The clearest mark of conversion
Regeneration is not conversion. Conversion follows (and can only happen on a foundation of) regeneration and involves faith and repentance and the need to know biblical doctrine so that you know what you are to have faith in and what you are to repent of. The clearest mark of conversion is when you begin to actually pray. That involves faith in its most raw display. To actually pray you have to recognize God, above you. And since conversion involves both faith and repentance the clearest mark of conversion also involves not being ashamed of the name of Christ (this is foundational to repentance because it marks the overthrow - or the beginning of it - of the stronghold of your vanity, worldly pride, and self-will within you, which overthrow is needed to actively repent in a real way). These are the two things that test the genuineness of a Christian's belief and conversion. Do you pray in a genuine manner, and are you not so intimidated by the world, or concerned about the opinions and fashions of the world, that you openly and boldly confess the name of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and King, and do you separate yourself from the world to follow His commands. (And it should be added: do you do these things when you are alone without the tribunal or support of a like-minded group to motivate you.)
7 Comments:
Notice it is both prayer and confessing publically Jesus as your Lord and Savior that are the most cringe-inducing things to people who have not converted.
These two things also involve what I call 'church language' which is also foreign and cringe-inducing to many people (even people who have converted). I don't think one needs to sound stupid if they think some kind of language or action is stupid. Discern whether you think it's stupid because you're just not 'there' yet in terms of conversion, or whether you think it's stupid because it just IS kind of stupid.
Alot of church type language is stupid and unnecessary. One doesn't have to adopt it. Just as I don't adopt every lingo I hear people around me speaking. If it's 'not you' to talk like that then it's OK to not talk like that.
If something seems stupid then maybe it is stupid.
One thing though: it's pretty hard to publically state that you are a follower of Jesus Christ without sounding like you're using 'churchy language'. But you don't have to solemnly and earnestly proclaim "I confess Jesus as my Lord and Savior" like you're confronting a formal tribunal.
But not being ashamed to say the name of Jesus is not being ashamed to say it.
It's best to be able to back it up with doctrine too. Like: "He's my King" if you're in a group of cool cats. Then stand your ground, pilgrim.
But sounding 'church language-ish' is not necessarily called for. Unless that's how you naturally speak...
I should add that there is a kind of royal language in the Bible that can be used (or adapted) in any situation and environment and be powerful. It is the language of Scripture itself.
Big caveat: when I wrote that not being ashamed of the name of Christ marks the overthrow - or beginning of it - of the stronghold of vanity, worldly pride, and self-will within a person I of course was not referring to scam artists and carnival barker types who use the name of Christ to make a living. Obviously vanity and worldly pride and self-will can be in full control of a person who is proclaiming the name of Jesus from the housetops.
He**, anything can be done with the stronghold of vanity, worldly pride, and self-will in full control.
The mark as I mean it is this: just as it's difficult for an unconverted person to pray or watch others pray (vanity considers it cringe-worthy stupid or silly), it's equally difficult to mention God or Jesus in 'the world', so to speak. Among not-particularly-religious family or friends, for instance. So when you get to the point when you finally do 'come out' (so to speak) as one of those followers of Jesus, and you say His name in public and in private around people you know will feel uncomfortable, or embarassed for you, then that is what I'm referring to.
'Doctrine' is a good, biblical word, also, pilgrims...
Regarding my 'big caveat' comment above: the post was about a person who has been regenerated to begin with. So... The carnival barker Christian, or scam artist Christian, or poser Christian, is not in that category. The difference is, as stated in the regeneration post, they won't value the Word of God as authority.
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