Converting From Catholic to Born Again Cristian

the Conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus as painted past Michelangelo.

Conversion to Christianity is the religious conversion of a previously non-Christian person to some form of Christianity. Information technology has been called the foundational experience of Christian life.^[1] Conversion to Christianity primarily involves conventionalities (faith) in God, repentance of sin, and confession of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. While conversion to Christianity may but involve a personal selection to identify with Christianity rather than with another faith, many Christians empathize it to mean that the individual attains eternal salvation by a genuine conversion experience or human activity—a "radical transformation of self."^[two]

Conversion has also been described as the point of transition from "natural life" to spiritual life. In this sense it is seen equally both a "radical change of heart and life" and likewise a more gradual process in which the catechumen's spiritual nature develops through Christian culture and education.^[three]

According to theologian Charles Curran, conversion is the central moral bulletin of Jesus. He describes it as an "awakening to a consciousness of the presence of divine reality" in one's life.^[4] The Gospel of Matthew quotes Jesus as education, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will non enter the kingdom of sky."^[5]

Social scientists take shown great interest in the Christian conversion as a religious feel that believers describe equally strengthening their faith and changing their lives.^[half-dozen]

Non to exist confused with Conversion to Christianity is Christianization, defined as the "reformulation of social relations, cultural meanings, and personal experience in terms of (ordinarily accepted or supposed) Christian ideals."^[vii] It typically has involved efforts to systematically catechumen an entire continent or culture from existing beliefs to Christianity.^[8]

Some New Attestation examples

The conversion of the Apostle Peter, equally recorded in the Bible^[9], serves as a classic example of "a previously not-Christian person [inbound] upon the Christian mode of life":

As Luke tells the story, it was the miraculous catch of fish that awakened Peter's consciousness to an sensation that in that location was more than to Jesus than meets the eye. Peter plant himself in the presence of someone or something which elicited from him that most natural of all gestures of awe, reverence, and holy fear—he roughshod on his knees. This gesture was accompanied by a confession of his ain wretched condition: "Exit me, Lord; I am a sinful man" (5:9). One time again, withal, this insight is incomplete. Immediately a new life, a new direction is held out to Peter. "Do not exist agape; from now on information technology is men you will catch" (11a). And Peter followed Jesus, leaving everything behind.^[1]

An even more dramatic conversion to Christianity occurred in the life of the Apostle Paul^[10] whose pre-conversion proper name was Saul. He was a zealot for the crusade of kickoff century conservative Judaism who had been "animate threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord" (v. ane). While traveling to Damascus to abort Christians, he brutal to the ground upon being surrounded by a bright light "from sky." He heard a voice accusing him: "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" (5. 4). The feel rendered him temporarily bullheaded. The vocalisation directed him to go on to Damascus where he received his sight again, was described as beingness filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to passionately proclaim the Christian gospel (skillful news).

Hanigan perceives a common "decease and rebirth" experience in these and other conversions which he describes every bit "encounters with the living God." His analysis is that these individuals responded non and so much out of a sense of guilt, just from their awe, reverence, and holy fearfulness of God'due south presence. The pattern, he writes, begins with God taking initiative in the individual'due south life. So, the person responds by acknowledging and confessing personal lostness and sinfulness, so accepting a call to holiness.^[1]

Methods and procedures vary

The exact understanding of what it means to achieve salvation varies somewhat among denominations. The process for conversion itself depends on the sponsoring denomination and hinges on meeting the ritual and substantive requirements for such conversion. A person converting to Christianity oftentimes chooses to experience baptism every bit a sign of their conversion. It is required by some Churches and denominations as a prerequisite to membership.^[11]

Some Churches and denominations believe that baptism is essential for salvation, though most do non. Conversion is generally understood to be undertaken by a person who explicitly chooses to convert. In some denominations, this may include whatever person higher up the historic period of reason (typically between seven and 14 years of historic period, co-ordinate to denomination). The official reception is usually preceded by a period of instruction in the religion.^[12]

Conversion through conservancy

Encounter too: Born once more Christianity: Christian concepts

Conversion through salvation is predominantly a Protestant Christian position. It is variously called beingness "saved," "born again," and "converted." Information technology holds that conversion to Christianity begins with salvation. A major tenet of the Protestant Reformation was that "Justification," i.eastward., conservancy," is attained past faith alone (Sola Fide). The exact agreement of what it ways to attain conservancy varies somewhat among denominations. It primarily involves conventionalities (religion) in God, repentance of sin, and confession of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. In some denominations, these are all accomplished through the sinner's prayer.

The Protestant position further asserts that (i) all things necessary for salvation and concerning faith and life are taught in the Bible clearly plenty for the ordinary believer to find it there and understand; and (2) Scripture solitary (Sola Scriptura) is their authority.^[13]

Protestants typically view profession of faith in Christ as savior (conservancy) equally the merely step of conversion to Christianity. To them, baptism has more to do with public confession of faith in Christ than with salvation. They consider beingness baptized as identifying the individual with Christ through Christ's death, burying, and resurrection of Christ, and beingness obedient to Christ'southward command,^[xiv] but as having nothing to practice with one's eternal salvation. Proponents find biblical support for this understanding the account of the "penitent" thief also hanging on some other cross asking Jesus to "…remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" Jesus' straightforward reply was "Today, you lot volition exist with me in paradise." They point out that Jesus offered him unconditional salvation, plain without necessity for baptism or whatsoever other prerequisite, based solely on the man'southward belief and confession.^[15] Farther evidence is taken from the biblical implication that Jesus never personally baptized anyone: "In fact information technology was not Jesus who baptized, merely his disciples."^[16] That interpretation, taken together with the New Testament'south consequent representation of Jesus equally "savior," leads them to their conclusion that baptism is not necessary for conservancy.

