Iain Hesketh

Convergence or conversion: Which are we looking for?

Christians should be distinct but it’s easy to join old sinful attitudes with the behaviour modification of religion, argues Iain Hesketh.

We all have a story to tell, experiences that have shaped us and left a mark on us. And not all of these experiences are good.

We have character traits that are part of who we are, but not all of this reflects the image of God in which we are created.

Discipleship is the ongoing transformative work of the Holy Spirit shaping us to be more Christ-like, and it cannot be divorced from participation in his missions.

There are terms we use to make this accessible and palatable for a Western audience; we often use ‘journey’ or ‘process’ to refer to the discipleship to Jesus.

And it’s true, sanctification, the process of being made holy, is a vital reality we all must grapple with, just as Jesus’ first followers did.

However, discipleship is not simply ‘putting Christian clothes on bad behaviours’ as a friend of mine framed in a recent conversation.

Convergence happens when we simply seek to modify our external behaviours to fit in with the surrounding culture.

Convergence happens when we take a little bit of everything and form a way of following Jesus in our own image, until it eventually looks nothing like the ‘Jesus’ way. This is what can happen in a highly individualised form of Christianity and it is so dangerous to the church.

We are called to be a distinct people, full of life and attractive to a lost world. Converging old sinful attitudes and actions with the behaviour modification of religion is not fullness of life, nor is it attractive.

It is only in accountable community that we experience the transforming power of the gospel.

Gary Gibbs, Director of REACH, helpfully describes the ‘process-decision-process’ – meaning that evangelism is the process by which we help people who want to know more about Jesus move from unbelief to belief.

When someone comes to the point of genuine confession of faith in Jesus, for the forgiveness of sin and his Lordship over all things, a conversion takes place.

The old life passes away and the new life comes (John 3:16,17; 2 Cor 5:17); you were once dead in your sin but through faith in Jesus are made alive to him (Ephesians 2:1-9); we have been transferred from darkness to light (1 Peter 2:9).

Faith in Jesus is to be converted from the inside out.

Conversion cannot be forced or coerced, but is the result of someone responding to the grace of God, offered through Jesus and sealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:3-14).

Why does this matter?

It matters because we are called to be a people who bear witness to the resurrection power of Jesus. Jesus isn’t interested in behaviour modification but in the renewal of all things.

He frees us from the grip of sin and death and liberates us to live life as he intended it. We get to experience this life in part, but one day we will experience it fully.

For sure there is a process of transformation (Romans 12:1-2), but understanding the starting point is crucial.

Conversion not convergence is the gateway to true life.

First published in the December 2021/January 2022 issue of Direction, Elim’s monthly magazine. Subscribe now to get Direction delivered to your home.

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