

ONE IS BOHN ANMW, Hé CANNOT Sis THE KINGDOM OF GOD.) PAUL PUTS IT PLAINLY IN II COR.

a:L7 ("IF ANYON# IS IN CARIST, HE Is A NW CREATION: THE OLD HAS PASSED AWAY, BEHOLD,

‘
ia

THE NEW SRXXSXO HAS COME." / ALL OF THESE PASSAGES AND MANY MOR& LIKE THEM CONTAIN

A COMMON NOTE: THaT A CHRISTIAN MUST R&PENT, OR TURN, THAT THE OLD MUST BE SLOUGHED OFF. ~

26o

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THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF A CHRISTLAN EXP#RIENCE THERZ MUST BE A WILLFUL MOVEMEN Ty THIS

IS WHAT WE CALL CONVERSION, REGARDLESS OF HOW Wi DRESS IT UP, OR DISGUISE IT, CON-

i

VERSION IS THE HHART OF THE NW TESTAMENT M@SSAGE.

ALL OUR SUSPICIONS AND UN#ASINESS ABOUT SE si NOT UNFOUNDEE HOWEVER. IT

IS NO #ACUSE, BUT WZ HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT FORCED TO R#ACT AGAINST A POPULAR MEANING OF
|

ALWAYS, THROUGH AN ENCOUNTER wITH JESUS CHRIST: EITHER IN PERSON OR IN THE PR2ACHING

CONVERSION THAT 15 DIFFICULT TO CALL BIBLICAL. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CONVERSION OCCURSX KKIA

OF HIS DISCIPLES, | WITH TH #XCEPTION OF PENTECOST, WHICH WAS ANOTHER THING ENTBrely,
|

Ws DON'T HEAR MUCH ABOUT SMOTIONAL, CONVULSLVE CONVERSIONS, | AS A MATTER OF FACT,
THEY OCCUR RATHER QUIETLY. / JESUS TALKS WITH A MAN AND THE MAN REACTS ELTHR POSITIVELY
OR N#GATIVELY. / JESUS APPROACHES A TAX COLLECTOR'S TABLA AND TO THE MAN SITTING
BEHIND If SAYS "FOLLOW ME" AND MATTHEW BECOMES A prserpz,| I WILL RETURN TO SIMON
PETER, BUT Hé TOO EXEMPLIFI&S/7 NEW TESTAMENT CONVERSION. TO HIM AND HIS BROTHERS
JESUS saxo,| "FOLLOW ME AND I'LL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN" ) AND THEY FOLLOWED HIM. NO
ss

SHOUTING AND SCRHAMING, JUST SIMPLY OBEDIANCE AS TH FIRST STEP IN A LIFE OF DISCIPLE-
SHIP. , WHREVGR Hi WNT, WHEREEVER HE WAS PRESANT IN THE PROCLAIMED WORD, MEN REACTED

|
TO HIS AUTHORITY. ae EITHER FOLLOWED OR WALKED AWAY, THERE WAS ALWAYS SOME KIND OF

REACTION: A POSITIVE REACTION WAS CONVERSION.

36
SOMEHOW, FROM THIS QUIZTLY PROFOUND ENCOUNTER, HAS GROWN A WHOLE STRING OF

EXCHSSi5 THAN ARE IDENTIFI) wITH CONVERSION | A CENTURY AG:.O OUR NATION EXPERTENCED

A
or
Le

WITH THE EXPANDING FRONTI€R AND A NEW WAY OF

WHAT IS CALLED THE GReaT AWAKENING,

LIFé WAS BORN A NEW KIND OF PREACHING, / NOW WHA IN THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY DID

PRBACHERS OF TH# wORD OF GOD ACT AS THE FRONTIER PREACHERS. ft POUNDED THEIR BIBLE;

i

THEY FORSOOK THEOLOGY FOR HiLL, FIRE AND BRIMSTONS, THEY PREACHING IN WORDS OF ONE

SYLLABL, MAKING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST SOMSTHING IT HAD N&VER BEEN paras. / IT wAS A
SUITABLE To

