Role of the Bible in Conversion - -

[JRKH]

Everyone is welcome to chime in, but I am particularly interested in those who have converted from non-Christian to Christian “Sola” type faiths.

The reason I ask is because:

1. We all believe quite strongly in the Bible as the central Document of our faith.
2. The Bible, in and of itself is not written as a “how to” manual.
3. We all (or at least most) need others to help us understand and learn how to be good Christians. That can be communities, pastors, co-workers etc.

So What / How did your conversion process proceed and how big a role did the Bible itself play in the EARLY read initial aspects of your conversion.
How big a role did people/church play in the conversion process.

Were you converted by reading – Or by a person – or some combination.

The upshot is to get an idea of how important the Bible “by itself” is in conversion as opposed to the importance of a the “personal touch” of Church/faith community.

Not sure if I have this question exactly they way I want it so lets see how it goes. I may adjust the question later.

Peace
James

 

[love4mary]

I converted from Atheism to being a Catholic without just once opening the cover of a bible. In fact, I was in RCIA for a month before I obtained my FIRST bible.

In a goofy, round-about-way, it was a Southern Baptist preacher who first got me thinking about religion. My son was being baptized and I had questions concerning this. His answers did not sit well with me so I went on an inter-net search.

I studied all the protestant beliefs on baptism (silly me, I thought they would all be the same ), when I noticed they differed, I got curious and started to do a side by side of other Christian beliefs ( it was summer vacation and I was bored, this was what I said to myself to justify my curiosity Holy Spirit knew different). Needless to say, the whole concept of Christianity confused me and I was ready to chuck the whole study when I ran into an article written just for Atheists.

Through scientific reasoning (the only type I would have listened to at that time), the article asked one simple question. “If the planets were created via the Big Bang Theory without the aid of a Creator, then where did the Gas and Dust come from in the first place?” The Holy Spirit knew I was ready, because that One question was enough to make me re-consider everything I once falsely believed. At that moment (Praise be to God) I had what I would later call a “St. Paul” type of instant conversion.

Becoming a Catholic was a no-brainer after that. I knew from my earlier research into baptism and other Christian doctines that I could never be a Protestant.

As an aside,If you know of any Atheist, please Pray for them. My dear grandmother prayed her Rosary daily for 40 years for me to convert, this I found out only After my conversion. Prayer works!!!

 

[JRKH]

I converted from Atheism to being a Catholic without just once opening the cover of a bible. In fact, I was in RCIA for a month before I obtained my FIRST bible.

In a goofy, round-about-way, it was a Southern Baptist preacher who first got me thinking about religion. My son was being baptized and I had questions concerning this. His answers did not sit well with me so I went on an inter-net search.

I studied all the protestant beliefs on baptism (silly me, I thought they would all be the same ), when I noticed they differed, I got curious and started to do a side by side of other Christian beliefs ( it was summer vacation and I was bored, this was what I said to myself to justify my curiosity Holy Spirit knew different). Needless to say, the whole concept of Christianity confused me and I was ready to chuck the whole study when I ran into an article written just for Atheists.

Through scientific reasoning (the only type I would have listened to at that time), the article asked one simple question. “If the planets were created via the Big Bang Theory without the aid of a Creator, then where did the Gas and Dust come from in the first place?” The Holy Spirit knew I was ready, because that One question was enough to make me re-consider everything I once falsely believed. At that moment (Praise be to God) I had what I would later call a “St. Paul” type of instant conversion.

Becoming a Catholic was a no-brainer after that. I knew from my earlier research into baptism and other Christian doctines that I could never be a Protestant.

As an aside,If you know of any Atheist, please Pray for them. My dear grandmother prayed her Rosary daily for 40 years for me to convert, this I found out only After my conversion. Prayer works!!!

Quite a journey. Thanks for sharing.

Peace
James

 

[jblake]

JRKH;:

1. The Bible, in and of itself is not written as a “how to” manual.

I could (and from a purely personal perspective would) argue that it is a “how to manual”. However, most people do not know how to study, and as such, it might not serve their needs for that functionality.

