CONVERSION PERVERSION

From My Perspective - - - 

The news is generally focused on ISIS/ISIL and their rapid expansion from Syria into Iraq and a portion of Lebanon. This movement has been strategic in that they have seized assets from a large bank; taken possession of military equipment that was provided by the United States for the Iraqi Military; and intimidated those referred to as “Christians” that they either convert to Islam or die. ISIS/ISIL is marked by commitment, fervor, brutality, urgency and fearlessness. Those who resisted have been buried alive; or beheaded; or forced from their homes and made to surrender all of their earthly possessions. During a Department of Defense Press Conference on Thursday: August 21, General Dempsey (Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff) stated regarding ISIS/ISIL: “Their long-term vision is the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham. And al-Sham includes Lebanon, the current state of Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Syria and Kuwait. If they were to achieve that vision, it would fundamentally alter the face of the Middle East and create a security environment that would certainly threaten us in many ways.” An early visual of the ISIS/ISIL ultimatum is gleaned from a British report which stated: “Hundreds of terrified families belonging to the besieged Yazidi sect have reportedly been threatened with execution if they refuse to convert to Islam today…Yazidi    refugees who are stranded on Mount Sinjar said they have received calls from family members trapped behind enemy lines in villages now controlled by Islamic State jihadis. They have reportedly been handed a brutal ultimatum: convert to Islam – or die.”

The idea of conversion has several different applications. In religious terms, it means: “change in character, form, or function; spiritual change from sinfulness to righteousness; change from one religion, political belief, viewpoint, etc., to another; a change of attitude, emotion, or viewpoint from one of indifference, disbelief, or antagonism to one of acceptance, faith, or enthusiastic support, especially such a change in a person's religion.” One of the things that invariably occurs is that when the “Church” is silent about what it claims to believe, others seize the concept and terminology and apply it to their devious ends. Conversion is one of the terms. As the church in The Book of Acts was beginning, one of the core beliefs was boldly proclaimed. In Acts 3:19-21 (NKJV), Peter states: “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” Some recent translations use the phrase “turn back to God” or “turn to God” to define “convert.

One of the issues for the modern church is that our expectations for the professing christian is so minimal. Repentance and Conversion are often absent from the message of what is called “the evangelical church” of today. If in a correct way we had a measure of the commitment, fervor, and fearlessness of ISIS/ISIL, we would have far greater impact in our nation and world with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

What was the Gospel that Jesus proclaimed? Luke 13:1-3 speaks of a similar treacherous treatment of some Galileans by Pilate. The text states: “There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them: Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?” At this point, Jesus relates this to the Gospel we should be proclaiming: “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” When David was in the process of repenting because of his sins around his involvement with Bathsheba, as he seeks for forgiveness from God his plea includes the words recorded in Psalm 51:12-13 (NKJV), “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted (turn back) to You.” Is this your sense and urgency and passion with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ? Let’s reclaim the true meaning of Repentance and Conversion. We can have a greater impact on a worldwide culture that has lost its way. Consider these things with me.