Evangelical, Fundamentalist, and Pentecostal Christians emphasize the need for a conversion feel that involves a personal, and sometimes intense, run across of the private with the ability of God. Generally, these denominations teach that those without such a conversion feel are non "saved" and therefore are non true Christians. These groups oft refer to personal salvation equally being "born again." This term comes from Jesus' chat with a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a fellow member of the Jewish ruling council.^[17] Jesus told him, "no one can see the kingdom of God without existence born once more."^{[eighteen] [19]}

Most other Protestant denominations place less emphasis on a conversion experience and rely generally on the individual's personal argument of belief in and commitment to Jesus Christ as "Lord" and "Savior." They would look the "catechumen" to receive believer's baptism to bring together the church.

Conversions/transfers to another Christian denomination

In groups and denominations that practice believer's baptism, all people who declare themselves "being born again" and who have not previously been baptized equally a believer are (re-)baptized, every bit baptism is not seen as a sacrament, merely as a ritual expression of an interior conversion.

Some denominations accept one'south baptism performed past another denomination. Almost always, the baptism must accept been with h2o and performed in the name of the Trinity. Such converts are usually received past a formal rite which normally as well includes taking Communion in the denomination.

Converts to Protestantism or transfers to another Protestant denomination are considered to take received a valid baptism if they accept been baptized with h2o and in the proper noun of the Trinity.

In the Catholic, Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches, converts too receive the sacrament of Confirmation/Chrismation at reception into the Church, except when they come from a Church about which information technology is accepted that the sacrament has been administered validly (as in the case of an Eastern Orthodox person converting to Catholicism).

In the Latin Church (the largest co-operative of the Roman Catholic Church), children who convert after having attained the age of reason, but before confirmation age, are generally non confirmed until they accept attained that age. In the Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches, where infants are chrismated and receive First Communion at baptism, there is no such limitation.

Post-Reformation

(See Baptism comparative summary).

The majority of Protestant churches practice infant baptism. However, most exercise not deem baptism as absolutely essential for conservancy. They view information technology to exist a sacrament or ordinance that is an outward symbolic sign of i'southward identification with Christ and membership in the Christian community. Protestants that do not practice infant baptism include Apostolics, Baptists, Disciples of Christ,Churches of Christ, Pentecostals, and Seventh-day Adventists.

Come across as well: Born again Christianity: Christian concepts

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.one ane.2} Hanigan, James P. "Conversion and Christian Ethics." Online: http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/apr1983/v40-1-article3.htm. Accessed 17 June 2009
2. ↑ Spilka, Bernard et al. The Psychology of Religion, Tertiary Edition: An Empirical Arroyo. Guilford Press, 2003, ISBN 1572309016
3. ↑ Oscar S. Kriebe. Conversion and Religious Experience, BiblioBazaar, LLC, 2008. ISBN 0554517507
4. ↑ Curran, Charles. A New Look at Christian Morality. Fides, 1970. ASIN: B0029MW7YO
5. ↑ Matthew 18:three
6. ↑ Peter G. Stromberg. Language and Self-Transformation: A Written report of the Christian Conversion Narrative. Cambridge Academy Pres, 2008. ISBN 0521031362
7. ↑ Hefner, Robert W. Conversion to Christianity: Historical and Anthropological Perspectives on a Great Transformation. University of California Press, 1993. ISBN 0520078365
8. ↑ Fletcher, Richard. the Barbarian Conversion: From Paganism to Christianity. University of California Press, 1999. ISBN 0520218590
9. ↑ Luke v:1-eleven and Matthew 4:18-22
10. ↑ Acts ix
11. ↑ Witherington, Ben. Troubled Waters: Rethinking the Theology of Baptism. Baylor University Press, 2007. ISBN 1602580049.
12. ↑ Rhodes, Ron. Complete Guide to Christian Denominations. Harvest Business firm, 2005. ISBN 0736912894
13. ↑ What Do We Mean by Sola Scriptura? past Dr. W. Robert Godfrey
14. ↑ Matthew 28:19-20
15. ↑ Luke 23:42-43
16. ↑ John 4:2
17. ↑ John 3:i-21
18. ↑ John iii:3-seven
19. ↑ ""Condign A Christian"". http://christianity.com/BecomingAChristian/ . Retrieved 2007-10-11.

See also

• List of converts to Christianity
• Religious conversion
• Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
• Credo

v t east Christian Soteriology
Absolution • Adoption • Balls • Atonement • Baptism • Conversion • Faith • Forgiveness • Glorification • Grace • Imputation • Justification • Mortification • Ordo Salutis • Predestination • Reconciliation • Redemption • Regeneration • Repentance • Resurrection • Sanctification • Theosis • Union with Christ
Related Theology: Eschatology • Christology • The Trinity • Hamartiology

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