The upshot is to get an idea of how important the Bible “by itself” is in conversion as opposed to the importance of a the “personal touch” of Church/faith community.

The core issue is: “What is the most effective way to evangelize”. The answer to that question depends upon the individual that is undergoing the conversion process.

If given nothing but a Bible, my guess is that most people wouldn’t convert. OTOH, most people who have had Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society affiliates/7th Day Adventists/LDS Missionaries/etc knock on their doors, haven’t converted to those faiths, either.

Anecdotal evidence from the mission field, implies that weekly small group Bible studies, are the most effective way to convert individuals. The kicker is that it is not uncommon for the conversions to take place two or more years after starting the Bible study.

Stopping now, before I go off on a long rant, that is only semi-related to the question at hand.
There are distinct steps in the conversion process. At each step, there are things to do, and things not do. I’ve forgotten what those steps are.

xan

jonathon

 

[Robbinson]

I came to faith (from Judaism) to Christianity through hearing the gospel (so by God’s Word). I built on the foundation of that faith through then reading and studying the Bible. I then was blessed with the fellowship of other Chrisitans. Yes, I am protestant.

I am convinced that conversion comes through hearing the gospel (through God’s Word) by the act of the Holy Spirit. When “converted”, we will have a yearning to learn as much as possible about Christ and live for and with him - we will literally be born again - a new creature in Christ. The difference will be life changing and palpable. I don’t think conversion comes from ritual - though ritual can be wonderful for those who are of faith as a way of enriching the Christian experience.

I’m currently studying Catholicism - I do believe in the relevance of tradition, thus, within the Protestant world, I’m drawn to the Episcopalian/Anglican tradition.

Blessings,

Brian

 

[thirdn6]

Just a short reminder here…
That the reading of the Holy Scriptures comes before the holy communion…
Because the Holy Eucharist is the ultimate focus of a Catholic life in this physical world.
Now, please keep it going…

 

[Dane_Eidson]

February 14th, 1975 is the most important date in my life. This was the day I was converted to Jesus Christ. I was 18 years old.
The Bible was the major role in my conversion to Jesus Christ. For sake of time and space I will give synopsis of the events were fashioned by my desire to know once and for all if the Bible was just another fairytale of old men or the Book of God.
I was an athiest. I did not believe in God. (A lot of different circumstances had caused me to be an athiest but these circumstances are to be mentioned at another time.)
I remember an “old” man that became familuar around my neighborhood and surrounding areas. (Being just 18 years old I thought he was old because he wqas in his mid 50’s then. ) I and my friends would mock him and make fun of him. He was a religious nut in my eyes. For he would go from door to door witnessing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He would hand out pamplets and Christian tracs too.
During this time I was searching. I began to take an honest look at the theory of evoloution. My search into the Bible was “jump started” by this religious old man who visited my house. I remember mocking this man. I insulted God in front of him. But the old guy left me a Gospel trac. I remember telling him I appreciated his gift of paper because it would be a few days before my mom could buy some more toliet paper and his tracs would do. The old guy would smile and leave. (He came back to my house two more times. My dad cursed him out.)
I read the Bible verses printed on the tracs.
In those days so much less evidence existed as now to prove evoloution is a lie and merely a modern day religion of secular humanists. (Since this time with the help major advances in the sciences of Cosmology, Astrophysics, Quantum Mechanics, Electron Microscopes, CAT Scan technology, Probability, and much more evoloution is exposed even more so than ever as a grand hoax and spiritual deception.)
Once by examining the evidence I began looking into religious writings. I kept coming back to the Bible and especially toward evidences that independently supported and proved what the Bible says about itself.
To make a long story short I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I used the Scriptures of the Apostle Paul in Romans 10:9-10 as my confession through faith believing that Jesus Christ is my only Salvation. I was a student of Scecina High School, (A private Catholic school.) I was not a catholic. But my fellow Catholic friends could tell there was a dramatic sudden change in my heart.
The Scriptures played a major role in my conversion to Jesus Christ. But through the years I was taught some bad stuff. And through the years I was still saved because nothing could change that. This is God’s promise to those who trust in Him alone for salvation. The bad stuff was that all Roman Catholics are apostates and they are lost. But thank God he will not give up on his children!
I have come to know that the catholic is my brother and sister in Jesus Christ. That we both confess Jesus Christ was God in human flesh. That he never sinned but he bore fully the curse of our sins on the Cross and was judged in my place. His death was for the redemption of my lost heart and God’s act of mercy through the justification of wicked sinners through the righteosness of Jesus Christ alone. And that He was bodily resurrected from the dead and He is my Lord, Savior and Advocate. Many Catholics make this confession believing. That makes you my brother or sister in Jesus Christ.
Yes sir! The Bible was the major role in my conversion to Jesus Christ.