HARD AND FAST RELIGION, PERFECTLY FEPENG THE WAY OF FRONTIER uae, DESCRIPTIONS OF

CAMP MsETINGS AND REVIVALS AR# SO FANTASTIC AS TO BB HARDLY CREDIBLE. | MEN BARKED LIKE

/
DOGS, IN FITS OF MiOTION PEOPL’ QUIVERED AND SHOOK LIKE EPILEPTICS AND WOMEN
f

FALNTED, GRADUALLY THIS Ni RELIGION WORKED ITS wAY BACK INTU THE METROPOLITAN CENTERS
IN THe KAST AND THB’ LT CRsATED A mucrio SINCLAIR oie VOICED THE MOST DISGUSTED
Slve& OF THE REaCTION IN HIS CONTROVERSIAL NOVEL{ NEUMER can. ALTHOUGH THE
CHARACTERS ARE PURELY Se, THE REVIVALISTIC, EMOTION LADDEN PITCH OF GANTRY
THIS PROSTITUTION OF MAN'S HeASON, AND MANY A PROTESTANT CHURCH MAN BEGAN TO WONDER.
TovaY, UNFOR TUNATEL Y, We STILL THINK OF CONVR.ST ON IN THE TERMS CHSATSD IN 19th
CENTURY REVIVALISM. a TO sided SURE, IT STILL EXISTS UNDER THE NAME OF CHRISTIANITY IN

(
MaNY PLACES, lin RESULT OF THIS SMOTIONAL CONVERSION MOVEMENT HAS BEEN a REACTION

he
IM THE OTHER DIRECTLONBY LIBERAL GHRIST ANITY. | IN REACTING AGAINST THIS TYPE OF
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CONVERSION EXPERIENCE, THE CHURCH HAS COMPLETELY AVOIDED ANY MENTION OF CONVERSION. :
UNTIL TODAY IT 1S A FORGOTTEN ASPZCT OF THE FAITH.

IN THIS wit HAVE GON BOO ean | REJECTING AN IMPORTANT PART OF N.T. CHRISTIANITY

WH HAVE WHAKENED THE onunoa. / BY ALLOWING CONVERSION TO BE THE SOLE POSSESSION OF THE

a ee eee

RADICAL CONSERVATIViS WE HAVE LOWERED OUR GUARD UNTIL CHURCH MiMBsRSHIP HAS LOST

sie OF PERSONS TO seenieaiaumamataes THE CHURCH HAS BEOOME THE PLACE WHER& CHRISTIANITY
Is DISCUSSED ACAIE MICALLY AND PHILOSOPHTCALLY IN REACTINGIO Paul ele MADE WITHOUT
Rita SON, WE REQUIRE NO BEAL, DECISION AT a INSTEAD Be See THE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE
ENCOUNT# J#SUS CHRIST AND RiaCT TO HIM, WE HAVE MADE THE CHURCH INTO A CLUB, A FORUM
FOR RELIGLOUS D ISCUSSION SSRIHe Is MOST CHURCHES IS ACQUIRED WITH LITTLE EFFORT
AND NO ce CHURCH HANDS OUT THE SACRABLIN TS OF BAPTISM AND COMMUNION WITHOUT
asa THAT A PRRWOW WHO CALLS HIMSEu.F CHRISTIAN COME TO GRIPS WITH THE MEANING OF
THs wORD./ IN mone )MObERN CHRISTIANITY HAS BECOME CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT CONVERSION, AND
THi RuSuLT IS a aay BUSILY CONTINUING SOMSTHING IT NEVER REALLY BEGAN,

?

WHaT ROLE MUST IT PLAY IN THE LIFE OF THe CHURCH? / LIKE

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ANYTHING #u5# OF THIS MAGNITUDE, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO BE SPECIFIC. SURELY

i,

WHAT THEN IS CONVERSIONG

de

:

CONVERSION MaaNsS MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. Io SOME AN SXPERIENCE AT A BILLY GRAHAM

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'

CaUSADE HAS BEEN A THUE CONVERSION. / SOME CAN PINPOINT THE TIME WHEN THEY TURNED TO

$=,

CHRIST (ALTHOUGH I MUST aDM~T TO SOM® SUSPICIONS IN THESE CASES) 1 AND OF COURSE
= sae < (vi \

THER ARS MANY CHRISTIANS WHO SE& CONVERSION AS A LIFE LONG PROCESS OF SLOWLY TURNING
. O t ode |<
Ww : vis pra aati oe. é \\e \ |

