Week 37—Thursday John 3:9-12
Week 37—THURSDAY
“CONVERSION? I HAVEN‘T THE SLIGHTEST
IDEA WHAT IT MEANS”
This abandonment of the Word became flesh in favor of the Word become word and its results are seen in this: A professor of religious education in a Methodist theological college said to a friend of mine, “What do you mean by conversion? I haven’t the slightest idea of what it means.” He was brought up in a theological climate where Christianity was a system of thought to be learned. The knowing would heal you of your moral and spiritual ailments. It is salvation by knowledge—a lineal descendant of gnosticism, the Knowers. If you know about it that saves you. That is proving its sterility in the realm of religion and in the realm of psychology and psychiatry.
In the realm of religion it is producing uncertain believers. “Here you found him?” “I hope so.” “Do you know him?” “Maybe.” “Have you assurance?” “No, I’m afraid not.” This making Jesus Teacher and Lord is putting the Methodist and other churches back in the days of Wesley before his conversion. There Wesley was depending on knowledge and discipline. It left him empty. But when he passed from knowledge and discipline to surrender and faith and acceptance—made Jesus Lord, then he became teacher—and how! Wesley’s whole being became illuminated—mind, body, spirit. Jesus was converted from Teacher and Lord to Lord and Teacher. And the conversion was profound. And Wesley had a message—a message that set the world on fire. Religious education, as in the person of this professor, knows little or nothing of conversion. For it doesn’t believe in it, nor depend on it—it depends on information, not transformation. So it produces moonlight, not sunlight—information about secondhand moonlight, not sunlight firsthand: “This is eternal life that they might know thee” (John 17:3)—not know about thee, but “know thee” as Lord and hence Teacher. Hence religious education doesn’t produce people of passion, people with a message.
O Jesus, Lord and Teacher, help me to be yours, and then I shall open my ears to all that is yours. I shall be on fire to know about you since I know you—know you as my Lord and Teacher. Teach me, teach me, for you have me—wholly. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: The Christian answer is the Christian as the answer.