INTRODUCTION
This work is written for those concern to know what is involved in becoming a Christian, for those considering becoming one, and for those responsible for clarifying the issues. The work is primarily for church membership resource training for those preparing for that, for those taking such classes or teaching them, and for those who feel they join the church without being properly instructed or forewarned. With these groups of readers in mind, I have tried to be brief and to avoid technical language.
I began writing this material when I was in one of our seminaries in Nigeria and some of our parishes because I was so dissatisfied with the church membership training materials offered by my own and other denominations. I also wrote it and I’m currently using it for church membership preparation, for those who want to become Christians especially to our children.
In this work I showed a boundary of pluralism or diversity by pointing to a common core of convictions and experiences I believe all Christians share. However, in doing this I have not avoided touching upon some issues where Christians from different traditions may disagree. I offer this material for consideration, and welcome critical discussion and dialogue.
I take an ecumenical, rather than a denominational traditional approach to the meaning of church membership. I believe strongly that in becoming Christians, people need to learn of God by wrestling directly with issues of Christian truth rather than assuming once denominational tradition is everywhere correct. As an ecumenical Christian teacher and preacher, I am willing to disagree even with my own denomination and do so at several places in this work.
I hope the issue of possible ceremonial changes will not prevent people from examining the theological question that lies at the heart of this work “what does it mean to become Christ disciples”? I am not primarily concerned about ceremonies, though I indicate my reasons for favouring particular practices.
My purpose for writing this is not merely to clarify the essential theological convictions and experiences involved in becoming a Christian – but to encourage commitment, loyalty, devotion, total surrender, and dependent only to Jesus Christ.
Once more remember as you read this work that will be coming in series in subsequent publications the topic – Becoming a Christian is not here written, in the perspective of the modern denominational tradition or socio-cultural, political economical or otherwise rather a biblically ecumenical perspective with biblical references.
THE GIFT AND DEMAND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
There is a time to probe the debatable fringes of Christian belief and practice where Christians think hard-but agreed to think and let think, live and let live. There is also a time to reaffirm the basics, those beliefs, experiences, and moral understandings that have formed the common core of Christian Faith over the centuries.
RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT
The New Testament is clear that one becomes a Christian by receiving the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of the risen Christ. Though we once lived without Christ, He has drawn near and revealed Himself to us. The risen Lord energizes and activates the Christian life. Will hold whatever beliefs we have in the context of a personal relationship with Him. We undertake moral obligations in His power and authority, which alone makes possible the fulfilment of the task He sets before us. The risen Christ begins to modify our thinking, willing, feeling, and action – so we become more faithful to the God we have come to know and love in Jesus Christ.
The New Testament regards the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of God, but also of Christ (Romans 8:9, 2Corinthians 3:17, Philippians 1:19). “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:9). “All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the Spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of sonship. When we cry, ‘Abba Father’ It is the Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are Children of God. (Romans 8: 14-16).
It is by no virtue of our own but through the Spirit of God’s presence that we can say with Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2: 20).
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has passed away, behold the new has come” (Corinthians 5: 17).
Truly to love God and to love one another we must be born of God. (John 3: 7-8, Titus 3: 5, 1Peter 1: 3, 23). Christians have their genesis in this event. Contrary to the interpretation popular in the Charismatic Movement and in Pentecostalism, the New Testament does not understand the Baptism of the Spirit as an experience coming after conversion, but as another way of describing conversion. Nor does the New Testament assume that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit will necessarily be accompanied by the gift of the ability to speak in tongues. The New Testament sees the latter as an optional gift of the Holy Spirit. (1Corinthians 12: 27-31).
It doesn’t matter where the Holy Spirit event takes place. It can happen at a mass rally, while listening to a sermon, in a regular worship service or while reading the Bible. It can occur in the quietness of one’s own room or a meeting, a public crisis or tragedy. God can even convert one in the process of persecuting Christians. (Galatians 1: 13-16).
It also doesn’t matter whether we are born of God instantly, or through a year or more of painful self-examination, or through a combination of sudden experience and gradual development. What matters is that – miracle of miracles – we now know ourselves as “in Christ”, loved and claimed by Him and responsible to Him for our every thought and action. Who have become a mystery unto ourselves. God has stolen our old life and granted a new one – as a gift from above (John 3: 7-8). Martin Luther said “I believe that I cannot of my own strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to Him”. Luther learned this from the Apostle Paul who said, “no one can say Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Spirit” (1Corinthians 12: 3).