TO CHRIST. \ | © hea sad

IN ITS SHR TAST DEFINITION CONVERSION MEANS A estat WHETHER ONCE OR

CONTINUALLY IT MeANS A DECISION THAT RESULTS IN A TURNING AWAY FROM SELF AND TO GOD.

eS ee
WH HAVE & LOT OF TROUSLB WITH THE WORD DECISION, IF ANYONE OF US WERE ASKED ("ARE YOU

A CHRISTIANG" ) THis ANSwER wOULD BE OF COURSE. IE WERE WE TO BE ASKED ABOUT A

i
DECISION FOR GHRIST WE WOULD EITHER BE EMBARRASSZD OR START AN ARGUMENT. / IF I HAD TO

BOLL THIS SikmON DOWN INTO ONE CONCISE SENTENCE IT WOULD "BEING A CHRISTIAN AND MAKING

A DECISION FOR CHRIST ARE sci. THERE SIMPLY 1S NO SUCH THING AS CHRISTIANITY

WITHOUT A DECISION-~-XHKXR THARE IS NO CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT CONVERSION!

IT HAS BECOMA OBVIOUS IN RECENT YHARS THAT Wi AR SIMPLY NOT A VERY DECISIVE PEOPLE.

THERS IS NOTHING Wi HATE MORE THAN TO MAKW DECISIONS, TO STAND UP AND Bz COUNTED,

WE ARB FAST BECOMING A NATION OF FENCE SITTERS. THIS INDECISIVENESS HAS ALL SORTS

OF IMPLICATIONS CULTURALLY, ECONOMICALLY AND POLITICALLY. / THE WHOLE INDUSTRY OF

/

6.
PROFESSIONAL ADVERTISING IS AIMED AT TH ALL AMERICAN DESIRE TO HAVE SOMEONE MAKE

BOOK CLUBS DICTATE WHAT WE Raab, Jasconp CLUBS WHAT MUSIC WE

OUR DECISIONS FOR US.
i : — a i
al

PREF2R. / POLITICAL ANALYSTS ARE SHOWING REAL CONCERN THAT TH# TwO PARTY SYSTEM MAY BE

/ em es

PLOUNDERING BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DECIDE. / THe BEATNIK OR XISTENTIAWIST MOVEMENT
) ; bE { LiOn jon 7 \s

IN OUR NATION IS A FORM OF RoACTION BO THIS CULTURAL "WISHY WASHYNESS ." HERE I STAND

. \
i te

SYS THis BXTSTHN TALLST,( DRESSING AND ACTING Th# WAY I _—e THE LINE FROM

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SHAKZSPHARE'S HAMLET ("TO BE, OR NOT TO BE" ASKS THY QUSSTION THAT MUST BE ASKED OF

EVERY AM#HICAN. WILL I FACE LIFE SQUARHLY AND MAK® MY OWN DECISIONS OR WILL I HIDE

}
FROM INSECURITY AND ANKISTY IN TH PROTECTIVE ANESTHESIA OF TELEVISION?
es — 7 ee - ‘

——$ $$$ ———

AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY HAS SUCCUMBED TO THIS CULTURAL a ADD THIS TO

I

OUR RHACTLON AGAINST HMOTIONAL CONVERSION AND YOU GET A CHURCH AND RELIGION THAT FLOURISHE

ON INDECISIVENHSS. | WE ARS TO THE POINT NOW WHdke IT IS CONSIDER#D BAD TASTE TO

BECOMs TOO INVOLVED IN RELIGION: TO BE TOO DECISIVE.) LIFE IS MUCH SIMPLER AND EASIER

WLITHUT BEING JECISIVE. se CHRISTIANITY Is MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE WITHOUT HAVING TO

DECIDE ABOUT ANYTHLNG./ IN OUR TIM# MILLIONS OF PHOPLE PREFER ("RELIGION IN cms] ™

THE SGT OF AeLIGLON DISPLAY &D IN HOLLYWOOD'S BUNGLING RELIGIOUS -OVIES, THs SORT THAT

SBLLS Wil. ON THs Nawstanp./ A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS "RELIGION-in-GENERAL" IS A

[

8.

