I was reading my Bible on the train this morning and the guy next to me struck up a conversation. He was a Christian too, and we had a brief chat. He was a Catholic.
Trying to think of something to say, I asked how long he'd been a Christian, and he was kind of taken aback, and a bit offended and said, 'no, I was born Christian- I've been Christian since birth'. He then asked if I was Anglican, and I said yes, and he said, 'well, it doesn't matter, so long as we both believe in Christ'.
Hear, hear.
Afterwards, I got thinking a bit about it though. I hadn't realised that my question could be offensive. What had offended him? Doesn't there need to be a time when you say 'okay, I accept that Jesus is lord, not me'? I guess my take on it, is that if you have Christian parents and they raise you Christian, for the time being you are 'covered' by their faith, but there then comes a time when you need to make the call for yourself.
In my own life, I'd look back and say, I was covered as a kid, but as a teenager went away from that, not really acknowledging that God had much say over my life. At the time I would've said I was a Christian, but now I'd say that I wasn't. The missing ingredient was Jesus. Then I'd say I had a gradual return to God, and acceptance of Jesus as my saviour, when I was about 18 or 19.
Do you agree with that, or do you think I've got it a bit wrong? Can you be born a Christian?
Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)
Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)
13 comments:
Hey Ben, interesting post.
I think I've always been a Christian, so I would say I was born one. I always believed that I was sinful, and that I needed Jesus to save me. I never doubted it. I knew God loved me and I needed him (and still do).
When I was 12 though, I went to a KYC on the topic of sin. I remember toying with the idea of not staying Christian around that time. It wasn't a matter of becoming one, more, wondering if I wanted to stay one, and after hearing talks on sin and judgement - absolutely I wanted to stay Christian!!
So, I'd say I've been a Christian all my life, but I wouldn't find it an offensive question if you asked me. It is a privilege that I am very thankful to my Heavenly father for.
I wouldn't say I was born a Christian, there was some point of change-over, it's just that I don't know when that was. I think that is pretty common for kids from Christian homes. Not everyone has a 'rebellious' stage. "When did you become a Christian?" is actually a difficult (though not necessarily an offensive) question for people like me to answer. It is still a miracle of grace, just a less dramatic one.
this is something Sam and I have been thinking a fair bit about, especially when explaining to people why we've decided to baptise our baby. I think I've always been a Christian, whereas Sam is a convert.
It would be interesting to know why the guy on the train got so offended.
I agree with you Ben...you're covered under the umbrella plan until you're of an age to make the decision of your faith. I believe that some people, just because they say they're Catholic and attend church regularly, consider themselves to be Christian, but haven't made the 'commitment'. I would say he's one who assumes he is, which might be why he took offense. Slight...does that make sense?
what's the umbrella plan?
Lol...as Ben put it, being 'covered' by your parents faith.
I think being Christian involves repentance, a movement of will — as you say, a decision of sorts to live under Jesus' lordship.
So I don't think you can be born a Christian.
But of course it's possible not to remember a time where you didn't acknowledge Jesus' lordship. The lack of memory doesn't change the reality :)
Meanwhile, I can see how people might find the question offensive, if they think of 'Christianity' as an inherited religion, rather than as following Jesus.
There's never been a time when I haven't thought of myself as a Christian.
But my conversion is ongoing. There have been plenty of times when I have felt as though I wasn't a Christian until that moment. And I expect that there will be many more times like that too.
God, in his grace, is turning the dimmer switch in my heart up more and more. And sometimes it gets brighter quicker than other times.
Do I think my 3 kids are Christian (3, 5 and 7)? Absolutely. Have they been able to give an account of repentance? No. But in their way (as I am in my own way) they are trusting in Jesus. And so we nurture their faith rather than assume they have none. We treat them as Christians rather than as pagans who are in need of a conversion story.
I don't know if you're interacting with my comment specifically, Al, but in case you are, two things:
1. I think 'repenting' and 'being able to give an account of repentance' are two different things.
2. I think the way we treat our children is a different question from whether they are believers or not. In a sense, up until a certain age, we don't know if they're regenerate or not. (Over time, we can grow as sure about them as we are about anyone else.)
Meanwhile, I think we teach them the truth: that Jesus really is the Lord and Saviour of the world (and hence their Lord and Saviour). We teach them repentance and faith. I think we can take this approach with adults, too — at least in theory. Doesn't work for all of us in practice, though :P
I wasn't specifically responding to your comments Stuart. But thanks for commenting further.
And I agree in general with what you say, except that I will assume that my kids are regenerate unless there is very good reason not to. Perhaps you wouldn't do that?
As for repentance, it's a lifelong state of being. Which is why I say that my conversion is ongoing.
Yes, you're right: I probably wouldn't assume my children were regenerate, but I would certainly treat them as if they were (and I implore God to regenerate them :)
So your children and ours will have parents raising them as though they are believers and praying that they will know Jesus as Lord.
I like that.
Ruth- Thanks for sharing your story. It's cool to hear stories like this, where someone has believed since really little. I guess the parenting plays a big part, never thinking your kids are too young to tell them about Jesus, and why we need Him.
Wendy- I can relate to this a fair bit. Although I guess I had the rebellious years, in some ways all the transitions were very gradual and smooth, so it's hard to even pinpoint a conversion YEAR let alone a conversion DAY.
Soph- My guess was that he saw it that you are born Catholic, therefore born Christian.
Ah, the baptism issue. We wondered a lot about baptism and dedication, and eventually agreed to dedicate.
Beth- yep, I agree with that. Makes sense to me.
Stuart and Al, interesting discussion. I feel a bit inadequate to weigh in, but I like the way you summed it up at the end there. I like that too.
Post a Comment