"Paul may have been stopped in his tracks on the road to Damascus, but it took three years of living in Christian community and learning its practices for him to be fully changed" (p. 222).1. What do you think about Bernard's story? How might your church respond if Bernard and Catherine had walked in the front door?
2. What do you think about the word conversion?
3. Which of the metanoia stories presented in this chapter speaks most strongly to you? Why?
3 comments:
I found the discussion of Christians as a target audience for religious products (the chapter refers to them as spiritual products, but I view them as religious rather than spiritual) interesting. I didn’t see the Passion of Christ, but did participate in a study using The Purpose Driven Life (I was initially intrigued, but grew weary by the time it ended) and remember enjoying Jesus Christ Superstar many years ago. These religious products seemed much more consumer driven than the experiences I’ve had attending performances of Handel’s Messiah which I consider to be a spiritual experience. I guess it is the mass market attempt of religious products that is bothersome.
1.What do you think about Bernard's story? How might your church respond if Bernard and Catherine had walked in the front door?
I do wonder what the unsavory profession was that Bernard was engaged in. I also find it interesting that even though his religious education was minimal that he did seek out a church. The practice of First Presbyterian of requiring people considering membership to go through an extended process of Christian formation sounds like quite a commitment. Our church requires that prospective members attend classes which basically allow them to learn the beliefs of the church. I think the classes lasted six weeks or so (it’s been over 40 years since I joined the Lutheran church) and were much less extensive than those explained of the Presbyterian church.
Bernard’s decision, with Catherine’s encouragement, to become an undertaker which would allow him to honor the dead in contrast to his prior occupation of dishonoring the living gave a new perspective to the work done by undertakers.
Although the greeters at our church assigned to greet visitors would have welcomed Bernard and Catherine, I suspect that the welcome extended would have fallen far short of the acceptance and love shown by First Presbyterian.
2. What do you think about the word conversion?
When I think of conversion, I generally think of it in religious terms. I also think of it most when a person goes from unbelief to faith.
3. Which of the metanoia stories presented in this chapter speaks most strongly to you? Why?
I think that the dramatic change of Bernard and Catherine that spoke strongest to me. The comment that Bernard went from dishonoring the living to honoring the dead was quite a transformation.
1. Bernard's and Catherine's story is what should be the result of connection with true disciples. It should be the result of making disciples of all nations. Whatever baggage tourists come with, church should accept them with no-holds-barred joy.
Ashland Terrace Christian Church would accept them. We have done that in the past. We accepted and nurtured unconditionally two similar couples since I've been a member the last ten years. Both couples have moved on, one never married and have since separated, and the other married, separated, and reunited.
2. "Conversion" has a negative connotation for me. It is a change that might not, and probably not, be permanent, It conjures up the narrow understanding of faith in the religious fundamentalist tradition.
3. Bernard's story speaks out most strongly to me, but I'm not sure why. It may be that I feel guilty and "stuck" in my present job at Walmart, a company that counts bottom line above all else. Teaching was a good fit for me when I was not micromanaged, but but bureaucracy got in the way in all my positions. Being a bookmobile lady was the most satisfying and joy-filled job I ever had, but even that was challenged when the children's and youth manager took over the management of the bookmobile division. It was the most service-oriented job I've ever had. Walmart's best aspect for me is the relationships I have with my customers. I am able to establish a meaningful connection not only with regular customers, but with one-time customers who need a kind two-minute conversation with promised prayers at the end.
1.What do you think about Bernard's story? How might your church respond if Bernard and Catherine had walked in the front door?
I think that Bernard's story is so touching in that he was longing for a conversion from an empty life to the fullness of a love-filled Christian experience. I would hope that my church would respond as the Presbyterians did.
2. What do you think about the word conversion?
I think that conversion means to change. A religious or denominational convert does have to spend a lot of time understanding what he/she is leaving and what he/she is embracing. I would not want that time to be shortened, because I think the study and reflection required deepens the faith and understanding of the convert. It takes quite a while sometimes.
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