LITTLE BOOK EDITED AND COMPILED BY BSWARD R. MURROW ENTITLED "THIS I peeve. / 12 Is
A COLLECLTON OF WHAT A FEW FAMOUS PERSONAGES pareve, A CURSORY LOOK THROUGH THAT POPULAF
LITTLE BOOK xEVEALS THe FACT THAT THERH TS A GOOD DEAL OF "I", MUCH USE OF TH

WORD "BELIEVE" BUT VERY LITTLE "THIS", | THE AVERAGH CONTRIBUTOR LIMeS UP IN FAVOR OF

GOD, MOTHsHOOD, NATIVE LAND ANU FREE ENTERPRISE, ‘BUT BEYOND THAT HE IS VAGUH AND

UNC OMITTED. be COMES OUT AS SUPERFICIAL TOLHRANCE, INDIFFERENCE TO WHAT OTHERS

BELIEVE, BECAUSH TH AUTHORS SEM NEITHER TO KNOW OR CARE BOUT WHAT THEY BELIEVE.

ff. rh

IT 1S A GOOD PICTUNE OF THAT PARTICULAR AMM#RICAN PHeNOMENON( "RELIGIONAT A DISTANCE, « psx

WITHOUT DECISION: AND IT SHOULD Be NO SURPRISE THAT SUCH RELIGION IS NOTORIOUSLY

SsslILas _— NO R#AL CHANGE, NOR HAVING ANY EFFECT ON THE WAY PHOPLE LIVE.
WHAT 1S WHONG KSsENTIALLY WITH THIS BOUK, AND WITH AMERICAN RELIGION AT A

DISTANCE 1S THAT CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A CRHED,) A SET OF BELIBFS: Li IS PERSONAL COMMIT-
isa Ee - ees

MENT TO JESUS cunase. | AND THAT COMMITMENT INVOLVES A VERY RHAL AND VERY PERSONAL
- / - :

DECI SION.

TO Re TURN TO THE N.T.: WHEN MEN ENCOUNTERED J#SUS CHRIST THEY wERE FORCED TO

/

MAKE i esan THE LAWYER wHO WISH&D TO INVOLVE JESUS IN A LENGTHY DISCUSSION BY

ASKING "WHO IS «Y NHL GHBOR," FOUND HIMSELF ABRUPTLY IN A DECISION MAKING SITUATION.

a
THE QUESTION wAS NOT WHOIS MY NEIGHBOR, BUT WILL 1, OR WILL I NOT BE A NEIGHBOR.

THe RICH YOUNG MAN WANTED TO DISCUSS ETERNAL LIFE BUT WAS FORCED TOMAKE A DECISION.

WOULD His OBRY JESUS BY SH#LLING HIS GOODS OR wor uxcovans, WAS CONFUSE) BY RE~
/

BERTH AND SUDDENLY FOUND THAT JESUS WAS NOT A PHILOSOPH:R BUT THE CHIRST, WHO

,
DEMANDED A DECISION OF = THIS IS NO LESS IMPORTANT roy IF CHRIST DOES NOT

ENCOUNTRX MEN TODAY, IF MEN DO NOT DECIDE THX THEN IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT

10 CALL THIS THING .N.T. CHRISTIANITY.

PA cube use ate etd lir7e cl

\Wwue
THanks 1S NO NT. CHARACTER THeT IS MORE R&AL AND ALIVE THAN PSTER. IN PETER WE
oi OUR OWN HIGH HOPS AND OUR STUMBLING AND FALLING. IN PETER WE SEE AN HONESTY,

AN UNPR#TENTLIOUSNSSs THAT MAKE US ADMIRE a PETER EXPARLENCE WITH JESUS CHRIST

iS ON# THAT wis MIGHT wELL CONS SR AS Wit THINK ABOUT THE NATUR AND NECES ITY OF

CON VRSION . _— EXPERIMNCE BEGAN IN A SIMPLd axons, PETE AND HIS BROTHER ANDREW
/ : :

I

WERE FISHING. dJuSUs TOLD THeM TO FOLLOW HIM AND THEY OBEYED HIM. piaeree THEY HAD EVER

oii N HIM BEFORE IS BESIDd THE POINT, | THEY HEARD THK CALL. OF CHRIST AND RESPONDED.

