Does Your Religion Require A "Conversion Experience" To Enter Heaven?

[Alex_H]

I was curious as to how different denominations/religions handled this question.

I remember when I attended a Baptist church for about six months, they were really big into having a moment where you accepted Jesus as your savior and thus were entered into the lamb’s book of life.

Likewise, when I attended a Pentecostal church for about two months, they considered having an experience where you welcomed Jesus into your heart as very essential. Also, they seemed really big on speaking in tongues as evidence that you were saved.

However, I have also attended Lutheran, Catholic, and Episcopal churches and the call for a conversion experience is rarely heard at these churches.

I’m guessing it’s because of theological differences?

Anyways, I would like to understand better why the baptist/Pentecostal churches so highly value a “salvation experience” (if you will) and other churches do not?

(Also, please don’t think I’m picking on you Baptists/Pentecostals, I was just curious as to why there is a difference. I’m sure there are other churches that practice this as well)

 

[Hatikvah]

My personal beliefs are more or less with the Lutherans, though I go to a Methodist church with my family. My religion is Christianity, my particular viewpoint is somewhere in Protestantism.

What is a conversion experience in this case? A baptism? A meaningful contrition and repentance with a saving faith?

Yes, I value a conversion experience. They can be powerful like Constantine the Great’s legendary conversion before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge (AD 312) or simple like reading a few paragraphs in the Gospels and realizing the Holy Spirit’s work there, like C.S. Lewis.

I wouldn’t say that it is a requirement, because only God can save someone, but we know that He does it through Jesus Christ and a person’s faith in Him.

 

[Tomdstone]

Catholics experience conversion to sanctifying grace by means of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

 

[E_7]

Catholics experience conversion to sanctifying grace by means of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

I second this.

And we also pray the act of contrition and there are various forms to say it, such as:
Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my
sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend
Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly
resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near
occasions of sin.

Act of Contrition

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong
and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above
all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and
died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am sorry for my sins because I have offended you. I know I
should love you above all things. Help me to do penance, to do better, and
to avoid anything that might lead me to sin. Amen.

Or my pick, act of contrition

O my God, I’m heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess all my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

 

[MT1926]

I was curious as to how different denominations/religions handled this question.

I remember when I attended a Baptist church for about six months, they were really big into having a moment where you accepted Jesus as your savior and thus were entered into the lamb’s book of life.

Likewise, when I attended a Pentecostal church for about two months, they considered having an experience where you welcomed Jesus into your heart as very essential. Also, they seemed really big on speaking in tongues as evidence that you were saved.

However, I have also attended Lutheran, Catholic, and Episcopal churches and the call for a conversion experience is rarely heard at these churches.

I’m guessing it’s because of theological differences?

Anyways, I would like to understand better why the baptist/Pentecostal churches so highly value a “salvation experience” (if you will) and other churches do not?

(Also, please don’t think I’m picking on you Baptists/Pentecostals, I was just curious as to why there is a difference. I’m sure there are other churches that practice this as well)

I am also curious to the answers to this. I don’t want to hijack the thread but if someone could hone in on why the term “conversion experience” is even used? Just doesn’t sound like the correct wording to me.

The definition of conversion is the act or process of changing something into a different state or form.

Well my thought on this is if you were raised and remain in the same religious beliefs as your parents how could you ever have an actual conversion?

I think I would prefer to call it a growth experience. I think trying to limit it to a one time event kind of cheapens the whole experience. Just an example that puts it in perspective for me. Imagine me summing up the last 24 years of my marriage with a story of something that happened the day we met. How do you think my wife would feel if my “emotional feelings” on the day we met were more important than the experiences (love, laughter, joy and tears) we had together over the past 28 years? I think the same goes for God.

1 Corinthians 13:13
13 So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Love by the way is a verb (action) not a noun (feeling).

On a side note about speaking in tongues I never really paid attention to the begining of 1 Corinthians 13 before:

13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

Just thought that was interesting.

 

[E_7]

I am also curious to the answers to this. I don’t want to hijack the thread but if someone could hone in on why the term “conversion experience” is even used? Just doesn’t sound like the correct wording to me.

