NextGenKent

Not all Christians will go to heaven? What!?! I posted a while back about a lady who asked her pastor why she should become a disciple because she was already a Christian. My pastor preached recently on the growing body of people in our society who call themselves Christians but do not attend church. My children have spoken to me of teachers in school speaking about religions and listing Christianity among other religions. With these statements in mind, I have come to the conclusion that not all Christians will go to heaven. You can call yourself a Christian, and while this should express faith in Jesus Christ, it evidently means that you subscribe to a system of beliefs I would call "the religious practices of Christianity." Among them is the belief in Jesus Christ, which amounts to believing that he existed, walked this planet, did good, performed miracles, died, and was resurrected, ascended to heaven, left behind some disciples (who became apostles) who car...

When John the Baptizer came onto the scene the Gospel writers stated he was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah, Prepare the way of The Lord. How did John do this? By "leveling the playing field." The Jews' days were numbered and the time for the Temple to be no more was close at hand. Everything was about to change. The entire way of processing information from those who saw themselves 'above others' was going to be brought down--both in the spiritual and in the physical. John was preaching a "level gospel", The scribes, Pharisees and religious lawyers were going to be brought "down". The world as they knew it was about to flee! Jesus' life, death, and resurrection would cause everything to change, Nothing would ever be the same. It would be like not having a sun or a moon--or an authority who knew what to do. The 'constant things' would shift. And those who were poor and ignorant of the laws and righteousness would no...

Paul Hiebert wrote, "Conversion to Christ must encompass all three levels: behavior, beliefs, and the worldview that underlies these. Christians should live differently because they are Christians." With so many in our nation today stating they are Christians, or they believe in God or the Bible but when pressed on the matter, they don't really know or understand what it is they profess. Hiebert challenges this position of people and thinking they are converted when it is very likely that they are not. He continues to expand these three lines of thought: "However, if their behavior is based primarily on traditional rather than Christian beliefs, it becomes pagan ritual. Conversion must involve a transformation of beliefs, but if it is a change only of beliefs and not of behavior, it is false faith (James 2). Conversion may include a change in beliefs and behavior, but if the worldview is not transformed, in the long run the gospel is subverted and the result i...

The converted lifestyle can be understood by looking back through the Gospels and reading what the authors had in mind as they wrote.  This takes a more intuitive (meditative?) approach in synthesizing from the author’s words what is to be understood. Matthew's recording of Jesus’ message of “repent” and “follow me” was all a part of his mission to “the people dwelling in darkness…and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death” (4:16-17).  The “great light” that has “dawned” on them would shine on the “narrow gate” and “the way [that] is hard that leads to life” (7:13-14). The people’s repentance was from some very specific things—the easy yet destructive  way  that many were traveling on. Being born a Jew, being Moses’ people or being Abraham’s people was not going to be good enough for entrance.  Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven”...

This is my initial thesis idea which will involve the issue of: --2nd and 3rd generation conversion experiences; --interviews of late adolescent youth and college age; --interested in discovering if the way the church has handled conversion and its experience among those raised in the church/Christians homes has had any impact on where they are today; --especially interested in if this has any reflection on the "exodus studies" have indicated is taking place among this age away from church. Initially I will develop a biblical theology of conversion. This is year one. This will involve a biblical, historical and theological look at conversion. Then I will settle into understanding how the church has handled conversion. I want to understand how the church addresses children and youth raised in their congregation about conversion. Hypotheses:: 1. The study of individuation has led me to believe that perhaps young people have left the church in search of a truer c...

A reaction to Gordon T. Smith's, Beginning Well: Christian Conversion & Authentic Transformation, 2001. Gordon Smith states that “intentional reflection” on conversion has the “capacity to bring renewal and focus to our theological work”—and this hope for the reader is truly felt throughout the book (p10). Although the conversion experience is unique for each individual and “complex”, the author believes that there are “common elements” that can be drawn. Furthermore, the author is lead to conclude from his study “that Scripture calls for and assumes a conversion to Jesus Christ that includes seven distinct but inseparable elements” (p125). I would the point of “transfer of allegiance” instead to “love”. Jesus tells his followers, “everyone will know you are my disciples if you love one another” (John 13:35) and “anyone who loves me will obey my teaching” (John 14:23-24). Jesus left us with the command, “…teaching them to obey”… modeled in love. Smith takes us through a ...