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Author Topic: Conversion  (Read 8967 times)
useful idiot
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« on: April 05, 2010, 12:40:39 AM »

What have you thought of converting to? A Christian denomination or another strand of Judaism or something else?

After growing up sampling just about every church there is, and almost going on a mission for the LDS church, I could have been described as an agnostic at best. I did things that I find completely appalling now, and lived a lifestyle that can only be characterized as depraved. I don't think that until recently I ever was really a believer, and thought that if I ever did join a church it would be for aesthetic reasons. I viewed everything skeptically, and thought I could never really truly believe in anything supernatural.

About 6 months ago that all changed though. I can't explain why or how, but like Jmfcst would say, my brain became totally rewired. I would have thought myself crazy for believing it before, but all of a sudden I believed. It started with just having this great desire to go to church, and then after a few weeks of confusion, without acting on that desire or anything, I knew I was a different person. Before I couldn't believe in anything no matter how hard I tried, and now I know that I couldn't not believe. I had hostility towards Biblical Christianity because I had this siege mentality that came from being a Mormon in a Baptist town, and wanted to believe I was a freethinker who didn't have to be a sheep like everyone else. It probably didn't help that my mom is a pretty hardcore Baptist and wanted me to come over to her way of seeing things. Anyway it came as quite a shock to me, and I didn't really know what to do with this change until I heard a sermon by a Calvinist minister and it completely clicked for me. I started reading things about Reformed theology and although I had known quite a bit before, it completely challenged my free-will/Arminian assumptions. I knew that it wasn't as simple as saying a prayer and asking Jesus into your heart, because I'd done that before over and over and nothing ever happened. What happened to me was something I didn't ask for, something I thought that I couldn't do. I was saved completely by God's grace, and not because of any decision I made.

Anyway, I'm currently in the process of becoming a member of a Presbyterian(PCA) church here in Norfolk. I know you probably didn't want some big long story but I thought I'd give you the reasons why I chose that particular church and how it came to be that I converted.
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useful idiot
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Posts: 3,720


« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2010, 01:28:26 AM »

So you don't adhere to Mormon theology, then?

No, why? There was a time when I would have defended it, but like I said I lapsed three years ago(I assume I'm still on the membership rolls). I still in some small way consider myself a jack Mormon, a term used to describe someone who isn't active in the church but has a lot of respect for the church, the people, and their history. There are a lot of things about being LDS that I miss dearly, I just don't believe it's true anymore, if I ever did.
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useful idiot
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« Reply #2 on: April 11, 2010, 02:32:57 AM »

I'm considering Catholicism, Conservative Judaism, and Baptist Christian.

That's quite a unique list. I concur wholeheartedly with Libertas's statement about fulfilling your Jewish roots.

Do you mind if I ask why you chose those three? If you're already Jewish you wouldn't have to "convert" to Conservative Judaism, but simply find a Conservative congregation to join, no?

Going to one of the other two is certainly more of a change, and as I'm sure you know based far more on belief than ancestry(esp with Baptists). Just as Libertas could probably help you with Catholicism, I could try to steer you in the right direction with regards to finding a good Baptist church.

The only thing that really binds Baptists together is a belief in believer's baptism. Other than that, you have quite a bit of diversity. You have a whole range of liberals and conservatives, Calvinists and Arminians(and those who fall in between or even hyper-"Calvinists"), traditional and contemporary worship styles, younger congregations or older ones. There are a lot of differences within even the Baptist groupings, so that makes it a little more complicated. Some differences you should know:

Southern Baptist Convention: this is the largest group. They generally aren't Arminian or Calvinist; they hold to eternal security of the believer, or "once saved, always saved", but reject that Christ died only for the elect. There is a large and growing Calvinist contingent within the convention though. They are usually moderately conservative. There are big and small congregations, ones full of young people and ones full of old people, some contemporary, some more traditional. Honestly if you were seriously interested in going to a Baptist church, a mid-sized young SBC congregation is prob what you'd want to look for.

American Baptist Churches: a mainline(aka liberal) denomination. They ordain female pastors and are far more lenient in what they let individual congregations do. Generally more gay friendly, less politically active, have more black members as a percentage than the SBC. You'd be far less likely to find a congregation full of young people. I wouldn't really recommend them.

Freewill Baptists: I don't know if there would be any up near you, but they're pretty good people. Arminians, young or old, traditional worship style.

Independents: this is the grouping with some variation, generally conservative but otherwise there's too much difference from church to church. They can be of any size, age group, racial makeup, worship style.

Independent Fundamental: Stay away from them. They are almost always KJV only, very conservative, often very legalistic.

Reformed Baptists: Calvinist Baptists. Conservative in theology but not legalistic, generally their services are a balance between contemporary and traditional. Racially diverse, usually very friendly people. They just decided to create their own grouping about 15 years ago, so they're small but growing.
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useful idiot
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Posts: 3,720


« Reply #3 on: May 02, 2010, 01:43:26 PM »


Huh
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