Tuesday, July 20, 2010

DIMMER


I don't know if you've ever thought about it, but when do you think each of Jesus' disciples were actually converted to faith? The
Bible kind of indicates that Jesus walked up to a series of them, said, 'Come, follow Me,' and ... um ... well ... they just did.

"Yep. Sorry, Dad. I mean ... I know you were grooming us to take over the fishing business for ya when you retire in a couple of months ... but ... well ... we're goin' with the new guy here. Take care of yourself, Dad." And so they followed.

When do you think Peter was saved? These kinds of questions begin to reveal the hazard of our modern day obsession with determining exact moments -- as well as definitions for -- conversion. In the Bible, the Gospel writers don't seem to be as concerned about that as we seem to be.

The disciples' walk with Christ seems to be marked by an unfolding of discoveries ... not a single event so much as a gradual process ... a dimmer switch as opposed to an 'off/on' light switch.

This is, of course, in stark contrast to the apostle Paul's experience - who, on Wednesday is spewing murderous threats against believers and on Thursday, after being hit by a blinding light, is one of them.

So there are two different understandings of conversion then - at least two. And, in our way of understanding and explaining, one understanding typically seems to be at the expense of the other.

I get both understandings. In college, we took a course where you learned how to strategically build relationships with 'non-believers' (in 16 easy steps), as well as the most effective strategies for moving people from God's 'unsaved' column to His 'saved' column.

It went this way: Once I built a relationship with an unbeliever, my next job was to explain to them how their beliefs were mostly wrong. "Lift the hood of their head and tinker around with their brain like a mechanic until they had all the right beliefs organized in all the right ways. Once properly organized, and the person could regurgitate all the right information in the right order - out loud - a 'switch' was flipped in Heaven." Another soul has been set free.

This off/on method does find roots in the Bible. Paul said it: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Gotcha.

But the shift from 'non-believer' to 'believer' ... or 'unsaved' to 'saved' ... sometimes seems more like a wave. How you determine the strict boundary of the wave is like trying to determine when night becomes day. Or when confidence becomes arrogance. Or when praise becomes flattery. These things consist on a continuum.

Scenario: A good friend of yours goes to church every week and is convinced he is supposed to act like Jesus. He is one of the most authentic followers of Jesus you know. But he also wrestles with some very serious doubts. He has a hard time fully accepting that Jesus was divine. He just can't seem to get there.

According to the 'light switch' conversion theory, your friend is headed for hell unless he gets his beliefs straightened out in his heart and head. He needs a good dose of Pauline theology. And he has much in common with Jesus' own disciple, Thomas.

It's probably time that we begin to make space for the 'learner' - the 'student' - the follower who is on the dimmer switch conversion pathway. After all, Jesus' parting words to us were: "Go and make disciples ... " He didn't tell us to go and make believers. Disciples are followers as well as students - always learning - changing their beliefs as they walk.

I suppose conversion can feel like an off/on switch - where everything is suddenly illuminated. But it can also feel like a gradual dimmer - brightening a long darkness on a slow fade-up. Jesus, it would seem, joins us in both.

And be blessed.

3 comments:

Laurie said...

Pastor Kevin, I can really appreciate what you've shared here. First time I've had time to read your blog and I like. - Laurie

Anonymous said...

I like you dimmer switch theory, as I feel as if I am more on that path. It also brings to mind, for me, a series of doors, as I go thru and find out more about the Lord, the light brightens a little at a time. Once I have gained that knowledge, then I findanother door....each one bringing me closer to Him. Does that make sense? You've always said that becmoing more Christlike is a lifelong process.

Bob W. said...

As always, very enlightening!!