The definition of conversion is the act or process of changing something into a different state or form.

Well my thought on this is if you were raised and remain in the same religious beliefs as your parents how could you ever have an actual conversion?

Conversion is the act or process of changing our sinful ways. You can be raised and remain in your beliefs and still lead a sinful life. There is this type of sinner that knows right from wrong, doesn’t miss a single Mass and confesses from time to time, but still chooses to fall into the same particular mortal sin. One day, by the grace of God, that person won’t have the normal conversions of every day, but one that will make the person make a radical decision that would keep him away from that sinful path ever again . This conversion would be greater than the usual conversion when you confess your sins. It’s like the Word of God says in the book of Ephesians, leaving the old man behind and becoming a new one.

 

[Reuben_J]

I am also curious to the answers to this. I don’t want to hijack the thread but if someone could hone in on why the term “conversion experience” is even used? Just doesn’t sound like the correct wording to me.

The definition of conversion is the act or process of changing something into a different state or form.

Well my thought on this is if you were raised and remain in the same religious beliefs as your parents how could you ever have an actual conversion?

I think I would prefer to call it a growth experience. I think trying to limit it to a one time event kind of cheapens the whole experience. Just an example that puts it in perspective for me. Imagine me summing up the last 24 years of my marriage with a story of something that happened the day we met. How do you think my wife would feel if my “emotional feelings” on the day we met were more important than the experiences (love, laughter, joy and tears) we had together over the past 28 years? I think the same goes for God.

1 Corinthians 13:13
13 So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Love by the way is a verb (action) not a noun (feeling).

On a side note about speaking in tongues I never really paid attention to the begining of 1 Corinthians 13 before:

13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

Just thought that was interesting.

I was about to reply to the OP but saw your post.

The term conversion experience is not Catholic but of Protestant origin so lots of Catholics as usual do not quite understand it. It’s a matter of different usage of terminology.

For the record, I do not agree that we need to experience that in order to go to heaven especially in the Catholic context where we have the Sacraments as the suppliers of grace.

It is also what people like Billy Graham would call born again (experience) and he does not mean Baptism when he says that.

Today, however, more Catholics are familiar with the term of conversion experience.

Roughly - conversion experience means an experience at a certain stage of our life where, after going through an understanding of the forgiveness and love of God, one experiences drastic changes in one’s disposition towards God. It arises from a deep realization that God loves us and that we have fail in our lives to respond to that love.

Therefore begins a strong personal urge and loving it, to change. It is a feeling and disposition of loving God where change readily comes by – like one does not want to commit sins, loves of the Bible, Sacraments, etc., and on the personal level, even change of behavior to Godly ones – something in line with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

The conversion experience usually triggered by something (usually a realization) and helped by the Holy Spirit where one makes the 180 degrees turn. From this point onward it usually persists for sometimes. For many people, it could be a start of a new life of devotion to the faith, loving God and avoiding sins. In other word - a strong believer, a true Christian.

So it is a good thing, as many Christians, and those are Catholics, who would have this experience, except traditionally we may not call it as such.

 

[Trishie]

Jesus, Judge of souls, showed in His description of His judgement of souls’ fitness to heaven that practical kindness and charity to others is His requirement.

Matthew 25 verses 31-46
He makes no mention of ‘a conversion experience’ in His process for judging souls in His judgement description in Matthew 25, other than whiter of not they give practical kindness, support, and assistance to other people.
If they do, they go to eternal joy, if they live selfishly, without taking care of others in their needs, then He says, they do not go to eternal joy,
as He said,
Love God above all and others as you love yourself,
He also, in the passage where He describes the judgement of souls at His hand, indicates that to shoe kindness to others is to show kindness to Him.

Matthew 25 verses 31-46

The Judgement of the Nations

‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”

Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’

 

[meltzerboy]

Jesus, Judge of souls, showed in His description of His judgement of souls’ fitness to heaven that practical kindness and charity to others is His requirement.

