The Conversion Investment – the problem with Church economics (Part 1)

Over the next several posts I hope to create some discussion about what churches do when it comes to involving ourselves in the conversion of others. I am convinced that because there was an ignorance on the part of many my confession and baptism at the age of 8, which I think was legitimate at the time, turned into a farce because once I was dunked I was done in most everybody’s eyes…but my own. This in turn led to a downward spiral and a destructive dualism of thought that could have me claim the truths of God and then turn around and sin obsessively that lasted until I was 24.

When we evangelize, or when someone walks down an aisle during an invitation, or when we strike up a conversation with a stranger what are we expecting to happen?

Is a five minute conversation followed by a “Pray this after me…” the best we can do?

I believe, whether we want to admit it or not, that if most pastors were honest they would admit that “quick” conversions are more about the pastor than the convert. Giving more time just doesn’t make economic sense.

After all there are hundreds of people, maybe even thousands, whose attention we pastors want and if they quit giving us their attention then what?

Attendance falls, offerings decline, and we get replaced.

As long as attendance grows, emotions flow, people are energized, and we dunk a few each week it is difficult to pay attention to the fact that 9 out of 10 of those “quick” conversions aren’t conversions at all. Instead, they are a McDonalds Drive Thru God Appeasement Attempt that goes something like this, “Surely if I do this, then God will__________.”

We Church leaders then excuse our part in the fiasco –

“It’s not really my fault.”

“God is sovereign!”

“I gave them a chance!”

Right?

Part 2