Jesus certainly regarded conversion as necessary for entrance into God’s Kingdom. Jesus appeared “preaching the Gospel of God and saying, “the time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at, repent and believe in the gospel”. (Mark 1:14-15). Conversion involves turning about from self-centeredness, to God centeredness, beginning to live one’s life as the prayer “Thy will be done”. (Matthew 6: 10b).
Paul had a unique way of talking about the miraculous event by which God turns us around – Paul spoke of death and resurrection. As Christ demonstrates the meaning of His dead, that He died for our sin, so the crucified and risen One enables us to die to sin, to be crucified with Him, and to rise to newness of life (Romans 6: 1-6, Galatians 2: 20). The God who raised Jesus from the dead not only grants us forgiveness through Christ life and death, but calls us to share in the power of His risen life. (Colossians 2: 12-15).
THE ONGOING PROCESS
Having died to sin and risen to New Life (Romans 6: 2, 6, 8) we are to persist in dying and rising, (Romans 6: 11 -13). We whom God has called from darkness into His light (1 Peter 2:9) must continue to “cast of the works of darkness and put on the armour of light” (Romans 13: 12, 1Thess. 5: 4-11). Having been freed from slavery to sin (Romans 6: 17), we remain free only as we continue to yield ourselves to God. (Romans 6: 19-22, Ephesians 4: 22-24).
The Christian exists through an ongoing process of becoming. This is so because through the gift of God’s Spirit establishes a relationship, between us and God, the Spirit does not eliminate our tendencies to live in lonely isolation from God. A new relationship has begun but must be taken up again and again. Ever anew, we must become who we are in Christ. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit”. (Galatians 5:25 Colossians 3:3-5). Having put on Christ, we are to continue to do so (Galatians 3:27, Romans 13:14,). Though risen with Christ, we must daily “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3: 1). The power of God’s eternal Kingdom has broken history with Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Though through faith in Christ, Christians share in this Kingdom, the influence of our selfishness is still very real.
To become a Christian is to be set amid a raging battle – between God and the forces of evil within and without. In Christ the battle against sin has been won-therefore battle against it. You have died to sin-therefore die daily. You have received the spirit-therefore receive it ever anew. Because the gift is given-the demand is made. You now have a firm standing in Christ, but “take heed, less you fall” (1Corinthians 10: 12). Though God has given His Spirit, Paul ends all his letters with ethical exhortations. The New Testament talks as much about ethical obligations as about religious mysteries. Though granted deliverance from bondage to this evil age (Galatians 1: 4), we must still be exhorted, “do not be confirmed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is the good and acceptable and perfect”. (Romans 12: 2).
It’s all very easy: surrender to the gift of God’s Spirit, look up to Heaven, open your hands to God. It’s all extremely hard: count the cost, be prepared for lifelong struggle, don’t begin unless you are committed to continuing (Luke 14: 27-32). Christianity is not for those who dabble or play, who do not take it seriously. Living by the Spirit, we must work by the Spirit (Galatians 5: 25).
As an example of how we must become who we are in Christ, consider how the Holy Spirit teaches us to love (1Corinthians 13). “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us” (Romans 5: 5). Through the Spirit, God empowers us to love, but what Christian doesn’t need to become more loving? Hypocrisy? No. It’s that our calling is high and we sinners have far yet to go (Philippians 3: 12-14). We are all beginners. We have only started down the road returning to our Father’s House. We know ourselves forgiven in Christ, we have the assurance of our Father’s love, but we have many miles ahead. (Luke 15: 11-32). Hard Christian work will be required, and much discipline. Regular habits of individual prayer and cooperate worship will be needed. Regular Bible Study and specific deeds of love.
When we become members of the universal church, we confess our faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. To make this commitment specific, we also assume particular obligations. For example, in my denomination one is asked, “will you be loyal, committed to the Anglican Church and uphold it by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, and your service?” to say “yes” to Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord is also to say “yes” to such other hard questions.
Gift and demand, demand and gift! But the demand is possible only because of the continuing gift of God’s presence. We act not on our own strength but through participation in the divine salvation that has appeared. Thus, in all seriousness, Paul-the moral exhorter par excellence – asks “what do you have that you have not received” (1Corinthians 4: 7). We are not required to earn our salvation-which would be impossible- it is only because that God is really at work in us, both to will and to do, that we can work out towards our salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2: 12b-13).