Matthew 25 verses 31-46
He makes no mention of ‘a conversion experience’ in His process for judging souls in His judgement description in Matthew 25, other than whiter of not they give practical kindness, support, and assistance to other people.
If they do, they go to eternal joy, if they live selfishly, without taking care of others in their needs, then He says, they do not go to eternal joy,
as He said,
Love God above all and others as you love yourself,
He also, in the passage where He describes the judgement of souls at His hand, indicates that to shoe kindness to others is to show kindness to Him.

Matthew 25 verses 31-46

The Judgement of the Nations

‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”

Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’

Kindness in word and particularly deed toward others is also the sine qua non found in Judaism.

 

[DebChris]

We are continuously called to conversion, to become more and more Christlike.
John the Baptist said, “I must decrease that he might increase,”
There are conversion stories within the lives of the saints. Often they reach a crisis point in their lives where they realize the path that they are following is leading them nowhere spiritually. They change direction and give themselves whole-heartedly to following the path that God has marked out for them.
For most of us, the conversion may not be quite as dramatic as it was for St. Paul, St. Augustine, or St. Francis. More often we make small changes over time rather than than being blinded and falling from a horse.
While a dramatic “Conversion experience” is not required, our continued change of heart and search for God’s will is.
It is the person who follows God’s will who enters the kingdom of heaven, not simply the person who calls “Lord, Lord.” as Christ himself said. I like John Merton’s prayer that summarized basically says “I am not always sure if I am following God’s will, but I think my desire to follow God’s will indeed means that I am following God’s will.”

 

[LutheranScholar]

What does Baptism have to do with our daily life?
Everything! Our entire life is a life lived trusting in the
promises of God,given to us in and through Holy Baptism.We
are constantly returning to Baptism. In moments of temptation
and suffering in our lives, when all seems to be crashing
down on us,and in particular in those moments when our sin
and the guilt of those sins haunt us,we are able,as Luther says,
to “Pull out our Baptism and wave it under the devil’s nose and
say,‘I am baptized. …I have God’s bath.It is Christ’s own blood.’
It is a bath blessed and mixed with the blood of Christ.”2
We
can’t return to the cross of Christ, nor should we attempt to
imagine ourselves back there.No,we turn instead to the “here
and now”reality of God’s work in our lives.We return to our
Baptism. For it was there and then that God buried us with
Christ and raised us with Him to a new life.
In his Large Catechism, Luther says,“Every Christian has
enough to study and to practice all his life. He always has
enough to do to believe firmly what Baptism promises and
brings—victory over death and the devil,forgiveness of sins,
God’s grace, the entire Christ, and the Holy Spirit with His
gifts.”And:“If you live in repentance,therefore,you are walking
in Baptism, which not only announces this new life, but also
produces,begins and promotes it. In Baptism we are given the
grace, Spirit and power to suppress the old man, so that the
new man may come forth and grow strong.Therefore,Baptism
remains forever. …Repentance,therefore,is nothing else than
a return and approach to Baptism.” www.lcms.org/document.fdoc?src=lcm&id=1086

We Lutherans do believe in regeneration, which is an act of the Holy Spirit directly connected to our Holy Baptism ( and the hearing of the Holy Gospel) whereby we are brought to faith justandsinner.blogspot.com/2010/04/what-exactly-is-lutheran-view-of.html.

 

[drac16]

It doesn’t have to be dramatic where everyone is shouting and cheering. All that is required is to recite the Shahada, which is “I bear witness that there is no god but God and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God”. It’s traditionally recited in Arabic, too, but it doesn’t have to be. Every one has their own god; for some, it is video games, sex, heavy metal, football, etc. Whatever you give most devotion to, that is your god. With the Shahada, what you are saying is that those gods have no dominion over you and that the only true god is God (i.e. nothing you give devotion to is comparable to God).

When the Shahada is recited with sincerity, you offically become a muslim. What follows is a rebirth of sorts; your evil is turned into goodness, as it says in surah 25:70 of the Qur’an: “…for them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful”. What will follow is progressive maturity; surah 19:86 says “And Allah increases those who were guided, in guidance, and the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for recourse”

One can come to Allah and find full pardon. As the muslim matures spiritually, he/she will grow in selflessness. No longer will they follow Islam because they fear Hell or want rewards – they will do it out of love for Allah. Selfless devotional service becomes natural. As we mature, we ought to learn to love more.