|
i

Tike ARE TWO MAJOR CHARACTARISTICS ABOUT THIS ENCOUNTER THAT ARE IMPORTANT. OR MORE

ACCURATSLY TWO CHRACTERISTICS THAT sR ABSENT. /mrsny, THER WAS NO SOUL WRETCHING

it /

CONVERSION: PiulaR NZlTHER WEPT NO CRIED OUT. secu THRE WAS NO HESITANCY, PETWR

/

DED NOT SAY |"LeT M® THINK ABOUT IT/ FOR a LITTLE = H& DION'T ASK TO BE PERSUADED,
*\ / 7

H& DIDN'T [aul J&5US TO COME BACK IN A FEW DAYS FOR AN ANNE Ho MeniLY DROPP 2D

ae,

HIS Nfs AND a ALL PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS BRAK DOWN HERE, THERE ARE NO

i

LOGICAL REASONS FOR PETZR'S BEHAVIOR. HE HBARD AND RESPONDED. / HE DID IT: AS AN ACT
;

OF OBEDIANCE TO TH SON OF GOD. / THIS THEN IS THE FIRST STZP OF cowrston./ ITIs

SIMPLY OBEYING TH# CALL OF GOD, FOLLOWING PUTTING OUR LIVES aT HIS oe IT

f /

IS THROUGH aN) THROUGH--AN ACT OF rar. /
LEST Wi STOP Hake, TT IS wis TO FOLLOW PETER'S CAREER FARTHER. HE HAD FOLLOWED,

DéCIDED OR BEEN CONVERTSD DF YOU WILL. | AND YT HE DID MANY THINGS THAT DON'T SEEM

APPROPRIATE FOR A MAN WHO HAS BEEN CONVERTED ONCE AND FOR a] IT WAS PETER, WHO

INSIS THD ON QUELLING HIS DOUBTS BY WALKING ON THis WATER. ; AND OF COUNSE IT WAS
a an anes pense Risers /
Pith WHO DeNISD JESUS THRES Tidus IN THe COURTYARD ON THE NIGHT BeFOR! THE meta. /
PHTER WAS A DECISIVE MAN, HE HAD DECIDED FOR canst | BUT HIS LIFZ IS T&STIMONY THAT
'

CONVERSION 1s N&VER A ONH SHOT AFFAIR: /IT IS A CONTINUAL PROCESS OF TURNING, DECIDING

DAY AFTak DAY, HOUR AFTAR HOUR.

IT IS EASY TO MISUNDERSTAND HZRE: UNLIKE OUR MORS CONSERVATIVE BRETHREN, WE DON'T

BELIAVE THAT A PERO NAL DECISION IS ALL THéke IS TO camasezarey AS A MATTER OF

FACT wi AFFIRM THAT THa# 1S NOTHING We CAN DO, OR DECIDE, THAT WILL EARN OUR
i

SALVATION. em IN TANSION WITH THES DOCTRINE IS TH FRaeDOM OF WILL GOD Has GIVEN

{

US. / wacan 7 SAVE OURSELVES, BUT WE CAN AND MUST DECIDE TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP.

i.

Ja3US s(n STaND AT TH® DOOR AND ce) a IT IS OUR GOD GIVEN PEROGATIVE TO OPEN
THs DOOR OR TO TURN AWAY./ GOD CONVERTS US, MAKES US CHRISTIANS BUT wi MUST_TAKE
THE FIRST STEP.

aa f =o

BHING IT CLOSE TO HOME: | WHAT 1S TH FIRST STP FOR US HERE AND NOW? IF YOU WAN:

TO FREL THe WARM RAYS OF THE SUN YOU NATURALLY GO OUT OF DOORS AND STAND IN THE SUN-
suv. / IF YOU wANT TO H#AR THE WORD OF GOD, TO MAKE A DECISION TO TAKH THE FLAST

i —— a

STHP TOWARDS CONVERSION | YOU GO TO TH# PLACE WHERE THE WORD OF GOD IS PROCLAIMED

AND WHiRs CHR1Si, HIMSELF, OONFRONTS MANKIND, IN TH a THIS IS THE FIRST STEP *

=

IT is YOURS TO Mak &.

CONVERSE ON 13 NMCESSARY TO CHRISTIANITY) THE CALL OF JESUS CHRIST NECESSITATES A

PERSONAL ANSWAR, YSS LOW, OR NO Lo%| THARS CAN BE NO MIDDLE | CHRIST ENCOUNTERS
~ a

US gVARYDAY AND HACH DAY WE MUST MAKE THE D¥CISION ann MAY GOD GRANT US HIS GRACE

THAT wit MAY Sith CLBARLY, AND ACT BOLDLY, /DECIDLNG FOR HIM AND FOR HIS CHRIST.