Conversion is a Journey
When I switched over to my first mac it wasn’t a quick decision. I didn’t just wake up one day and say, I’m going to learn a whole new operating system and just fly blind into something I don’t even understand. I didn’t need to switch. But Apple wooed me by their simplistic design and clutter free stores.
And the coolest thing was that they let me come into the store day after day and just play with the computers. They let me experiment, they let me figure out what the hype was all about. And during the process they had geniuses that were willing to answer questions, let me check my email, let me turn the volume way up and blast some Audioslave. They allowed me to play before I payed. And somewhere along the line I fell in love with the Computer.
So I would hope that the lesson churches can learn hear is pretty clear. Conversion is a journey it’s not an event. People come and kick the tires of faith. They take it test drives, but praying, and maybe reading their Bible. They join a community group to see who else is in the group, and if they are normal people. They ask questions, they doubt, they wonder. They’ll try to learn the songs, they’ll want to know what’s going on. And then somewhere along the line, through the wooing of the Holy Spirit, the love the community shows them, and their experience they cross the line of faith.
This is a lot messier then the Altar Call at the camp meeting conversion event, but it’s also a lot more long lasting. Becuase during the trial period they get to get their questions out. They get to see if this thing really works. And that is so valuable.
So as church leaders are we willing to trust that Jesus can handle the actual converting, that’s not our job. Our job is to open the door, answer the questions and let people enjoy the conversion Journey.
In this Metaphor Baptism is the same as walking out the store with the Box with the Apple on it. We went in to the store dead in windows and came out alive in Tiger – soon leopard. (Alright that’s kind of a stretch but i couldn’t help it.)
JasonDeuman.com 
Great point Jason…I love it cause the Bible says to “Work Out Your Salvation” not that we get it by works…but that it is a process.
I was once told that if you messed up your life for 10 years then you better allow God 10 years to help you get it back together.
No one that I now who has chosen to follow Christ has had it all together the next day. Shoot…I’m still working things out 14 years later.