 

[abucs]

For me as a child i was fascinated by the bible but then as i grew older i saw it as much different from my daily experiences and this encouraged me to move away from religion altogether for a few years.

The study of science brought me back to the church but i again love the bible as i read it more as a historical document rather than a personal magic book. Something that supplements my faith rather than drives it.

My :twocents:

 

[cathopologist]

I was born and raised a Brahmin (Hindu caste) of the Arya Samaj school of thought. I never seriously practised my faith as a child but i attended a Presbyterian missionary school. I was a very active student and took part in several curricular activities; Boy’s Brigade, etc. I also studied Bible Knowledge as a school subject, but was never into Christianity or believed in the stories it told.

In fact, most of my schoolmates remembered me as the person who hated Christians (because of a bad experience i had with “Christian” teacher). I used to draw pentagrams and even depict Christ crucified upside down burning in hell. I even mischievously nailed it in the bulletin boards of my classroom. I wasn’t “satanic” per se, but i did dabble in the occult for a while.

After my dear father passed away, everything became a nightmare for me as a young boy. I totally lost faith in everything. I remember hating every form of religion and not giving a thought or care about anything religious.

Years after my graduation, i continued with my rebellion. Sometimes i didn’t know what i was rebelling about. I just knew i had to rebel. It would be several years later that i would come across a church that was popular in Singapore amongst worshipers and visitors alike. Although filled with doubt and hate, something mysteriously made me feel like entering the church and so i did. I sat there for a full half hour and just looked around the ceilings, walls. Of course, i heard no voice or saw any visions. Another twenty minutes passed by and still nothing. I remembered staring at the cross and whispering in my head,

“Why have you brought me here you bloodied man”? “Why me”? “Ok, you want it in your terms? Fine! I’ll kneel before you and lets see what magic you’ve got!” So i did. After i got up, feeling somewhat satisfied with myself, and just as i was about to leave the sanctuary hall, i felt something. Suddenly an intense feeling of peace overwhelmed me such that i have never felt before. Truly it was amazing and i could not explain it in words. It felt as though something was hugging me or a cloak of love was around me for the first time in many years. I knew i had to keep that wonderful feeling.

I called up a friend of mine (who was incidentally a Catholic) and told him i wanted to become a Christian. We were both shocked. He asked, “Are you serious? You sure you wanna become a Christian? Are you having a fever?” I laughed and told him everything (of my experience). Even my friend doubted me there for a while but after talking to him on the phone, he then asked, “Okay, so which church have you decided to start attending”? I said “the Catholic Church”. He asked me why and i told him, “Because that is where God led me to”. I have never looked back ever since.

So despite having all the Biblical knowledge in the world, you cannot really make a person interested in Christianity. In fact, if you were to give the Bible to a person who isn’t part of the faith, he would immediately close the book (unless he had to study it as a subject). Sorry to have gone long winded, but i thought i had to share this as not many here know about me. Heck, in fact, i hardly talk about my conversion story to anyone. Not even to people of my own parish! So consider yourself lucky having to put up with my ramblings!

 

[Pastor_Jim]

I converted from Atheism to being a Catholic without just once opening the cover of a bible.

You became a Catholic without even studying the Bible to see if Catholicism is true or not?

You wouldn’t buy a car without first researching it to see if the car is a good car. Why on Earth wouldn’t you do the same with something as important as where you will spend eternity?