 

[Wannano]

In the Douay-Rheims Bible Jesus Himself teaching his disciples in Matthew 18:3 says “amen, I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

The Apostle Peter, whom I believe the Catholic Church claims to be the first Pope, says in Acts 3:19 “REPENT, ye therefore , and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…”(Cambridge)

My religion is Christianity and conversion is basic!

 

[arthra]

Does Your Religion Require A “Conversion Experience” To Enter Heaven?I was curious as to how different denominations/religions handled this question.

Most religions I’ve come to study do have “conversion experiences”…Some are documemnted and some are less well known… Here’s a few that might come to mind…

How about when Saul became Paul?

Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 9:19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

How about when Asoka became a Buddhist?

*But one particular battle resulted in such loss of life that Asoka was filled with remorse for what he had done. This event caused him to undergo a spiritual transformation that would be instrumental in the spread of Buddhism. Asoka not only personally converted to Buddhism (which he had learned about from a monk), he applied Buddhist principles to the way he ruled his empire.

religionfacts.com/conversion-of-asoka

How about when Omar becamea Muslim?

Umar came to the door (of the house of his sister) as Khabbab (a companion of the Prophet) was studying under her guidance the Sura Taha and also “When the Sun is Overthrown” (81:1). The polytheists used to call this reading “rubbish”. *When Umar came in, his sister saw that he meant mischief and hid the sheets from which they were reading. Khabbab slipped away into the house. Umar asked what was the gibberish he had heard, to which she answered that it was merely conversation between them…” (The Life of the Messenger of God)
Umar exploded in wrath at what he believed to be a prevarication, and struck his sister in her face. The blow caused her mouth to bleed. He was going to strike again but the sight of blood made him pause. He suddenly appeared to relent, and then in a changed tone asked her to show him what she was reading. She sensed a change in him but said: “You are an unclean idolater, and I cannot allow you to touch the Word of God.”
Umar immediately went away, washed himself, returned to his sister’s home, read the text of Qur’an, and then went to the house of Arqam where he formally accepted Islam.

al-islam.org/restatement-history-islam-and-muslims-sayyid-ali-ashgar-razwy/umars-conversion-islam

The above are just a few examples…

 

[MT1926]

Conversion is the act or process of changing our sinful ways. You can be raised and remain in your beliefs and still lead a sinful life. There is this type of sinner that knows right from wrong, doesn’t miss a single Mass and confesses from time to time, but still chooses to fall into the same particular mortal sin. One day, by the grace of God, that person won’t have the normal conversions of every day, but one that will make the person make a radical decision that would keep him away from that sinful path ever again . This conversion would be greater than the usual conversion when you confess your sins. It’s like the Word of God says in the book of Ephesians, leaving the old man behind and becoming a new one.

I don’t disagree that some people do have a conversion experience. I was just pointing out that most people tend to use terms, as you did, “One day, by the grace of God”. I don’t think it is always a one time event. I can’t recall a one time event in my life. I can recall a period of time 2 years ago where I slowly and steadily wanted to become stronger in my faith. But I wouldn’t necessarily call it a conversion. I would call it further growth. As for the sin part I am pretty sure the only thing that is going to keep me from sinning again is death and purgatory. We live in a very secular society it is become more and more difficult to avoid seeing sin in our society.

 

[MT1926]

I was about to reply to the OP but saw your post.

The term conversion experience is not Catholic but of Protestant origin so lots of Catholics as usual do not quite understand it. It’s a matter of different usage of terminology.

Yep that would be me.

For the record, I do not agree that we need to experience that in order to go to heaven especially in the Catholic context where we have the Sacraments as the suppliers of grace.

It is also what people like Billy Graham would call born again (experience) and he does not mean Baptism when he says that.

Yep being Catholic we equate born again with being Baptized. Just can’t agree that for every person it has to be the light bulb going off in our heads experience.

Today, however, more Catholics are familiar with the term of conversion experience.

Roughly - conversion experience means an experience at a certain stage of our life where, after going through an understanding of the forgiveness and love of God, one experiences drastic changes in one’s disposition towards God. It arises from a deep realization that God loves us and that we have fail in our lives to respond to that love.

Therefore begins a strong personal urge and loving it, to change. It is a feeling and disposition of loving God where change readily comes by – like one does not want to commit sins, loves of the Bible, Sacraments, etc., and on the personal level, even change of behavior to Godly ones – something in line with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Yeah this is were I don’t agree with some religions that this has to happen for everyone in order to be saved. I don’t think I have had a time in my life of experiencing a drastic change or slapped myself on the forehead and said I am failing to respond to God’s love in my life. I think my life has been a slow and steady following of what my parents have taught me in my childhood years. Which I continued in my adult life, serving others with a few slips and falls along the way, hey I’m not perfect. But no drastic conversion as of yet.

The conversion experience usually triggered by something (usually a realization) and helped by the Holy Spirit where one makes the 180 degrees turn. From this point onward it usually persists for sometimes. For many people, it could be a start of a new life of devotion to the faith, loving God and avoiding sins. In other word - a strong believer, a true Christian.

So it is a good thing, as many Christians, and those are Catholics, who would have this experience, except traditionally we may not call it as such.

I’m not saying some don’t have a conversion experience I am just saying, as you did above, it is not necessary for salvation. Here is the point I am talking about. Most everyone that speaks of the conversion experience tends to use terms like you did here. “where one makes the 180 degrees turn”. I just don’t see it being essential that you have to be walking the wide road to hell before you can start walking the narrow road to heaven.

 

[jane_doe]

I was curious as to how different denominations/religions handled this question.

I remember when I attended a Baptist church for about six months, they were really big into having a moment where you accepted Jesus as your savior and thus were entered into the lamb’s book of life.

Likewise, when I attended a Pentecostal church for about two months, they considered having an experience where you welcomed Jesus into your heart as very essential. Also, they seemed really big on speaking in tongues as evidence that you were saved.

However, I have also attended Lutheran, Catholic, and Episcopal churches and the call for a conversion experience is rarely heard at these churches.

I’m guessing it’s because of theological differences?

Anyways, I would like to understand better why the baptist/Pentecostal churches so highly value a “salvation experience” (if you will) and other churches do not?

(Also, please don’t think I’m picking on you Baptists/Pentecostals, I was just curious as to why there is a difference. I’m sure there are other churches that practice this as well)

(Blind post)

In my observation, all faiths that require belief require some type of conversion-- aka adopting of those beliefs. Now does this have to be some big single moment, or a gradual falling in love? No one actually dictates it one or the other.

That being said, some faiths (such as Baptists) which view salvation as a point-in-time event often link that event with the one-point-big-converisoin-moment, and hence stress it a lot. Faiths which view salvation as a process (such as Catholic and my own) have less tied in with the exact moment of conversion.

 

[jane_doe]

I think I would prefer to call it a growth experience. I think trying to limit it to a one time event kind of cheapens the whole experience. Just an example that puts it in perspective for me. Imagine me summing up the last 24 years of my marriage with a story of something that happened the day we met. How do you think my wife would feel if my “emotional feelings” on the day we met were more important than the experiences (love, laughter, joy and tears) we had together over the past 28 years? I think the same goes for God.

Your comment here is classical of those which believe conversion and salvation are both a process: like falling in love-- yes, it happened once, but then keeps happening more everyday.

Well my thought on this is if you were raised and remain in the same religious beliefs as your parents how could you ever have an actual conversion?

Being raised in a faith doesn’t change the fact you eventually have to adopt those beliefs as your own (rather than just being your parents’). That is the conversion experience, and it can happen again and again each day.

 

[Reuben_J]

I’m not saying some don’t have a conversion experience I am just saying, as you did above, it is not necessary for salvation. Here is the point I am talking about. Most everyone that speaks of the conversion experience tends to use terms like you did here. “where one makes the 180 degrees turn”. I just don’t see it being essential that you have to be walking the wide road to hell before you can start walking the narrow road to heaven.

Exactly. And this line would say that after the ‘conversion experience’ one’s salvation is assured and there would not be a backslide. Perhaps something skin to OSAS though to be fair not all would take this line of thought.

That certainly is contrary to Catholic stance in that we believe faith is a journey and salvation will only be achieved when we reach there. IOW, one can fall from grace if one does not persevere or not keep on running as St Paul said.

Conversion experience is good, a jump start if you may, but one still has to journey on until the end and not stop halfway in order to reach salvation destination.

Most of us grow more gradual than others and as you said, may not have any drastic experience of change in life, but nevertheless through faithfulness and the grace of the Sacraments, could still be saved.

God bless.

 

[Jesus_123]

… I have also attended Lutheran, Catholic, and Episcopal churches and the call for a conversion experience is rarely heard at these churches. …

Anyways, I would like to understand better why the Baptist/Pentecostal churches so highly value a “salvation experience” (if you will) and other churches do not?

:bible1:
(Jesus teaching)
"Going therefore,
teach
ye all nations;
baptizing
them in the
Name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Teaching
them to observe all things
whatsoever ***I ***have commanded you:
and behold **I am ** with you all days,
even to the consummation of the world.
- Matthew 28:19-20

+The easiest way to clarify and answer the original poster’s questions is to . . . “unpack” . . . the above portion of Sacred :bible1: Scripture a bit . . . and note that there are 3 consecutive parts within this instruction of our LORD . . .

Step 1: Teach
Step 2: Baptize
Step 3: Teach to Observe

Healthy Christian churches . . . Catholic or non-Catholic . . . which are truly Christ centered . . . will invariably be led by the . . . Sweet Spirit of our Holy God . . . to follow in the footsteps of our LORD and embrace and grow through all the three steps . . .

The division noted by the original poster within Christendom’s denominations, however, lies in a controversy that has developed and has continued over the centures as to the . . . “who” . . . of the sacrament of . . . baptism . . . and the “when” . . . it can occur . . . and this can be illustrated using the following portion of Sacred :bible1: Scripture:

:bible1:
“But they said:
Believe in the
***Lord Jesus, ***
and thou shalt be
saved,
and thy house.”
- Acts Of Apostles 16:31

BELIEVERS ONLY BAPTISM

Baptist/Pentecostal Christian churches . . . long since separated from our Holy Mother Church . . . (separated ecclesial communities of our brothers and sisters in Christ as St. Pope John XXIII called them) . . . place the necessity of each person . . . no matter what age . . . individually . . . by understanding and hearing the gospel . . . come into . . . “believing” . . . in the . . . LORD . . . Jesus . . . **the Blessed Christ of God **. . . **as Saviour and LORD **. . . through the “teaching/preaching” of the Christian Faith first . . . and personally surrendering/committing their life to Him as their Saviour and LORD. Following such “believing” which encompasses “reception of and surrender/committment” to our LORD . . . they practice what is known in Christendom as the limited practice of “Believers Only Baptism.”

This limited practice embraces the holy gift of Faith from God of the first portion of the above :bible1: Scriptural teaching, but limits the teaching to just "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, …" and . . . skips . . . the equally holy last portion . . . "… and thy house." of Acts Of Apostles 16:31.

CATHOLIC BAPTISM

Our Holy Roman Catholic Church embraces the whole of the depth and breadth of the above :bible1: Scripture . . . and . . . embraces . . . and . . . allows . . . the Sacrament of Baptism . . . for all ages . . . both of the age of reason and prior to the age of reason . . . within the household of the faithful . . . and encourages the baptism of infants and children even before the age of reason within our believing Holy Mother Church as their believing family. Under the unction of the Holy Spirit . . . Catholic parents responsibly act on behalf of their children’s salvation within their households . . . conversion is day by day growth in the faith for all ages . . .

Episcopal and Lutheran churches retained this portion Catholic inheritance regarding the saving . . . Sacrament of Baptism . . . for all ages . . .

*. . . all for Jesus+
. . . thank You Dear Lord+

*​